cibs

Today on the way home from work i noticed a rattling/buzzing while accelerating..

- it only happens between 3900 and 4100 rpm
- it is coming from directly below the dash (approx the catalytic area)
- is only prominent when the car is under load (actually driving, reving the engine doesn't make it rattle as much)

anyone have any ideas? i've heard of bolts coming loose cuz they're rusted or wahtever on the cat's heat sheild, should i just rip it off or get it tightened? i really hope it's not my actual cat, or anything expensive..

plus i'm pissed cuz i'm so busy i'm working the next 8 days in a row so i don't really have time to get anything major fixed, and driving around with that noise will be the death of me..

TIA for the responses guys!

[1sL0CiviC]

thats definately the muffler bearing

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

yeah man it's most likely the heat shield. and rusted bolts dont' come loose, what happens is the heatshield rusts out around the bolt and comes loose

imported_GoldBadge

Very similar description to my old heat shield rattle problem. It would rattle for only a few hundred RPM and then go away.

cibs

CRAP! my muffler bearing? OMG... those are so expensive to replace... especially if they actually fall out and come flying out the back... i hear you can't put new bearings in...

LOL

So if it's my heat sheild should i just rip it off/ get another one?

imported_trackhack

Grab yourself one of those SIC JDM muffler bearings, I hear they are the ****.

On a more serious note, you have a few options. You can get stainless hose clamp(s) and tighten around each end(or center) of the cat heat shield and hope it doesn't rattle. OR just take it off.

Si98

heat shields will rattle sooner or later. i had mine replaced a couple of years ago.

i dug up an old receipt and it cost me $108 at honda for parts and about half hour labour. i would have replaced it myself but those bolts had to be removed by torch. good luck and keep us posted with your progress.

Si98

i'm looking at a diagram under exhaust components for a 98 si and couldn't find anything that is called a muffler bearing.

is there another term for this?

imported_trackhack

No such thing as a muffler bearing, it's just a running joke from one of the videos in the media section.

imported_GoldBadge

Oh man, I'm cracking up here!

Are the heat shield attached to the exhaust or to the underside of the car? By looking at the above diagram, it seems to be bolted to the exhaust. Aftermarket exhausts never come with them, so I don't really see the need. It's just a small safety precaution if you ask me. Not worth 50 + dollars to fix.

imported_Moe_Mentum

It could very well still be the Cat... Mine was making an ugly kind of marble in a tin can along with a buzz. I could hear it under load, or if you have a 5 spd like me, at take off. Spend a couple of minutes and go under your car and give it a shake, you'll know off the bat if its the cat. In any case I got a highflow one installed for $140

imported_winner007

If u can. just use 2 clamps and clamp it together so it won't rattle. The cheapest job and it works great. I do that to all the customers car when they complain. Never came back and had a rattle noise afterwards. If it is really bad and it can't be clamped then rip it off, but try and not to rip it off because everything is there for a purpose and u don't want to make a hole underneath the car because the Cat can be so hot, which can make a hole if the heatshield is taken off. Never heard anyone had a hole yet though.

DumbasSi

Mine did the same thing, The cat started to rust around the bolts, so it was lose in some spots and rattled like crazy, but still being held on by 2 bolts. I just took it to a mufler shop and they burned off the shield.

It could also be the headlight fluid sensor making the buzzimg sound.

cibs

BAHAHA that just cracked me up...

hmm yeah i haven't changed my headlight fluid in a while either... do i have to get a new headlight fluid filter as well? what about blinker fluid? are they related?


but seirously, ya i guess hopefully if i have some time i'll jack it up and see what the deal is... Apparently after market ones don't come with it so i'm not super worried and i think the top part of the heat sheild already fell off (the one that reaches all the way back to/past the shifter) cuz my actual shifter gets HOT as hell especailly in the summer and i can feel the heat rising through the E brake console as well... i guess during the winter the air outside is cold enough that it cools everything down enough so i don't notice it as much...

imported_95bluelx

rip it off, there's no laws in Canada that say the heat shield needs to be there, I've heard that you need them if u are going to some state parks (could ignite dry grass/leaves), otherwise there is no need for that heat shield.

imported_SaYjAiBaO

mine was rattling like a b*tch too. i ended up just clipping it off. the only difference i feel now is that the carpet under my shifter console gets a bit warm.

civicnation

i dont have any heat shields anymore. even the one underneath the header is gone because that was rusted to hell.

Tego

I just ripped my heatshield right off....broke the bolts and ripped it right out.

civicnation

the metal is very soft so you easily cut it. replacing it is a waste of money, get rid of the ****ers

Mr. Death

It could also be the inside of your resanator. Get under your car and jiggle it to see if it's intact. I had this same problem last week and I thought heat shield right away but it turned out the resanator was shot.