I have a 93 Saturn SW2 Wagon, Rebuilt Twin Cam motor, original Transmisson Chassis has 96K on it. As I started up my querky yet reliable wagon, i noticed a rattling noise coming from under the car near the catalitic converter. my guess is its a heat sheild; but the noise (EXREAMLY ANNOYING) is almost non existant at idle with the tranny in park. when i engage the tranny be it reverse or drive. the noise is loud enough to be annoying. as the RPM's increase it gets louder then the noise quiets down when at highway speed with the tranny in 4th or 5th gear.

Its annoying, and i need some advise. I cant take much more of this noise. it sounds like a coffee can with rocks in it. DRIVING ME NUTS.

It may be a heat shield and you will have to look and choose a plan of attack to fix that,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

My plan of attack was to tighten the bolts/rip off the heat sheild today; but the weather turned for the worst, I guess im taking it to my shop at work to check it out and hopfully stop the rattle. I have a baby on the way and its one of those things where i dont want to have a major problem, ya know. At first i thought it was the tranny, it jerked into 3rd gear at moderate acceleration yesterday night, but i know saturns auto transaxles suck at up shifting somtimes. especially when the outside temp changes suddenly. (Its september here on long island and its 63 degrees, and the day before that it was 87F)

I hope its the exhuast system and not somthing bouncing around in the tranny/oil pan.... or the timing chain rattiling on the lower guides....

If a heat shield I suggest fixing it such that it works as it's needed NOT just tearing it off,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

Well, I found out it was the honeycombing inside the cataliyic converter. so, I ripped it off and welded up a strait pipe for the time being until i have the cash to get a new cat.

gas mileage increased a lot and the car is quieter since the cat delete... Illegal... but w/e it will have a new one before inspection next year.

Suggestion: If when funds available get a cat from OE stock not the aftermarket junk which is price friendly but ends there! That if the car is a "Keeper" for you,

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

Planning on gettin OEM saturn stock cat, if i can afford it.

I know it hurts! Also - if engine operation caused this fix that or find out why fast a converter can be destroyed in short order again!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston

So a new problem has risen. the radiator decided to take a massive dump. I replaced it with a High Performance radiator. I wonder whats going to go wrong next....

Comment: Cars have NO care in the world if you walk or ride and don't care about your wallet. Get used to it and do what you can to prevent the preventable!

T
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Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston