Rattle - what to do ?

[WilliamsF1]

98' Boxster, Tiptronic.

It's not very loud but I can hear it from inside in idle and when driving. It IS annoying... it's there all the time, fast or slow, but when driving 'fast' its hard to hear because the regular engine sound is much louder - hot or cold and it's pretty much the same noise, just a rattling sound... at first i though it was like a rotating sound but when I listen under the car I think it sounds more like a vibrating metal sound - I looked under the car tried to push some of the parts but I could not stop the rattle (I do not know what is what anyways)

At one point my mechanic said he welded the the one part of the heat shield because it was a bit loose in one corner...

I have made a recording where the sound is pretty obvious:

http://www.shooter.dk/rattle/rattle.wav

What do you think this sound is and can anyone recognize it from their car ?

Is this serious (engine), muffler or heatshield (I read about this a few times here) ?

Should I take this to the mechanic before I leave on a 2000km road-trip ? I just returned from him 2 days ago, but I did not mention this to him and he didn't say anything about it either...

How many of you live with a rattle

Kind regards

Morten

[vizcarra44]

98' Boxster, Tiptronic.

It's not very loud but I can hear it from inside in idle and when driving. It IS annoying... it's there all the time, fast or slow, but when driving 'fast' its hard to hear because the regular engine sound is much louder - hot or cold and it's pretty much the same noise, just a rattling sound... at first i though it was like a rotating sound but when I listen under the car I think it sounds more like a vibrating metal sound - I looked under the car tried to push some of the parts but I could not stop the rattle (I do not know what is what anyways)

At one point my mechanic said he welded the the one part of the heat shield because it was a bit loose in one corner...

I have made a recording where the sound is pretty obvious:

http://www.shooter.dk/rattle/rattle.wav

What do you think this sound is and can anyone recognize it from their car ?

Is this serious (engine), muffler or heatshield (I read about this a few times here) ?

Should I take this to the mechanic before I leave on a 2000km road-trip ? I just returned from him 2 days ago, but I did not mention this to him and he didn't say anything about it either...

How many of you live with a rattle

Kind regards

Morten

Maybe its the recording quality, but it sounds bad to me, check your water pump pulley to see if its moving side to side excessively.

vizcarra44

[Glyn]

98' Boxster, Tiptronic.

It's not very loud but I can hear it from inside in idle and when driving. It IS annoying... it's there all the time, fast or slow, but when driving 'fast' its hard to hear because the regular engine sound is much louder - hot or cold and it's pretty much the same noise, just a rattling sound... at first i though it was like a rotating sound but when I listen under the car I think it sounds more like a vibrating metal sound - I looked under the car tried to push some of the parts but I could not stop the rattle (I do not know what is what anyways)

At one point my mechanic said he welded the the one part of the heat shield because it was a bit loose in one corner...

I have made a recording where the sound is pretty obvious:

http://www.shooter.dk/rattle/rattle.wav

What do you think this sound is and can anyone recognize it from their car ?

Is this serious (engine), muffler or heatshield (I read about this a few times here) ?

Should I take this to the mechanic before I leave on a 2000km road-trip ? I just returned from him 2 days ago, but I did not mention this to him and he didn't say anything about it either...

How many of you live with a rattle

Kind regards

Morten

It certainly sounds rotational as viscarra44 stated, there is also an idler on the polyrib belt, pity you didnt rev the engine, that way we could have heard the effect and been a little more analytical, if you are handy with a spanner loosen the idler on the polyrib belt and remove the belt, then start her up, if the sound has dissapeared you will know it is one of the pully wheels which means idler, alternator, power steering pump, air-con compressor etc.

Dont drive the car far as you will have no water pump or power steering but you can rev her up - with the noise i hear it will be obvious if one of the pullys are responsible - then spin them all one by one by hand to see if you can detect a roughness or noise, then grasp and try to twist them - this checks for excessive bearing wear

Good luck

[WilliamsF1]

First of all thank you for the replys ... great to have a forum like this who has so much knowledge.

BUT Argh... When will my luck change with this Boxster :( 3. pretty big error on the car in under 1 month!

I also checked the car again and must admit it sounded a bit rotational to me - maybe I just really wanted to believe it was not!

But the car runs just fine and the actual engine makes no 'bad sound'.

1.

I am not very handy with a spanner so i cannot do those things you said + I dont know how to get to them, I have never had the enigne cover of myself - I simply do not dare and I am not sure where those belts are, but should I conclude that the car needs a visit to the mechanics again ?

2.

If this is rotational and it is a pump is it then either: idler, alternator, power steering pump or air-con compressor ?

And if so can the mechanics determine it with accuracy if they open up the car or will they have to replace part for part ?

3.

Where do I check the water pump like vizcarra suggested ?? I suspect it to be this because I just had a big coolant reservoir break down so maybe the water pump took some damage !?

4.

Is this a indication that a pump is allready 'dead' or that it is about to die ?

How much $$ does a pump repair like the one I seem to have cost ?

5.

Can I drive the car - I just had a pretty long high-way drive home yesterday where it performed just fine but should I keep it in the garage untill the mechanics has looked at it ?

Should I even get it towed to the mechanics ?

6.

