Pre-Cat Rattle, Safe to Drive?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Pre-Cat Rattle, Safe to Drive?
Hey all, my 1988 has developed a rattle that I am 99% sure is coming from the passenger pre-cat. I can't get it fixed before next week, and I would like to be able to cruise this weekend. Is there and danger to driving ~200 miles with the rattle? I was driving a bit today, and there was no overheating/power loss or any other issues. Apart from being annoying, is there anything it can screw up?
Also, is there anything to be worried about as a cause? The car has 62k miles, and I have heard that cat problems can be signs of other issues, but everything seems to be running fine to me.
This is only my second car so I am a total newbie at this, maybe I should just play it safe...
Also, is there anything to be worried about as a cause? The car has 62k miles, and I have heard that cat problems can be signs of other issues, but everything seems to be running fine to me.
This is only my second car so I am a total newbie at this, maybe I should just play it safe...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,384
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
It's common. Safe to drive but very annoying. Best way to pinpoint is go but a cheap stethoscope , cut off the end and replace with a metal tube like a piece of brake line. Funny, my car has 63k miles and started rattling as soon as I got it home..
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
They make Mechanics Stethoscopes that are designed to be used around engines and heat. I bought one for less than $12 at a Pep Boys. It is a very handy tool when you have strange sounds!
I am anxious to replace the WYE pipe with the catalytic converters with a plain WYE pipe without any catalytic converters. That will be the last part of the factory system to be replaced. I saw a Corvette that had a bad AC Compressor make some really awful noises coming from very near the right side mini catalytic. It took a couple sets of ears to be sure it was the compressor and a couple days later the compressor died.
I am anxious to replace the WYE pipe with the catalytic converters with a plain WYE pipe without any catalytic converters. That will be the last part of the factory system to be replaced. I saw a Corvette that had a bad AC Compressor make some really awful noises coming from very near the right side mini catalytic. It took a couple sets of ears to be sure it was the compressor and a couple days later the compressor died.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,495
Likes: 3,298
From: Hartford WI
I would find out what the issue is. Pre cats break and dump into the main cat might not be nice. Now if you live in an area the smog ***** don't have control with and you will never sell the car, play ball, at least till the smog ***** come.
Drifting
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 703
From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, metro area
A simple way to check your heat shield is to jack up the car and tap on it.
Mine was rusted at the bolts and loose, so used some of those stainless zip-ties that are used with header exhaust wrap and tied it together tight by running the ties around the whole thing.
This is a temporary repair to stop the rattle until I change the exhaust, but the rattle stopped and all is well for now.
Mine was rusted at the bolts and loose, so used some of those stainless zip-ties that are used with header exhaust wrap and tied it together tight by running the ties around the whole thing.
This is a temporary repair to stop the rattle until I change the exhaust, but the rattle stopped and all is well for now.
