Strange Mettalic Vibration from Underneath Explorer....

[King$nake]

For the past couple of months, Ive been hearing a metallic sound coming from underneath my explorer. I used to only notice it when the truck was cold, but now even after it warms up I can hear it, especially when the truck is not moving, and at idle. Its kinda loud and I am considering selling my explorer, and would like to know what it is so I can fix it. Is it possible my catalytic converters could be getting old and making the noise? Thats kinda what it sounds like. My Ex has about 85,x.. miles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks
Joe

 

[Howard]

Check the heat shields on the exhaust. I had one come loose and it sounds terrible.

 

[Big6ft6]

I second the heat shields, that rattle at idle when your engine vibrates the most when it dips down to idle rpms, they rattle your exhuast and those heat shields rattle against the exhaust/catylitic converter etc. Crawl under when it is cold, find the loose one and if you can secure, rip it off.

When I was in High school my parents were constantly have the truck in as it got older to have the latest rattling heat shield ripped off. As long as you aren't going to go drive through tall dry grass..or other combustabiles, it won't hurt anything.

 

[King$nake]

You guys called it. It was the rear-most heat shield on the exhaust (just rear of the cat). Looks like good ol Ford had tack-welded both ends to the pipe. One end broke free and was just hanging there, and that was causing the rattling. Unfortuanetly the other end is still welded on there pretty good, so I cant just pull off the shield without tools, so I just pulled it away from the pipe a little bit and it stopped the rattling until i can figure out what else to do.

Thanks for the help guys
Joe

 

[m6500]

i was sucessful with putting a large hose clamp around the exhaust line and securing the tab of the shield back in place.