Rattle Sound, What Is It?

[silver328is]

Here’s the scoop, after i go drive around for a while and come home i hear a rattle/ compressor sound coming from the passenger side, around the front tire. It doesn’t always do it and i think i hear is more often when it is cold. What could it be? it does not matter is the heater or A/C is on or off and the car runs fine.

[97alpineM3]

Coming from the front right tire..???... sounds like a wheel bearing... is it inside the engine bay.. or is it outside the car?... does it only do it while driving?

Les

[silver328is]

i hear the noise when the car is idelling in my garage. Is there any kind of pump that is near the power steering rack and pinion? Its a rattel or something else makeing the noise when my car is not moving. I cant hear it in the engine bay but when the hood is closed and im by the passenger side fender i hear it.

[97alpineM3]

Your power steering pump is by the rack... above that is your water pump.. and your alternator... on the top... does it make it worse when you turn the wheel all the way to the stop?..

Les

[Tochenzo]

I hear a little rattle noise near the passenger door when i go over rocks or bumpy roads.

[Casey3561]

Hmmm... Front strut, maybe? Mine made a rattle like that for a while.

[silver328is]

not the front strut because the noise is when the car is in one spot. so i started to try differnt things and i can only hear it when my lights are on. I thought that was weird. than since 97alpineM3 mentioned power steering is in that area i tried to turn the tires with the lights on and w/out the car moving. The noise got louder when i tried to turn the wheel. What you guys think about that? i think since the lights are taking power from the car, the power steering pump or rack and pinion are makeing noise because they dont have enough power. Should the idle be raised??? Thanks for the help so far

[97alpineM3]

No.. dont raise the idle.... dont touch that!...

Next question... did you try and turn the wheel and reproduce the sound without the lights on?.. does it make the same sound..?..

This could be many things... so keep answering questions.. and maybe we'll get you close enough that you can go get something tested out and replaced or fixed.

Do your light dim with you turn your steering wheel?.. If so .. sounds like a weak alternator... also try doing this with the radio on...

Also.. make sure your belts are not extremly worn.. as they might be sliping on the alternator pulley... when you put strain on the belt system with the power steering... and then strain on the alternator... it might be causing a slight slip... but try sticking your head around and under the side of the car.. and taking a picture or something like a good description of the sound.. and or the location of the sound.

Les

[bitcore]

If the belt was slipping, it'd make that god-awful squeal noise that just screams "REPLACE MY FREAKING BELTS YOU NEGLEGANT MEANIE!"

Could it be the exhaust heat shield? Mine vibrates at low rom (idle) and stops any any other RPM.

Watch your tachometer when you fool around with putting strain on the engine. It is normal for the rpm to drop a bit and try to return to normal when you put an extra load on the engine (IE: lights, turning wheels, loud radio)

[BLACKBMW]

Originally posted by Tochenzo@Nov 14 2004, 06:47 PM
I hear a little rattle noise near the passenger door when i go over rocks or bumpy roads.

[snapback]230933[/snapback]

you have a fatigued "anti-rattle" brake pad clip - easy to fit and pennies from the stealer - this clip stops the pads jumping in the calipers when you hit a bump

J...