So ive been doing allot of research trying to figure this rattling noise that I hear , by doing some searches I came accross the following post on this forum..

https://dodgeforum.com/m_647395/tm.htm

jisthangin01 seems to be (or have had) the same thing Im having with my truck.. IM fairly certain it's not my cat, and Ive been pointed by a few people on google groups to check the bolts on my torque converter.

Basically what happens is that While on inclines and under stress I hear a rattling noise.. Kinda like a can with a few pellets in it rolling around, the more gass I give the louder it gets, but it doesnt happen when the car is stationary and I rev the engine. The transmission does not slip nor shift in any weird way. I once found a video of someone who lifted their truck's rear tires off the ground, set down a camera and recorded the noise while he was "air driving" his truck, he had the same noise (as far as I could hear) that i have. Ive looked online on youtube etc to see what the noise of a loose bolt on the torque converter sounds like and Im not sure if Im on the right path here since the cars I heard would have very loud rattle/knock/grind noises while idling, which i dont have.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
-tim

 

its not that hard to check those bolts. Remove Starter, and inspection plate off of the front of the tranny, i forget what they have to be torqued to, but I would think probably around 50-60ft lbs (dont quote me on that). As a pointer, when you turn over the motor, you need a 1 1/4 deep well socket with a breaker bar.(crank pulley). Also it will be very hard to turn over the motor, but if you remove the spark plugs it will be very easy.

 

If it is the CAT, it will be pretty evident if its idling too (I would think). Might have a friend take it up and down the RPM range in the driveway in park, or even kinda try to powerbrake it a bit just to change the harmonics and pitch while you listen under the passenger side for Cat rattle.

Mine had the same sound and it ended up being the CAT, and eventually the little pieces I heard rattling re-formed and fused (melted) together one hot day going down the Interstate...causing power loss, hot temps, etc..

If you can rule out the TC as the cause, might replace/gut that CAT!

 

yeah, no noise @ idle, only while moving, and specially on an incline and you floor it.. seems like it likes doing it more in OD as well, but even when OD is off it still does it, but less, which leads me to think TC since it doesnt shift bad or anything.. I did check the tranny fluid.. Looks pink and happy, smells like flowers, and tastes like crack...

 

Spark knock will occur under load.[sm=americanasmiley.gif]

 

Would consider that but for the noise comes from right below me, The first thing I thought was that maybe my rear Diff was going, but after some more research that seems unlikely as a pinion knock. Wouldnt a sparck knock sound more like the front than bellow? Im still a newbie so I may be totally off in my thinkinz ;-)

 

Ill find out today I guess when i crawel under the truck.. hope I dont mess my starter up lol

 

Well I didnt actually unbolt the plate here, Im not sure about how many bolts to unbolt? Im posting a few pics I took while under the truck, Do I undo the lower tranny mounting bracket to remove the inspection plate as well?

here are the pics :-)

 

Oh yeah, and to rule out spark knock/ engine knocking, had it revved to about 4000 RPM while in Park with no rattle noise ..

-tim

 

yes those look like the right bolts for the inspection plate, also the engine to transmissions braces, also the starter. tranny mount doesn't need to be removed.

spark knock generally will not occur in park. it occurs under load, like when going uphill.