small rattle when in low revs

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

not sure what it is but when i change gear and the revs are low there is some sort of rattle which sounds like its comming from just below the engine but its hard to tell anyway it sound like a loose bolt or somthing, iv checked the heat shield and thats fine i used to have the same noise on my r5 which i never sorted, the noise seems lowder when i open the window, i have no idea but its very very annoying

any help would be appreciated

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

pinking probably if its low revs and loaded.

Solution, use a lower gear!

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

dont you usally get pinking on old cars mine is an l reg single point injection.

what can i do to stop it appart from using a lower gear

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well it shouldn't be there. And yes all engines will pink if loaded wrongly.

Give me an example

if its doing it at 2krpm in 3rd then its not really loaded

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

what do you mean by loaded

sorry to sound thick Embarassed

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

are you trying to make the car accelerate from idle in 5th gear with 5 blokes on board carrying a caravan.

Loaded means tryign to accelerate hard from low revs, if you expect the car to whisk you up to 70 from 1.5 krpm in 5th then its gonna pink a bit.

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

ok thanks for the info mate hope anydvd does the job for you, iv just got hold a ford orion ghia si its the 1.8 16v 130 bhp model cost me Â£40

iv done a lot of wleding on the rear chasis arms but the car is a beast very nice ror from it, have you sold yours yet Exclamation

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

nope, can't get rid of the fecking thing!

We just want rid so the red car can get on the road. Its a decent enough car but I have spent time etc on the red car and my mum likes the hatchback as its more practical so the red cars stayign and the orions going. No bugger wants it though.

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

just put it on ebay and see if it goes failing that try addtrader

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

its been in ad trader for 3 weeks

ebay I'll get 20 quid for it if that

Site Subscriber Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 4722

put a reserve on it then?

or a buy it now price.

Level 6 User Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Posts: 155

You might be able to verify that its pinking by putting in a tank or two of super unleaded (optimax would be best) and seeing if the noise persists. The higher RON of super unleaded should in theory make an engine which pinks do it less often or not at all. I used optimax fairly regularly in my 19 Energy, because I went past a cheap place to get it quite regularly (Watford in north london is the place btw), and the car seemed to run better when I did - twas quieter too. I used to accelerate smoothly from about 1500rpm in 5th upwards without any dodgy noises from the engine too!

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 1108

My parents had a rattle at low revs on their old Renault 19 1.4 RT and it turned out to be the CAT. But obviously that would not sound like it was comin from the bottom of the engine, cuz that's further back like under driver's seat pretty much. It used to rattle when u were sat idling, and also pulling away from junctions, driving slowly through traffic etc, but during normal driving there was no rattle........well, not that u could hear anyway. I am probably compleeeeetely wrong, but thought I'd mention it just incase. I bet you've got a decat ain't ya lol. Doh!

Site Subscriber Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 470

i still have my cat on so i will take a look soon but its dam cold out at the moment so il leave it fot a bit.

thanks for your reply Smile

Level 6 User Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Posts: 155

It could be the CAT if its shagged, but I don't think this is a very common thing on 19's unless they are very old/high mileage or have been abused/had a dirty engine connected to them (Chris H or someone put me right if I'm wrong on this!). I've always assumed that CAT's are designed in general to last the life of the car, assuming that it isn't poisoned by a dodgy engine.

If its making the noise while idling ie. when you can get out and get yer head under the bonnet etc you may be able to tell if its coming from the CAT or the engine. If the noise is only when you are loading the engine, ie not when idling (when the engine is just working to turn the input shaft of the gearbox, and therefore not 'loaded'), but more when you are accelerating hard from low (like sub 2k revs) in high gears, then pinking it will most likely be as Chris H has already said.

If its suspected to be pinking, I still say try my petrol method - its easy and doesn't require tools or effort - just a couple of extra quid for a tank full or two of super Smile

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

CATs do not last the life of the car. 10 or so years is very good going for a CAT