Rattlesnake in my 924

[Autobahnkid]

I believe there is a rattlesnake hiding under the beast.

After looking under the car at the exhaust system we determined the snake was not hiding there.

We did find it had eaten one of the bolts that hold the transmission to the car. We fixed that and continued the hunt.

Opened the inspection port and looked behind the rubber damper found nothing not even droppings.

Started the engine while the car was up in the air and heard the rattle in the area where the Tork tube meets the the transfer, looked in the round inspection hole at the joint with the hex nut in it and heard the snake rattle again, hiding somewhere inside.

Gentlemen please help me hunt for this snake before she bites and kills the beast. Lovely old thing that she is.

[FrenchToast]

Yikes! That is NOT fun!

First thing I would do before going near it or the car again is call a certified proffesional snake handler for what to do.

I would do some research first on rattlesnake removal, pretty vicious animal, they bite and have poison I think? I'm no snake expert, one reason why I think you should research it heavily I think. I wouldn't enter the car in case the thing somehow found its way inside. Maybe open the doors, hatch and hood so it doesn't seem like a good residence anymore.

If you go near it or the car I'd wear heavy pants, longsleeves, no exposed skin, full face helmet (borrow if you don't have one) heavy boots, multiple multiple layers no matter how hot it is. Hopefully the car is outside? Wouldn't want that in a garage.

I'd research what animals prey on them, maybe mimic that sound, with a computer or voice. Get your friends amp if you have to! Or make some other sounds that makes them run away!

I would call a professional rattlesnake handler and speak to them one-on-one before you go near it or the car.

Nasty business. Can't stress enough to BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS. If its a better idea to ditch the car (I know it hurts) then do that.

But call a professional, I'm sure they can tell you step by step how it can be safe for you to remove it.

Bump, so hopefully others will chime in and help!

Good luck!

[kdjones2000]

What year is the car? Posting it into your signature will help others to help you.

Lots of rattles can come from the shielding on the exhaust and the other heat shields. Sounds like yours is in the rear of the car?

At idle, driving, revving?

[Fara]

Just confirming, the rattle is only with the car in gear and the wheels are moving?

[Autobahnkid]

Kjones2000
Signature got erased while editing to add that it was an automatic will reset. Thx.

The car is a 924 1980 N/A Auto.

We checked all the shields and they are firmly attached. Went through the exhaust with a fine tooth comb. Nothing is loose there, I wish that was the issue.

Rattle is most prominent when the engine is shut down . The noise is definitely coming from the area where the TT and shaft attaches to the differential .
My first thought was the Damper or Doughnut, but we checked and the rubber seems fine all around and no pieces are falling off. The noise is like that of a bearing gone bad, but I cannot see any in the drawings for this area.

[Autobahnkid]

Fara
The noise was very noticeable at start and particularly when shutting off while car is in Park. When in gear it less noticeable and only at low rpms. When you shut off engine the rattle is as if three or four large marbles were shaken inside a tin can.

[Cocacolakidd]

Do you have one of those pointer stethoscopes - these can help pinpoint where the problem is,

The Rattler could be in the rear wheel bearing - sounds like. With internal rattles like that the sound vibrations can travel through solid linked metals, making them harder to find.

- and by all means do not feed it mice or rats by hard driving -

[Cocacolakidd]

The noise was very noticeable at start and particularly when shutting off while car is in Park. When in gear it less noticeable and only at low rpms. When you shut off engine the rattle is as if three or four large marbles were shaken inside a tin can.

Strike the rear wheel bearings, doesn't sound like that.

Check all exhaust mountings and attachments.

Also if the Cat or muffler is coming apart internally that will be the sound of it - but especially when revving the motor at times.

[Fara]

+1 on the Cat.

That tin can marble sound is a pretty sure sign of chunks of the converter rattling around.

Easiest way to diagnose is giving it some gentle taps with a rubber mallet and you can often hear bits moving or rolling around inside. You can also use a stethoscope to check it.

[968rz]

+ 2 on tapping the cat with a rubber mallet, also the rubber damper can fail without leaving debris (it just rips); have someone turn the engine back and forth manually by the front crank bolt while you listen at the bell housing.

[bell]

so we're looking for a rattle not a snake? second post wins LOL

[Autobahnkid]

Cocacolakidd
Please calm your avatar, I am becomming dizzy, does she rattle like the beast/

I did chase the vibration with a stethoscope, vibrations is at the rear end of the torque tube, the connector with the hexnut, and into the transmission around the observation lid.

[Autobahnkid]

Fara
I will re-check the Cat, it was on the early short list of checks. We discarded it since the rattle is much farther to the rear. Stethoscope checked .
Rechecking is cheaper than taking down the tranny.

[Autobahnkid]

Bell
There is a snake in there somewhere. It is looking more and more likely it will raise it ugly head and bite me in the.......wallet.

[Autobahnkid]

Frenchtoast
Professional help is always desired, but the beast as good looking as she is is pretty old and disposable. Proffesional help is probably more valuable than her.
Wrenching on her has kept my marriage intact and my shrink bills low. It would be a shame to break her up though she is inmaculate inside and pulls very strong. I am going back to another thread and posting some pictures. She is scheduled for major surgery next saturday and I have located a clutch assembly to replace the damper, and a torque tube in case it turns out to be the bearings in there.
thank you for your comments.

[Autobahnkid]

Originally Posted by Autobahnkid

Here are some pictures of the beast, I hope you enjoy them. She is clean as a whistle.

I hope this works

[Autobahnkid]

968rz
Will have them do that . We turned the damper several times and observed through the window. The rubber is all there, at least on this side. Cant see what is on the side facing the tranny. Will hit it to listen.
Instruments will be ready for the surgery if necessary.
What does one look for if it turns out to be TT bearings?

thank you

[FrenchToast]

I'm not saying you should get rid of your car at all. I'm just saying don't risk fighting that snake if its a bad idea. Couldn't hurt to give a pro snake handler a call though. Just want you to be safe if you're going to get close to a rattle snake.

Car looks great. Never seen a 'real' (pre 1985) 924 in such good shape. Fantastic!

Good luck, and be safe!

[rick13]

i think it best to call riki tiki tavi. he's a real asset when it comes to snake removal! lol...

oh and uh, +1 on cat.

[alan6272]

Okay I'll chime, I am not familiar with the Porsche auto but on other auto's sometimes the torque converter bolts loosen up causing a rattle mostly on start and shut down because once running the pressure of the torque converter keeps it some what hush hush. I would think that this car has the torque converter at the trans. would be why you hear it there.