rattling?

[Eldorado]

Since I bought the car, *something* to do with the exhaust system under the car is rattling. I haven't been able to get under the car to actually see what it is because a) I dont have a lift, and b) it's too short to just roll under... the dude next door that works for Mr. Lube, just by ear, quickly identified the problem to be a spot weld that has come loose on the heat shield above the exhaust pipes under the car...

I realize you probably couldn't tell me what the sound is and where it's coming from, but me not being a car guy I dont know if I should take his word on it or not... does this sound like it could be accurate?

He also said that if this was the case then I had two choices - I could re-weld it, or I could just rip it off because I dont need it...

[88BlueTSiQuest]

Get a floor jack. You won't have any real enjoyment out of these cars unless you can do some of the work yourself. Between this issue and the clutch issue you have, You'll save a ton of money by buying a $30 floor jack and doing the simple repairs yourself.

As to the heatshield, it's kind of there for a reason. To keep heat out of the passenger compartment. It could be as simple as a bolt that has fallen out, but without a floor jack you'll never know.

[Eldorado]

he gave me an old jack when I bought the car, but because these cars are so low to the ground I'd totally be nervous for the thing to fall... I always saw a jack as a "change a tire/wheel rim" tool, not something I could climb under the car with...

should I squish these fears? do I really have nothing to worry about? lol sounds funny i know, but I'm 22, this is my first car, and I've never really worked on anything before this.. *rolls eyes*

[88BlueTSiQuest]

Squish those fears

I use an SUV jack, has higher lifting capacity, yet it's low enough to get under the car, along with some jackstands. These 3 items along with some simple tire chocks are all you need to do practically anything you want to do under a car.


A lift is nice, and if you have the luxury of owning a place that you can install one, along with the $2-5000 it takes to buy one, go for it. But until that time comes up, invest in a good set of jackstands and a floor jack, as the money you'll save in buying that and bleeding your clutch yourself will pay for itself over and over again.


I've worked under cars that were jacked up in the grass, it's just a matter of getting the car lifted correctly, and testing it's stability before crawling under it


Oh, and if it's a scissor lift jack that he gave you, I wouldn't use that, as they just aren't as solid as a good floor jack.

[Eldorado]

i think it was a scissor jack... not sure though - it's at home and I'm at work...

my father has the jack that came with his Jimmy... I could use that for now I guess...

[bryanthompson]

I don't know about you guys, but I get a little anxious being under my car. Maybe I have a bit of clostrophobia to work out, but when I get the car up on stands it's more than just slapping a few stands underneath. You gotta be SURE it's not coming down.

Here's the list of what I've done with the car not on stands:
Replaced O2 sensor
changed oil, several times
disconnect/reconnect wires to starter
tried to change fuel filter
tensioned balance belt
removed/replaced alternator belt

There's probably not much else you can do without lifting the car up!

[ernestedward]

Please use jackstands if you're going to be under the car. They're not at all expensive.

[88BlueTSiQuest]

I've used a jack and jackstands to lift a vehicle high enough to pull a tranny to do a clutch job(not a 944, I haven't had to do one of those yet).

As I stated get the car up in the air, support it with stands, and 'test' the car to make sure it's secure.

[mambodave]

use the jack stands..I had a hydralic floor jack give way on me years ago. I got lucky and didnt get smushed.

[gtroth]

DON'T GO UNDER THE CAR WITHOUT JACKSTANDS. Come on guys.

[todwics babe]

I like how todd does it, he uses those ramps and then set parking brake (duh) and puts a board or a brick or something similar behind the wheels still on ground. only way my step dad would say it was safe to lay under the car to work....... and he would know he is capt in fire dept and he has pulled two bodies from under "safely" jacked up cars (turned out the slight incline of driveway and using only one stand and a jack when he tried to break a bolt lose (i think i remember right) it tipped the stand just enough so that the jack wheels rolled and it drug them out into road We lived in gilroy and i was 15 ill never ever forget that day, turned out to be the chiefs son and his nephew.

[Baza]

Tip
NEVER fully extend car stands!!!! Made that mistake Once I was LUCKY, That said do it right and you will have no problems. I still enjoy playing under the car. lol I just do it right and take the time and use the right tools.

[livewirevoodoo]

As to your original question, the rattling....

Everything 'rattle-like' I've come across with my '44 has been exhaust related.

Scariest noise (about a week after purchase) was one of the rear towhooks bent enough to rub up against the muffler. Over 2500rmp it started rattling like crazy. Turns out I backed into a parking space and hit the towhook against the curb, bending it against the muffler.

[Eldorado]

oh mine is the opposite, the higher the revs, the quieter the rattle...
increase vibration frequency, and eventually it'll vibrate fast enough and in sync not to hit anything, right?

it's just a little embarrassing.. lol
"Porsche!.... that sounds like it's hauling a bunch of "just married" wedding tin cans behind it"