Have you checked to make sure that there isn't a small child in your trunk?

 

Nope...no small children lol.

Hey, so I checked it again, and it sounds like it's coming from the front of the car.
Again, it's usually when I'm engine braking and it only occurs under 2.5k rpms. But when I clutch in, hit the brakes (only sometimes), or press the gas again, it disappears. Some people on other forums say it may be a heat shield, but if that were the case, wouldn't it be rattling more often instead of at certain rpm ranges?

 

heat shields don't clunk. you could come by and i'll take a listen if you'd like.

 

It could be heatshields due to just enough vibration. When the car is dead cold, do slap raise the car and slap the heatshields and see if you can replicate the sound. My turbo heatshield was loose once and would only rattle during moderate acceleration.

 

well it's not really clunking. it's more rattling now that i think about it. its like if you take some aluminum sheet metal and hit it with some zip ties, you might get that same sound.

 

the only rattling heat shield issue I had was on the up pipe, the welds on those break all the time.

 

i really need to get my car up in the air and take a closer look. funny, i work at elk grove toyota and can use the lifts on my days off, but problem is, i really don't even know what to look or where to look for that matter. i would say my knowledge of cars is more or less book smart...not really practice smart...kinda lame haha T.T

 

So...since I am pretty close to my 105k check up, I have a feeling that this rattling sound is my timing belt tensioner going out. I took a stethoscope to the engine and it originally sounded like it was coming from the valve train closer to the driver's side. However, I don't think I drive my car nearly hard enough for the valves to be going out nor do I keep my car malnourished of oil (in otherwords, there's always oil in the car lol).

The only thing I can think of now is that it's my timing belt tensioner. I haven't pulled the cover off as I don't have enough time to do it, but this seems to be the most common problem that I've found during my search for answers...

 

tensioners usually aren't issues. most timing belts done at 105k still look practically brand new. there's a few of us on here that can take a second look/listen.

 

I would check the clearance around your downpipe near the transmission and around the frame. But if you don't have rear lockdown bolts, or fresh bushings, I wouldn't rule that stuff out, and either way they would be helpful.

 

Well I am somewhat due for a timing belt service so I ordered the parts for that. Friend and I are going to take a look at ALL of it when we do the timing belt.

Here's a video of what it sounds like.


It happens around 0:33, 0:52, and 1:19. I'm pretty sure you can hear it throughout the video, but it's most audible during those times

 

sounds like your up pipe heat shield may be loose. if you swing by here i'll check it out for free, or grab me some food and i'll meet you wherever.

 

I had a few sounds that were driving me crazy with my 05 sti. Feal Suspension redid my back struts and I did a better mount on the Perrin heatshield - sounds gone

 

Sounds good. But I only have Tuesdays off from work. If I did meet up with you, where would u want to meet up at?