FOUND! Source of strange noise

[Dieselnerd]

Last year I asked for some ideas on the cause of a strange rattle or harmonic type noise. It only happened under load, especially while towing, from 1500-1800 RPM. I got a few suggestions but none worked out.



It has been driving me nuts and I spent a lot of time under the truck during the past year looking for a loose heat shield or anything that could vibrate.



Today I thought I'd try again and spent about 15 minutes under the truck. I was pounding my hand on the long heat shield that runs above the exhaust on the passenger side and hit a spot that rattled. I got my fingers in there and found a stone!



The sound actually started on a trip after going through some road construction with loose gravel. It didn't occur to me at the time that a stone could be up under the heat shield but it makes sense now.



Simple little thing but a major pain while towing around 50 mph and listening to a noise that might or might not be an actual problem. Happy again!Oo.

 

[BGlidewell]

Glad you got it sorted. That's good find. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[DogramTD]

its amazing; the little things that make u fall in love w/your truck all over again!

 

[Kry226]

For a while there I kept hearing this knocking under the hood when I got up to about 55 mph and couldn't figure out what it was. Finially noticed too much slack on the block heater cord. It was hanging down from the tie down and banging on part of the front clip/fender subframe. Tucked the plug back in tight to the tie down and not another peep.



It's a significant emotional event to finally figure out these mysterious noises.

 

[Scooby]

It is truly satisfying to find one of those gremlins without having to tear stuff apart, isn't it? 15 minutes later you are having a beer, feeling good and telling folks that you just fixed the truck. Ahhhh.....

 

[macdaddy]

Wish I Had That Kind of Luck

I have had a noice in the rear of mine that sounds like "Loose Change" jingling in your pocket.



Mac

 

[notron46]

loose change

I've got the same thing going with my 05, it sounds like someone left some quarters some place inder the back of my truck. If you ever find out what it is, please let me know. . I'll do the same. norton

 

[BGlidewell]

loose change may be a broken exhaust bracket/weld.

 

[RHestand]

My first jingling/clicking rattle encounter:
A few months after buying a new 1966 Pontiac GTO it developed an intermittent rattle that sounded like it was coming from under my dash.
The dealer couldn't find it ( intermittent?) so when I couldn't take it any more I decided I'd crawl under the dash the best I could (It also had a center console) and have my buddy drive the car.
After driving around town (It seemed to rattle worse in town) with me laying on the floor looking up under the dash and getting half motion sick, I finally noticed the nice new round/flat GTO key-fob my wife had bought and put on for me, was clicking on the face of the dash. It would only do it when the flat part was perpendicular to the dash and then only when you would apply the brakes firmly. Also I think with the keys in the ignition and me sitting in the drivers seat, my right knee completely blocked their view.
At least it was an easy fix, as soon as I recovered from my motion sickness.
My only defense is "I was young, and it was my first new car".
Ray

 

[Kry226]

I have had a noice in the rear of mine that sounds like "Loose Change" jingling in your pocket.



Mac

I've got the same thing going with my 05, it sounds like someone left some quarters some place inder the back of my truck. If you ever find out what it is, please let me know. . I'll do the same. norton

I had something like this a while back. Thought it it was worn drive shaft u-joints. Replaced. No fix. Ended up finding a loose lug nut on one of the rears. Fixed it right up. Sometimes it's the darndest things.