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I'm hearing a sound like broken glass/beer bottles rattling together when I accelerate from a stop (like something's shifting from the trunk or towards the rear of the car). When the car was safetied the mechanic noted a rattle sound coming from the exhaust which I had not heard when I test drove it. Could it conceivably be something in the exhaust? Or any other thoughts?
It could be destroyed cat converter particles in the piping an mufflers. It happens. Also search for "marbles in a can" it is another common issue that may be what you are hearing.
It could be destroyed cat converter particles in the piping an mufflers. It happens. Also search for "marbles in a can" it is another common issue that may be what you are hearing.
Thanks for the feedback.. it sounds more like something shifting than anything related to engine RPM etc. I'll see if I can hear it sliding the other way when stopping.. haven't heard it so far but I'll pay closer attention.
Next noobish question: am I doing damage to my car by driving it if the cat is in fact damaged? It's performing beautifully.. except the coolant light comes on occasionally.
Advise to stop driving and get a compression test after repairs are made to ensure you didn't blow the engine.
Thanks, I had a compression test done less than two tanks of gas ago.. think I could have blown it that quickly? It shows no typical signs of low compression (i.e. no trouble with hot starts).
You gotta remember these cars are incredibly fickle. The slightest thing wrong such as a backed up cat or a clogged cat WILL flow backpressure into the engine and just make for lots and lots of suck. Whenever I have anything that sounds weird with my car that isn't a heat shield or anything like that when I investigate I ground the car and use my DD if it's in the summer. It's already a challenge to keep maintained, no reason for me to make it worse on myself to blow an engine.
Get a $10-20 CAN/ODB scanner on amazon and pull the codes. It could be something completely irrelevant. If your car throws codes half as often as mine does, you won't regret it.
Unfortunately with our cars a gas smell is not always indicative of a failed cat, we will always have fuel smell from the tail pipe. Have you checked your CEL?
Unfortunately with our cars a gas smell is not always indicative of a failed cat, we will always have fuel smell from the tail pipe. Have you checked your CEL?
Not yet, just ordered an OBDII reader, should be here by Friday!