Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 03:27:45 +0000 (GMT)
From: greg@domain.elided
Subject: New rattle
My 74 Spider has developed a new rattle recently.
When downshifting and slowing down there's a rattle that sounds to me like
a heat shield that's either missing a couple of screws or is coming in
contact with something. I can reporduce it at will, but only while moving.
I need to do a couple more tests to see if it only happens when in gear or
not. The only heat shields I've seen on other cars have been for the cat.
My 74 doesn't have a cat.
I looked under the car without jacking it up and didn't see a heat shield
above the exhaust. I will be jacking the car up and looking closer as soon
as I am able.
Has anyone else had a problem like this? Any tips or suggestions on first
places to look?
TIA,
Greg
---
While the heat shield is a likely culprit, I had a similar problem that
was caused by an internal break in the center muffler. It did not leak,
but rattled with engine resonance. The internal "through pipe" had broken
internally and rattled within the case. It made a horrendous racket and
vibration.