What is this.......

[ff4109]

I recently purchased a 1997 eddie bauer explorer with an auto transmission. Every once in a while around 1500-2000 rpms i hear a ratteling like a loose piece of metal somewhere and rarely it gets stuck in that 1500-2000 rpm range. I can slam my foot down and it will stay in that range until i take my foot off the gas and then it stops and i can drive normally. Is this a transmission problem? :roll:

 

[section525]

Loose heat shield?

 

[rhyno]

Like an exterior metal rattling? One you can hear out the window? If so, I would agree with Section, check the heat shield clamps on the muffler or exhaust pipes. Mine went bad on my 97 eddie twice. You can get a replacement clamp at Lowes/Home Dept/harware store for about a dollar.

I am not sure what you mean by "it gets stuck in that range". If your talking about the engine reving but not changing gears, and the rattling is associated with that, it may well be the tranny.

 

[ff4109]

where is the heat shield so i can see if that is it

 

[N7XME]

I would check the heat shields over the tops of the Cats. They are only tack welded on the corners. Mine had one weld each holding them on. I just reached up and ripped them off. No more rattle. This is a common problem for a lot of cars. My wifes 2003 Taurus has the same rattle and I have isolated it to the Cat heat shield as well.

 

[Chubbyfresh]

I have the same problem on my 93 xlt - rattle above 2500rpm, only when above 40mph. rattle definatly not coming from the engine - reved in place to 3k with an ear to the block and nothing. I figured the engine vibration was rattling something - presumed maybe the spider gears were all broken up front - but the cat heat sheild makes much more sense - if it ever stops snowing here I'll check that out.