Heat Shield Rattles!

[MrBill]

I have a '94 Eddie Bauer 4X4 which was purchased used. When the engine is idling, there has been a terrible rattling sound coming from under the car. I searched the forum and found messages referring to noisey heat shields. So I checked under the car and found this shield about mid-car and wrapped around the exhaust pipe. There was a short length of #17 galvenized wire wrapped around it, but time and mileage had loosened the wire. I tightened it up and the noise went away. But then I'm sure that the noise will start up again in a month or two.

I can see that this heat shield is similar to two halves of a large tin can, and that these halves were spot-welded together. At least 2 of the welds were broken, which is why it got noisey the first time . . . bad design Ford! Anyway, next time the noise starts up would I do any damage to the car (or passengers) if I were to simply remove this shield? If this is not a good idea, does anyone have any idea of something that would secure the two halves of the shield together tightly and last longer than than wire?

TIA, Bill

 

[Rick]

On one of the shields I was able to put a stainless steel hose clamp around it. That worked until it the shield cracked in half I have been running without it now for a few years.

 

[Mike 92 XLT]

The welds on the heat shields on both my cats broke over the last year or so. I just ripped both of them off and it's been fine.

Mike

 

[ajevenson]

I recently replaced all the hose clamps holding my covers on. I'll keep em on until the covers crack and break off and then leave them off.

 

[Crankcase]

The shields have been off mine for about two years now. No problems since taking them off.

Ford had a pamphlet a while ago showing how to put on metal straps to hold them on.

Maybe a Ford dealer will give you the straps for free(yeah right)

 

[MrBill]

Thanks to everyone for your replies . . . next time the heat shield starts getting noisy, I'll simply remove it.

MrBill