Intermittent undercarriage rattle

Tiny
AHAIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 KIA SPORTAGE
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 112,000 MILES
Usually after about twenty minutes of driving if I idle at a stop light there's a really aggressive, loud rattle in the undercarriage, not really side specific. A friend suggested it sounded like when her heat plate was loose. But a recent trip to the mechanic said there was nothing wrong. Also starting to notice a metallic rattle in the steering column.
Saturday, June 8th, 2019 AT 3:43 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,087 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Does the noise go away when you press the gas? Also, although the heat shields may be good, there is a chance that the catalytic converter may have come apart internally. That isn't something you can see.

Try this, take a rubber mallet and tap on the exhaust system in all different places to see if you can recreate the noise. Do that and let me know what you find. I attached a few pics to help you identify the catalytic converter. The locations shown are either under the vehicle or in the back of the engine off the exhaust manifold. It is based on production dates.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Joe
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Saturday, June 8th, 2019 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
AHAIGHT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks! Once the rain lets up I'll go under there. The noise does stop when I press the gas!
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Friday, June 14th, 2019 AT 3:31 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,087 POSTS
Welcome back:

My first guess is either a heat shield or the converter is loose internally. Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Friday, June 14th, 2019 AT 7:12 PM

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