Rattle in front end

[gupc]

Hi all,

First post here - looking to see if anyone's had experience with this issue or might have suggestions as to what the problem might be:

Currently drive a '10 GX460 and noticing a light rattle/fluttering noise coming from what seems like the front end when the engine is cold and RPM's are above 2K. The noise is gone once the engine is warmed up. I've tried to replicate the noise while parked and the car idles/revs fine, so the issue seems to only come up while I'm driving the car. There doesn't appear to be any exhaust leaks or cracks in the header - wondering what else may cause this issue?

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[UTFJ]

If I understand your description of the noise correctly, I have the same thing. It almost sounds like something rattling in the exhaust pipe under the center console. Maybe a loose heat shield, but the noise goes away after the first good acceleration.
I’m interested to see if anyone else has solved this.

 

[gupc]

If I understand your description of the noise correctly, I have the same thing. It almost sounds like something rattling in the exhaust pipe under the center console. Maybe a loose heat shield, but the noise goes away after the first good acceleration.
I’m interested to see if anyone else has solved this.

Yes, it could be described as that. To add a bit more detail, the noise will keep coming up as I accelerate and rpms go above 2K while engine is cold. As soon as engine begins to warm up, the issue is gone. To reiterate though, it is weird how the noise can't be replicated if the car is stationary and will only occur as the car is moving...

 

[r2m]

We had something like that with my wife's old 100 series Landcruiser with a lot of miles (280k). It never affected performance, and as you mentioned, went away when it warmed up.
I thoughts have always been that it may be something loose in the catalytic converter or some part of the exhaust and when it warms up, expands and seats itself.
I never had it fixed so unfortunately I can't tell you for sure what it was.
How many miles do you have?

 

[gupc]

Jacked up the car today to check if any of the heat shields had come lose etc. and couldn't see anything - this issue is getting really annoying just knowing that it's there.

The truck has just under 100K miles...