1998 Subaru Forester Rattling noise

1998 SUBARU FORESTER
131,500 MILES • 4 CYL • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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USAF GUY
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I'm hearing a low rattling/knocking sound from my 98 Subaru Forester's engine. It doesn't sound like a rod bearing failure--at least not like rod bearings I've heard before (not a consistently loud knock...)

It's loud in the morning when cold, settles down a bit when it warms up, but never really goes away at idle--sounds almost like dieseling from a few feet away, but the knock/rattle is audible up close.

When driving at 2K plus RPM flat and level road, no noise, but when accelerating/decelerating/climbing hills the rattle becomes more pronounced--from the driver's seat it almost sounds like a loose heat shield.

No loss of performance yet, just the noise.

Anyone out there who might have a lead on this?
Dec 17, 2009 at 12:23 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Chances are one of the catylatic converters has come loose inside. Tale a rubber mallot and tap on the converter to see if that is the sound. Also, there are a lot of heat shields under the car so check them too.

Let me know what you find, and thanks for using 2carpros.com.

Joe
Dec 17, 2009 at 3:32 PM