Hi Everyone
My 2000 MR2 has developed an annoying rattle in the last couple of weeks.
Initially I thought it might be coming from inside the car or from the passenger door, but there's nothing obviously loose, and now I think it's more likely from the wheel, brakes, suspension or engine/exhaust.
Things I've noticed - it does it whether under braking or not, it does it whether under power or freewheeling. It's noticeable at slowish speeds, particularly on rough roads, hardly ever does it at 50mph+ on fast roads/motorways. It sounds metallic & can change from more of a squeak to a loud rattle. What I've noticed particularly is that although it does make the noise when going straight, it is worse when turning left, but usually stops when turning right.
I've read various suggestions on this & other forums - wheel nuts loose, caliper bolts loose, exhaust brackets loose or broken, heat shields, etc. I've had the car up on the ramps & had a look underneath & couldn't see or feel anything obvious, have checked for any loose nuts etc. (The band that holds what I guess is the cat heatshield on was loose & I've tied that up, but don't think that's it).
There were a couple of other things I thought it could be - the airbox was loose & the rubber sleeve that stops the nearside handbrake cable hitting the underside had shifted, but sorted both those & still the rattle continues. Incidentally, I had the offside rear caliper & both sides handbrake cables replaced in early June, but the rattle didn't start until at least a month after that.
Anybody got any ideas/suggestions? I have got a couple of audio files of the rattle which might help diagnose it, but not sure how to post them on here.
I've got this one I think... much louder after taking the storage bins out. Need to check the brake weather guard things, they rust away a lot.
Hmm, I'll check that again but don't think it's the answer unfortunately. I've had problems with those on our other car & it caused more of a rubbing/scraping sound, whereas mine is more of a solid sounding rattle/knocking like something is loose & jiggling up & down.
I've had a similar noise twice. Check the bolts that hold the bonnet on (both the body to hinge and hinge to bonnet) and the rear strut rod. The rear strut rod sounded like it was coming from the floor (under the seat). The bonnet one sounded like it was coming from the door hinges.
I had the same on the offside, try the side vent?
It will be the heat shield - its on the pipe just before the main cat, its spot welded on and rusts through, will usually rattle at around 2k RPM, simply use a jubilee clip around it to stop it rattling :)
Everybody is guessing, based on their own experience.
Get her up on jackstands with the wheels off (to give plenty of working room). Have a knock around the suspension and exhaust with a mallet and a pry around the suspension bushes with a pry bar.
You'll find it.
Well done Carolyn, everyone was too polite to suggest a mallet and a bit of thumping around. Best way to find a clunk!
Quote from: paulj on August 6, 2018, 18:37
Well done Carolyn, everyone was too polite to suggest a mallet and a bit of thumping around. Best way to find a clunk!
Percussive maintenance :D
UPDATE - I have traced and fixed the rattle!
Many thanks for all suggestions - none of these were actually right, but they did help me eliminate things that weren't causing the rattle ;D. I've also sorted out a couple of other unconnected things in the process.
It turned out to be fuel tank bolt not correctly/fully tightened, so that there was a little bit of movement of the tank.
Quote from: MikeJD on August 9, 2018, 15:27
UPDATE - I have traced and fixed the rattle!
Many thanks for all suggestions - none of these were actually right, but they did help me eliminate things that weren't causing the rattle ;D. I've also sorted out a couple of other unconnected things in the process.
It turned out to be fuel tank bolt not correctly/fully tightened, so that there was a little bit of movement of the tank.
Well done! nothing like having a good poke around and look-see. ;)