Rattling sound only when accelerating

pebbles?

little pebbles would get trapped and rattle around the skid plates and heat shields of my Outback. They'd rattle at certain speeds or rpm's. A single pebble could cause this.
 
i think somewhere on the exhaust as well. I had a rattle coming from the damper bracket right near the cat. (passenger side... mine would only rattle while stopped in drive.) couldnt find where it was coming from for the longest time. check that? see if it is rusted out.

i just broke it off with a hammer.. :bash: will eventually fix it properly. it was rusted bad tho
 
I would REALLY like to know if anyone has found a solution to this issue... I have the same symptoms and would be thrilled to make it stop.

Anyone?

Its really hard to diagnose because at least in my case, it only occurs when physically moving. kinda hard to look under there when accelerating
 
Mine does this, and is exactly at 2k rpms... Definitely some resonant thing. Too lazy to properly look, but only makes the noise when out driving. Revving to 2k in Park does nothing.
 
So I finally climbed under the runner again while doing starter contacts... checked all the exhaust shields, and they're snug. Firm pound on the cat... sure enough, rattles. Sounds as if there are little rocks inside. Looks like there's no fix for this unless anyone has any ideas. Turn up the stereo...
 
Does anyone have friends?! Just have a buddy rev the engine and look around. :D
Or if seems to come from the engine bay, tug on the throttle body a little and pinpoint the location...
 
Does anyone have friends?! Just have a buddy rev the engine and look around. :D
Or if seems to come from the engine bay, tug on the throttle body a little and pinpoint the location...

I think everyone is saying it only happens while driving. Mine does it occasionally - also only when driving - but not often enough for me to try and figure it out.
 
I think everyone is saying it only happens while driving. Mine does it occasionally - also only when driving - but not often enough for me to try and figure it out.

Then I think its time to ghost ride the whip as the kids say these days. :bounce:
 
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I've got the same rattle described. Haven't been able to pin point where it's coming from since it only happens while moving. I figured it was an exhaust leak. I'll have to check the cat. Thanks guys!
 
I found one of the rattles coming from underneath by putting it in drive, and setting up the ebrake. I crawled underneath and there is some kind of steel bump stop mounted to the tranny with a rubber bushing. It's a steel block around 3x5x2 inches thick. That thing was part of it. I cut it off, and there is still a strange buzz coming from someplace, but most of it is gone.
 
Over the weekend I found the metal on metal rattling noise that has been making me crazy for months.

I happened to park facing up on a fairly steep driveway and while jumping out of the truck I heard the noise. I gave the truck a good shake and sure enough - there it was. So I took the opportunity to roll under the truck and had my buddy shake the truck side to side and located the source.

On level ground there must be enough pressure on the rear swaybar to keep the end link bushings in contact with the mount - which is why in the past I have been unable to reproduce the noise. While parked "uphill" it took the pressure off the rear swaybar and the endlink (old, hard, cracking) bushings and the endlink clanged around on both sides.

I didn't have the time to run to the store to buy new bushings and I was unable to tighten as the treads were bottomed out - so I added a couple washers for now and that will hold me until the weekend when I can get in there and make the proper repair.

*additional info* Through all this I also had a bad muffler making it all the more difficult to track down this issue. Today's drive to work was like driving a different 4Runner !

[MENTION=60147]the kid[/MENTION], [MENTION=85201]seabun[/MENTION], [MENTION=79025]TRDFerguson[/MENTION], [MENTION=83356]rideexileex[/MENTION], [MENTION=46730]MONTYMTB[/MENTION], [MENTION=21950]sn0wrunner[/MENTION], [MENTION=86371]T4RunnerSteve[/MENTION], [MENTION=20809]jsukey[/MENTION], [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION], [MENTION=93416]kammando808[/MENTION], [MENTION=59733]98OzarksRunner[/MENTION]
 
I found one of the rattles coming from underneath by putting it in drive, and setting up the ebrake. I crawled underneath and there is some kind of steel bump stop mounted to the tranny with a rubber bushing. It's a steel block around 3x5x2 inches thick. That thing was part of it. I cut it off, and there is still a strange buzz coming from someplace, but most of it is gone.

This sounds like what I just fixed for 29¢. Look at your forward catalytic converter and check that all four bolts are present and tight. Mine was missing one and every time I accelerated it drove me bonkers. A stainless bolt, nut and a few washers was all it took (common sense says wait until it's cool to work on it).
 
Ahh mine is still present and any attempt to locate it has been unsuccessful thus far, but I haven't gotten under it while it was running. Suppose I will try the ebrake method despite it making me a bit nervous. The rattle is slowly driving me mad...
 
Have you checked your U-joints?

I had a similar problem in my Toyota 86, I believe it was around the time I removed a 3" lift kit and went back to stock height. I had the problem go away and come back for about 5 months before I finally found out it was my Rear U-joint that would squeak occasionally when accelerating and sometimes when I was not giving it gas as well. Usually you can give your drive-line a good tug near the front or back by the u-joints if it gives then you might want to get it replaced 15$. drive-line shops will pop in your new one if you bring it in for free if you buy it there usually. if it doesn't budge try giving it some grease maybe that will help, it definitely wont hurt.
 

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