I'm a super-noob. Craziest thing I've done to my 2002 WRX is clean the airflow sensor, change my air-filter and replace the intake silencer with a snorkus.

I have a rattle. Mainly around 3.5k RPMs, also on startup, high reving, etc. I'm getting headaches just trying to find a few pics to get an idea of what I should be looking for to fix my rattle.

I'm pretty sure the problem is the DP heat shield.

My questions:

* Could the heat shield just be loose and fixed with the tightening of a couple screws?
* Could it be broken and need replacing?
* How can I diagnose the problem? Do I need to raise the car or can I just jack it up?

Any pics or suggestions would be very helpful.

Any person near Redwood City, California willing to help would be rewarded with beer and food.

*other mods: Helix flex uppipe, karboy sts and bushings.

The soob in question:

 

i had a rattle comming from loose o2 sensor plug.
tighten it

iam newbie too :x

 

Sure first thing you want to check the bolts on the DP's heat shields.
Can you move the heat shields with your hands? (do this when the car is cold lol)
Have you taken out the DP in the past?
You may not have to raise the car up just stick our hand in the dp area and try moving stuff around.
If you can't feel anything loose you might have to raise your car up and check the heat shields around the headers and through out the exhaust.

 

Thanks so much guys. I'll try your suggestions tomorrow when I get a moment.

I'm just having a hard time finding some pics or illustrations showing the general location of the dp and shield. That's how noobish I am. All I've been able to find is a pdf of the 2002 Impreza service manual.

I also downloaded the Cobb down pipe instructions but there aren't any good engine pics with little arrows or noob friendly diagrams.

I just hope with a little luck and elbow grease I can locate this rattle. I hate the idea of cruising around and people hearing my baby rattling and stuff. I don't want people thinking Soob's are shaky mobiles.

 

It should be just some loose bolts. Either from the down pipe itself or the heat shield.

 

If you're looking down at the engine with the front of the car facing you. You'll see the intercooler at the top. To the left of that you'll see the heatshield with a Hand on it that has a "don't touch" symbol (don't touch it when the car has been running!)

under that is the turbo. If you can look near the firewall (back of the engine bay) in that area, you should see a large pipe that angles from the turbo downward under the car. That's the downpipe.

 

I had this when I put my stock exhaust back on. I'm not sure where it came from, but there was a bolt missing on one of the flanges, which may have been where it was coming from. Maybe it could also be the catalytic converter? How many miles are on the car?

My advice, go aftermarket DP