I have this loud metallic rattle from underneath the car when I drive over uneven surfaces.

It sounds like it is coming from the front left side of the car. I had a thorough look and can't find anything, except possibly something wrong with the steering rack.

If I raise the car, turn the front wheels by hand and let it hit full lock (left or right) I hear a metallic rattle. The bolts holding the steering rack seem tight. The noise seems to come from just after the torque sensor, where the steering shaft connects with the rack.

My questions:

1) Is this normal?

2) If not, could this be the cause of the problem, although I do not feel anything thru the steering wheel?

3) Has anyone experienced anything similar? (I've searched the fora but came out empty handed)

4) If there is something loose within the steering rack, is this normal for a car that has clocked a bit less than 30,000 miles? My gearbox has been out a few times, and I understand that you need to disconnect the steering shaft. Could this be the result of a lousy job? If that is the case, should I approach Honda / dealer (car is out of warranty)?

TIA for any tips.

 

Hi I had a similar thing. Turned out to be a dying catalytic convertor.

 

I just removed the heatshield/cover from my catalytic convertor due to the noise that it was making. Sometimes it would be the type of noise that you would expect a heatshield to make and other times it would be a very loud rattling noise.

My car has 43,000 miles on it. After removing the heatshield that surrounds the convertor, everything is back to normal again.

 

yeah i had the same problem.. i was up in san francisco and was driving and heard it. right when i got to my friends house i looked and it was dragging. it soon feel off and i still havent put it back on. its the heatshield.

 

Heatshiled.....1 vote

Utah

 

In my case, it was a loose front left wheel alignment bolt.