[cl9] rattle/buzz under low rpm

[power_of_dreams]

Hi, I've rediscovered a rattle/buzz under low rpm (I say rediscovered because I had it, it went away, and now its back again).

It seems to be coming from passenger side, behind glovebox & possibly from the engine bay. It occurs when cruising at ~3000rpm in 2nd or 3rd then giving a substantial amount of throttle.

I previously took it to a dealership, they had a look and could not find it (although they said it was not coming from the engine itself). They then went on about how they would have to charge me by the hour to keep looking and my icebox possibly being the problem (yada yada etc etc)

Just wondering if anybody has had this one before or has any possibly ideas as to what I could look for.

Cheers

edit: does anybody thing getting a torque dampener might help?

[felixd]

LOL straight away they blame ur icebox hahahahaha how lame the mechanics sometimes :P tell em they dunno crap ! ! ! hmm maybe try to wiggle abit on ur radiator mounts ? maybe thats caused it/
check the inside of stock headers cuz there's like something in between it maybe that's falling off

[power_of_dreams]

check INSIDE headers?

[felixd]

there s like a peice of metal shimm on the mid section of the header if not check your header shield maybe ???

[Crapdaz]

from what your stating, is this rattle more like a metal clanging noise?

possibilities it may be your header bolt coming loose.

What mods have you got on your car?

[power_of_dreams]

icebox only. also had the rattle once before icebox so i dont think its the problem

it sounds like a very slow buzzing, almost like an exhaust sound (hard to describe).
Quite deep, not tinny. (rofl at describing sounds)

I think it may be a bolt.
Apart from the header bolt what other bolts should I look out for?

Regarding the torque dampener, that would actually make any vibration worse wouldn't it!

[felixd]

yes torque damper ull be getting harsh vibrations . maybe ur cat is gone busted cat can make a rattling noise aswell .

[power_of_dreams]

busted cat = not

[aaronng]

LOL straight away they blame ur icebox hahahahaha how lame the mechanics sometimes :P tell em they dunno crap ! ! ! hmm maybe try to wiggle abit on ur radiator mounts ? maybe thats caused it/
check the inside of stock headers cuz there's like something in between it maybe that's falling off

When you install the icebox, you remove the intake resonator, which can be a source of vibration. I'd say his rattling sound comes from the damper that is used to smoothen the opening action of the glovebox. To test, just get some one to press on the glovebox while you drive. The rattle should go away.

[Arkayn]

icebox only. also had the rattle once before icebox so i dont think its the problem

it sounds like a very slow buzzing, almost like an exhaust sound (hard to describe).
Quite deep, not tinny. (rofl at describing sounds)

I think it may be a bolt.
Apart from the header bolt what other bolts should I look out for?

Regarding the torque dampener, that would actually make any vibration worse wouldn't it!

Finally someone gets the exact sound I get from mine in the same way. Sounds like a bolt vibrating very fast when sligtly loose (thats the sound description not what I think is happening).

[simonnowis]

its definately something loose that is causing the rattle, for me, i get rattle from the cat sometimes, i think theres rocks that are caught up there. havent had the time to investigate.
its unbelievable, that there are so many useless mechanics out there. before when i gave cat bolts to the mechanic to put on, he said its the wrong one and doesnt fit, i later discovered he was trying to put the spring between the cat and the exhaust pipe when its ment to go behind it. I just put it on myself at home, wasted 50bucks for his bs.

[power_of_dreams]

It seems to have gone for the time being, but I have no doubt it will show again.
Just by ear, I dont think its rocks in the undertray because the sound would be more "random". My buzz definately has a distinct frequency to it.

From what I recall it started with a slow frequency (more like a rattle) then picked up to be more like a constant quick buzzing sound.

I havn't had a proper look yet, but suggestions of cat/header bolts are interesting considering it definately sounds like its coming from the passenger side. Will report back with findings tommorow