Rear exhaust 'box rattle - W202

[doversole]

I've just noticed this morning, went out and 'lit the fire' as usual.
Cleaned the wet off the windows with a rubber blade and heard a rattle coming from the rear 'box.
I'm sure I haven't heard it before and it also seems to disappear once everything is warm (i'm guessing this is because whatever is loose has expanded inside):-|
Anyway, the car is up in the air next month for the MoT, I can't see an exhaust leak anywhere, no 'blowing' sounds are evident.
I have 77k miles.

Does this mean it's new tail-pipe section time soon?

Suggestions welcomed,

DoverSole

 

[carabind]

could be baffles or other contents in the box are becoming detached, mainly through corrosion. Do you do mainly short or long runs ? Long runs give the system a chance to warm up and dry out so prolong life a little more........

 

[television]

Do check all of the hangers are intact,,if its a loose baffle it may stop just as easy as it started

 

[doversole]

Thanks for the pointers, guys.

I do mainly short runs, just to work and back therefore as you say it doesn't get much of a chance to dry out. I will see what the MoT comes up with, I can live with it at the moment - however a new tail section could be up for grabs in the New Year. In the meantime, if anyone could recommend a suitable source for this part i'd appreciate it.

DoverSole

 

[television]

If you shove an apple up the pipe you will be amazed at how quiet the car goes

 

[doversole]

If you shove an apple up the pipe you will be amazed at how quiet the car goes

Your technical tips are becoming quite 'fruity' Malcolm, when we were kids we took great delight in shoving a spud up Dad's Landrover exhaust pipe. Went like a rocket!

DoverSole

 

[doversole]

An update.

It's still rattling but prompted by a few suggestions I pushed up on the rear 'box with my foot this morning and the rattly noise goes away. So, it could be one of the rubber thingies that's perished and the noise i'm hearing is metal to metal contact between the exhaust and one of the metal hangers. I'll have a decent look at 'Mike Oscar Tango' time.

DoverSole

 

[shadowninja]

Slam a door closed and see if you can hear the rattle, too. I found that there's a plate that the hanger passes through (heat shield, I presume) and it had rusted it's way clean of the join so was just sitting on the exhaust box.

 

[doversole]

Slam a door closed and see if you can hear the rattle, too. I found that there's a plate that the hanger passes through (heat shield, I presume) and it had rusted it's way clean of the join so was just sitting on the exhaust box.

I'll do that, thanks - the car's done 77k and I think the rear 'box is the original one.

DoverSole

 

[doversole]

Curiouser and curiouser!

Went out this morning to go to work and the rattle is conspicuous by its absence!

Whatever was making the noise has gone, at least for the moment.
MoT booked for the 10th and i'll get a chance to look underneath.

DoverSole

 

[HERBIEMERCMAN]

hi doversole, it's a nice fish, however to be serious, i have just had the same problem you are describing, this only happens in very cold conditions, the rubber exh. retaining loops suffer compression set, reversion, this causes the exh. to vibrate against the aluminium heat baffle. i used a heavy duty cable tie to pull the rear silencer away from the baffle. problem solved, alternatively you can wait for the warmer weather. best of luck. herbiemercman.

 

[doversole]

Thanks Herbie,

I'm sure it's not much, as you say. I just got to thinking the tailpipe could maybe on its way out.
MoT will provide me with some assurance, i'll wager.

DoverSole