1993 Buick Lesabre Rattling Noise

Tiny
INTOSILENCE1
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 BUICK LESABRE
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 149,000 MILES
My1993 Buick Lesabre makes a rattling sound ONLY when I set it on Drive AND Im stepping on the breaks. It does not rattle when it's on Park or Neutral. Only when it's in Drive and I have my foot on the break peddle. HOWEVER, as soon as I release the breaks and the car begins to move, it stops completely. It NEVER rattles once it's running. But when it does rattle, it definitely sounds like something's loose in the engine. It's been like this for a while now. What could be the problem?
Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 1:27 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check torque converter bolts for being loose and for a broken catalytic converter shield.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 6:11 AM
Tiny
INTOSILENCE1
  • MEMBER
  • 79 POSTS
Sorry I hope it's not too much to ask but you could you briefly describe where exactly are the bolts and the catalytic shield located? If possible can you please include a picture? I tried to look for pictures online but Im still clueless. I just don't like taking it to a mechanic cause I always get ripped off.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 10:05 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The converter bolts that hold the torque converter to flex plate not the catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is riveted so if shield has broken loose you have to fix it another way. But check torque converter bolts.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
INTOSILENCE1
  • MEMBER
  • 79 POSTS
Thank you so much you were right on the money! I checked the catalytic converter shield first. Sure enough one of the rivets was missing and when I moved the sheets of metal around it made the rattling sound. Thanks again. However, I was wondering what you thought of this other problem I have. Not all the time, but sometimes, the car will accelerate on its own. If I let go of the brakes, it will start speeding up. And once Im about to park, when I shift it into park, it will sound even louder, like if Im flooring the gas pedal. Someone told me that one of the vacuum lines connected to the throttle body could be damaged. I checked and a few of the rubber unions were very cracked, so I replaced them. But it's still doing it. What do you think?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 24th, 2015 AT 8:16 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try cleaning the throttle plate on both sides and iac hole with choke cleaner
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 24th, 2015 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
INTOSILENCE1
  • MEMBER
  • 79 POSTS
Hello and sorry to bother again. I was going to clean the Throttle body but when I took off the big plastic pipe that runs from the air box to the Throttle body I noticed there's a thin metal screen covering the entrance to the throttle body. I did some research on it, and some people say that it's better to take the metal screen off because it allows more air to flow into the engine, even though its there to allow the air to flow in straight and to block any piece of debris that might get past the air filter. But what do you think? Would it make any major difference to remove the screen? Thanks.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, July 24th, 2015 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you take the metal screen off you will destroy your maf sensor or air speed sensor whatever you have. Then you'll have to buy anew one cause your fuel mileage will go to hell and car won't run right and it will have it anyhow. I have no further comments
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, July 25th, 2015 AT 6:00 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links