I have a 2000 Durango 5.9l magnum slt with 180k miles on the drivetrain.

For close to a year now i've had a metallic rattle (loud at times) that sounds like it is coming from the rear of the engine. At first i thought it was the broken four wheel drive linkage so i was not too concerned but yesterday i went under and took that out and the noise is still there.

The real problem is that i don't have the money to get it looked at nor do i have the tools or knowhow to troubleshoot for myself.

Happens when - Mostly around 2k rpms before shifting into 2nd and also 3rd gears. I can also hear it when i'm cruising on the highway though not as loud, when i'm next to something solid such as a wall or truck.

Keep in mind this happens according to engine speed and shifting, mph nor bumpy roads have any influence. So i'm thinking its something to do with the tranny i just have no idea what.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 

any chance you check the cat converter?? just give it a tap and see if it rattles, if so then you have the problem (or at least part of it) the other thing to do if you think you have a tranny problem start by checking the fluid level with the transmission warm (drive it 15 miles) the engine running in neutral, make sure the fluid level is good. the other things that i would look at for engine speed dependent sound is the pulleys on the front of the engine and the accessories.

 

Umm could be many things. I'd have someone inside step on the throttle to keep it around 2,000 RPM and bring out a stethoscope and try to isolate the area its in.

My first two suspicions that are common would be the heat shields on the side of engine or catalytic convertor. I'd first go under the hood and pull the throttle cable and see if it's rattling the heat shield though.

 

ok, i will check all of the suggested problems as soon as i get home and let you know if it was any of them. As for the 2,000rpm/ stethoscope suggestion, there is no noise in park/drive/rev anything unless i am driving and i get up to 2,000 rpms. I can't get it to make a sound sitting still (which is very aggrevating)

 

well since you cant reproduce the sound sitting still, that points to something in the driveline AFTER the trans (or in the trans) possibly the t-case chain (if you have a 4x4)

 

yes it is 4x4, i went under yesterday and the rubber rings attaching the metal link bar were rotted out so i just too the bar out thinking it was rubbing on the driveshaft. how would i check out the transfer case? and it is still possible that it it the transfer case even though the truck has been stuck in 2wd for over a year?

 

yea it is possible, how to determine if its the chain is hard to do bc you need to get in a position where you can hear if the noise is coming from the t-case while the driveline is moving (either put the running truck in gear while on jack stands, or somehow stand outside it and see if you can hear where its coming from)

i dont like telling people to go poking underneath a running vehicle on jack stands, its not really a safe way to go about doing things

 

Could be the transfer chain or the large roller bearing inside the overdrive unit. Did you also ck the o2 sensors? If they come loose, they will rattle too.