Rattling Noise Can't Be Determined
 

Hey guys my car is a 2013 and has 42,000 miles. I have the Fast Intentions 18" resonated full catback exhaust coupled with the 1320 performance test pipes and Z1 long tube intakes. Car is tuned.

The issue I've been having is that at a specific RPM (usually just over 3,000), there is a rattling sound I can't pinpoint. The car has been up on the lift 3 times and can't determine what's lose and vibrating/rattling. It sounds as if it was a piece of metal rattling and almost sounds like a heat shield. However, the heat shields have been checked and they are not lose nor look cracked.

Has anyone ever had this issue? My OCD is killing me. It's really annoying and pretty loud and embarrassing. At higher RPMs the noise does go away. There are no visible leaks and no power loss as well as no lights.

The noise comes from the front of the car and it sounds as if it is coming from the passenger side.

The exhaust has also been checked and there is nothing loose.

Please help!

I saw a video from Perfected Auto on youtube who had a similar rattle around 3krpm and after much trial and error, it turned out to be a gear inside the hatch lock.

I've followed that video and that saved me tons of diagnostic agony.

When I tore apart my hatch, the wires were well tied down and insulated to my very surprise. Turned out the rattling of a plastic gear within the lock mechanism had bugged me for years and went unsolved until I found that video.

I have had that same rattle noise as described around 3K rpm for years. It usually become more pronounced when the weather heats up. Do you guys mind linking the video?

Do you still have your cats? If so, they can rattle. I have a rattling cat on my car right now. I have heard that sound many times.

I’m not trying to be a smart ***, just trying to potentially save you some time. My rattle was my license plate. Simple fix with soft rubber gasket if on the backside of the plate.

I have that rattle noise too from my exhaust. I haven't gotten around to it but i was told during decel the pipes vibrate against the chassis brace under the car. The fix is washers to give the brace abd pipes room.

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No more cats since I have art pipes, and the license plate rattle was resolved with some sticky foam pieces cushioned between the plate and rear bumper.

Annoyed the crap out out of me for a few weeks until someone was able to drive my car with me in the trunk. Quickly realized it was the license plate and not the hatch or exhaust.

I just drive at higher RPMs. More fun that way anyhow :twocents:

No, I have test pipes.

Yeah but the noise is in the front of the car. At least to me it sounds like it is coming from the front. I'll still check this out. Thanks!

It might be this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxXKbfkMWq8

Thanks. At this point, I am willing to try just about anything to solve the issue.

This video is his follow up that solved my issue. https://youtu.be/4NYFhM7Xl4A

It's the trunk latch actuator that has plastic gears in it where the grease has worn away and they chatter like crazy. I had rattles even above 3-4k and it solved it for everything except 3500-4000RPM. So next I'm looking at the license plate / spare tire area for loose bolts and rubbing plastic on metal.

There's also mention of the trunk latch being loose / up too far (which you can tighten up / move around when you grease the trunk actuator).