Jetta muffler rattle sound?

[FluckyGSXR02]

My girl has a jetta and it sound like when she takes off there is a rattle that seems to be comming from the muffler. Any idea what this could be or should i take it to the mechanic???

Any ideas guys. Any help appreciated.

Eric

[Jon FZ1]

Check the heat shields and see if there is a rock in there or if it is loose.

Oh yeah.. check the muffler bearings. :p

[FluckyGSXR02]

Check the heat shields and see if there is a rock in there or if it is loose.

Oh yeah.. check the muffler bearings. :p

Okay i will be the first to admit i am nowhere close to a mechanic, nor do i know anything about cars. I guess my question is can it be anything serious? And will driving it before i get to check it hurt it?

E

[RichieRich]

check the shields.

i had a rattling in my 2000 vw golf exhaust and it turned out that the catalytic converter went at just 70k miles.

VW = PIECE OF SHIT

[Jon FZ1]

Okay i will be the first to admit i am nowhere close to a mechanic, nor do i know anything about cars. I guess my question is can it be anything serious? And will driving it before i get to check it hurt it?

E

Is it serious? Well it really depends on where the rattle is comming from. If it is a shield, typically not. There are heat shields on the exhaust that protect the body of the car and the carpet/wiring on the other side of the metal from getting too hot. If the shield in not in place, it can cause the other stuff to get too hot or even catch fire.

For the most part though, the shield gets loose and rattles, or a rock gets up behind it and rattles around. Or in Richies case, the ceramic honeycomb inside of the catalytic converter gets clogged, overheats and breaks into pieces and rattles around in the converters metal case like marbles in a can.

[FluckyGSXR02]

check the shields.

i had a rattling in my 2000 vw golf exhaust and it turned out that the catalytic converter went at just 70k miles.

VW = PIECE OF SHIT

Until she gets it checked can it hurt anything...isnt the converter just used for recycling unwanted fumes from the exhaust or something like that?

Its not very noticable but it is getting collectively worse in the last month?

E

[Jon FZ1]

Until she gets it checked can it hurt anything...isnt the converter just used for recycling unwanted fumes from the exhaust or something like that?

It converts the various byproducts of combustion into CO2 and water. It is an emmisions control device. If it is failing on a car after 1996 (OBDII) usually the check engine light will come on. VW may cover this under warranty since it is an emmissions controls device.

[FluckyGSXR02]

It converts the various byproducts of combustion into CO2 and water. It is an emmisions control device. If it is failing on a car after 1996 (OBDII) usually the check engine light will come on. VW may cover this under warranty since it is an emmissions controls device.

Must not be failing because the check engine light is not on. Its a 1999 new jetta... She just had it inspected too about 1 month ago?

Passed inspection and everything...no probs

[Gary]

sometimes changing your muffler oil can quiet down the rattles, that is if the bearings aren't completely shot. If that fails check the heat shield as above and all of the mounts. Might just be a loose rubber mount that holds it up.

[TonUpBoy]

heat shield...Im betting that the screw points are rusted out...just get rid of it. I ended rippin mine out.

[FluckyGSXR02]

heat shield...Im betting that the screw points are rusted out...just get rid of it. I ended rippin mine out.

And where is this little critter located>?

[Jon FZ1]

The heat shields are located at various points of the exhaust system between the exhaust tubing and the body of the car. Hop underneath (use jackstands!) and give them a jiggle to see if they are loose. They are often time sharp so wear some gloves and watch out for hot components. If you can't locate it, have your GF start the car up get underneath and have her gently rev it a bit and follow the noise.

[FluckyGSXR02]

The heat shields are located at various points of the exhaust system between the exhaust tubing and the body of the car. Hop underneath (use jackstands!) and give them a jiggle to see if they are loose. They are often time sharp so wear some gloves and watch out for hot components. If you can't locate it, have your GF start the car up get underneath and have her gently rev it a bit and follow the noise.
Got ya...Gloves=essential...

I went to wawa for lunch and it seems like a vibration between a thin piece of metal hitting another piece of metal. Thats what it sounds like. And it only happens when the car is at idle and when you first start moving...(car is stick)

E

[Jon FZ1]

Got ya...Gloves=essential...

I went to wawa for lunch and it seems like a vibration between a thin piece of metal hitting another piece of metal. Thats what it sounds like. And it only happens when the car is at idle and when you first start moving...(car is stick)

E

Yeah it hits a frequency and resonates. This has heat shield written all over it.

[Javier]

check the shields.

i had a rattling in my 2000 vw golf exhaust and it turned out that the catalytic converter went at just 70k miles.

VW = PIECE OF SHIT


how bout my cc going at 40,000 miles? yes indeed last winter it blew at 40 g's...luckily i have warranty...seriously i bought my vdub new, off the lot in 2002. since then i have had to bring it in for the following just off the top of my head...

-ignition coils went out 4 times

-check engine light came on around 6 different times

-fuse for the radio blew

-replaced the catylytic converter at 40,000 miles

replaced the drivers side power window latch 3 times!!!

-countless blown headlights

-water leaking throuh my sunroof and into the pillars...


i will NEVER even look at another VW again...sadly i'm stuck with mine for a while....since replacing the cc it has been running smooth but i still have no faith and i KNOW one day something else will happen.....my car only has 49,000 miles too..)all original miles form me)

[RichieRich]

vw covered my cc cost even though i was past warranty. it has to do with emissions, so they should do it free. although i did have to put up a lil fight.

[RichieRich]

how bout my cc going at 40,000 miles? yes indeed last winter it blew at 40 g's...luckily i have warranty...seriously i bought my vdub new, off the lot in 2002. since then i have had to bring it in for the following just off the top of my head...

-ignition coils went out 4 times

-check engine light came on around 6 different times

-fuse for the radio blew

-replaced the catylytic converter at 40,000 miles

replaced the drivers side power window latch 3 times!!!

-countless blown headlights

-water leaking throuh my sunroof and into the pillars...


i will NEVER even look at another VW again...sadly i'm stuck with mine for a while....since replacing the cc it has been running smooth but i still have no faith and i KNOW one day something else will happen.....my car only has 49,000 miles too..)all original miles form me)

my car burned oil since day one

window regulator went a few times

countless blown headlights and tail lights

catalytic converter shit the bed

countless other problems

fuck vw