Loud Rattling noise from under car when in drive and louder in reverse

40belowceo · 08-23-2010, 09:43 AM

Hello all, last night on my way home I began to hear a rattling noise under my jeep while stepping out to talk to someone while the jeep was running. At first the sound was kind of mild, but after leaving the window open while driving foward the noise got louder. Finally, when I was going to park I put the jeep in reverse and the noise got even LOUDER which is when I got really concerned. While the car was idle, in park the sound was loud but still audible. I then put it in reverse and it got really LOUD!. THen I put it in drive and it was kind of loud but not as loud as when I put it in reverse. Could this be the muffler loose? Or can this be the cattalac converter going out on me?

Any help is much appreciated!! Many thanks in advance!!!

myjeeplovesmud · 08-23-2010, 09:51 AM

does it get louder with rpms?

40belowceo · 08-23-2010, 09:55 AM

not that Ive noticed. Seems like once the gear is changed the noise begins, sounds like a rattling like something loose.

dorksrock · 08-23-2010, 10:16 AM

Check your tailpipe. I know i had to tweak mine a little bit because it was hitting the gas tank skid. When I went in reverse it would rattle more then when in drive.

40belowceo · 08-23-2010, 10:39 AM

how did you tweak yours? Did you mean tighting it?

dorksrock · 08-23-2010, 10:53 AM

I actually took a pry bar, and bent the rear exhaust hanger over a little bit so it stopped rubbing.

40belowceo · 08-23-2010, 11:36 AM

Thanks ill take a look n might try that.

40belowceo · 08-23-2010, 12:03 PM

It actually sounds likes its coming from the middle of under the car and not the rear.

dorksrock · 08-23-2010, 12:09 PM

I would then check all your exhaust clamps, and the bar that runs between the engine and tranny and lower bellhousing too. my guess is your exhaust is rubbing somewhere, or has a loose clamp.

dlwilson42 · 08-23-2010, 12:10 PM

I looked at my girlfriend's Jeep Liberty this weekend because it was making the same rattling, but I couldn't find any muffler or heat shield loose. The noise was coming from the front of the engine so I got out the stethoscope and started listening to the accessories. One of the idler pulley bearings was bad. I replaced the whole idler assembly, and the car is much quieter now.

The assembly was $136. If I had time, I would have pressed the bearing out of the pulley, found a new bearing somewhere, and pressed that it. But with my schedule it would have taken a month to do that. And now it's done.

gc3381 · 08-23-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40belowceo

Hello all, last night on my way home I began to hear a rattling noise under my jeep while stepping out to talk to someone while the jeep was running. At first the sound was kind of mild, but after leaving the window open while driving foward the noise got louder. Finally, when I was going to park I put the jeep in reverse and the noise got even LOUDER which is when I got really concerned. While the car was idle, in park the sound was loud but still audible. I then put it in reverse and it got really LOUD!. THen I put it in drive and it was kind of loud but not as loud as when I put it in reverse. Could this be the muffler loose? Or can this be the cattalac converter going out on me?

Any help is much appreciated!! Many thanks in advance!!!

i have the same noise only in reverse though. mine also sounds like its coming from the middle of the truck, sounds like metal rubbing on metal