I just added new rims, I like those... my current only highlight about this car :) Got xenon headlamps and new rear-lamps + black 3. brakelight :)

Thank you!

[vizcarra44]

First of all thank you for the replys ... great to have a forum like this who has so much knowledge.

BUT Argh... When will my luck change with this Boxster :( 3. pretty big error on the car in under 1 month!

I also checked the car again and must admit it sounded a bit rotational to me - maybe I just really wanted to believe it was not!

But the car runs just fine and the actual engine makes no 'bad sound'.

1.

I am not very handy with a spanner so i cannot do those things you said + I dont know how to get to them, I have never had the enigne cover of myself - I simply do not dare and I am not sure where those belts are, but should I conclude that the car needs a visit to the mechanics again ?

2.

If this is rotational and it is a pump is it then either: idler, alternator, power steering pump or air-con compressor ?

And if so can the mechanics determine it with accuracy if they open up the car or will they have to replace part for part ?

3.

Where do I check the water pump like vizcarra suggested ?? I suspect it to be this because I just had a big coolant reservoir break down so maybe the water pump took some damage !?

4.

Is this a indication that a pump is allready 'dead' or that it is about to die ?

How much $$ does a pump repair like the one I seem to have cost ?

5.

Can I drive the car - I just had a pretty long high-way drive home yesterday where it performed just fine but should I keep it in the garage untill the mechanics has looked at it ?

Should I even get it towed to the mechanics ?

6.

I just added new rims, I like those... my current only highlight about this car :) Got xenon headlamps and new rear-lamps + black 3. brakelight :)

Thank you!

To do the water pump is not to bad, to get to this all you have to do is remove the carpet sound pad behind the seats and remove the ft engine shield, couple of 10mm bolts, then you have access to ft of engine and pulleys ect. I wouldnt drive this car to far before doing a complete inspection first. If your water pump goes it can cause some major problems. if you are not mechanically inclined go to a reputable shop and have them look at it. To isolate noises i would just use a very long screwdriver with the handle pressed against your ear and the tip of the tool on the suspected noise area.

I have attached some labor times from Alldata for t-stat, water pump replacement. Note that if your water pump is gone I would also have the T-stat replaced as well.

And make sure the shop that does the job knows how to refill the cooling system with the vacuum method.

good luck,

vizcarra44

[Tool Pants]

Did you check for rattle in the front trunk....

[WilliamsF1]

Great, thank you :)

I don't have the skills to check those things you mention but I definitely will try to get this checked up as soon as possible!!

They are a Porsche specialist place so I assume they know how to do this refilling the right way!

Any other suggestions on likely rattle-cause is very welcome...

[WilliamsF1]

Did you check for rattle in the front trunk....

hahaha... no i didnt :) great picture!... ill check, it might be it !

Do you think it is the water pump or what is your 'guess' ?

Last time I went to the mechanics I could point out the error with help from here... :)

[WilliamsF1]

I just had a thought! :huh:

The sound came allmost at the same time as my coolant tank was replaced.

I am thinking maybe the mechanic did not vacume the coolant and therefor the water pump has a lot of air bubbles in it !

Could that be the issue perhaps ??

I tried to take the engine cover from inside the car out but I could not tell where the sound came from - I think it came from a lower area so I am thinking it might be the water pump, maybe it ran dry for a while with the coolant breakdown and got damaged ?

[Glyn]

I just had a thought! :huh:

The sound came allmost at the same time as my coolant tank was replaced.

I am thinking maybe the mechanic did not vacume the coolant and therefor the water pump has a lot of air bubbles in it !

Could that be the issue perhaps ??

I tried to take the engine cover from inside the car out but I could not tell where the sound came from - I think it came from a lower area so I am thinking it might be the water pump, maybe it ran dry for a while with the coolant breakdown and got damaged ?

From all that you have said it doesnt sound like this is going to cost you mega bucks, the most likely is either the idler adjuster or the water pump, any decent mechanic will be able to pinpoint the problem within minutes of taking the engine front cover off, of course get ready for the sharp intake of breath, the nodding head and the false screwed up face - its part of the motor vehicles mechanic training- they have a whole week practicing this before they move on to how to fix the things :lol:

[WilliamsF1]

hahaha... Im rarely there when they diagnose!

But could it be airbubbles perhaps, would that make a noticeable sound ?

[Glyn]

hahaha... Im rarely there when they diagnose!

But could it be airbubbles perhaps, would that make a noticeable sound ?

Not a chance.

This is not major and in reality any half competant mechanic could locate the problem and replace the offending part, perhaps a few comments will now come from others who will shudder that non Porsche people should touch it.

Its just a car

Go to an independant, listen to what they say, buy the part via interwebby and let them fit.

Oh yes, there is no great shakes to filling with water, you do not have to vaccum etc, its mysterys like this that make everybody afraid to do anything on them, to top up / fill with water, open the bleed valve - which is under the oil and water cap in the boot - take caps off and lift the plastic false floor- under this is the vent- simply pull back the pin to open the valve - put the cap back on the oil but leave the water off, start the engine and let it warm up, as the thermostat opens trapped air will be forced up the vent, the water level will fall and you simply top it up.

Keep it running for about 10 minutes like this, then shut the vent, top the water to its proper level and fit the cap, then go enjoy