# Anyone know what this buzzing/ metallic noise could be?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-what-this-buzzing-metallic-noise-could-be/141049>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [May 26, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-what-this-buzzing-metallic-noise-could-be/141049 "2019-05-26T21:41:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sean\_Lovell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Sean\_Lovell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sean_Lovell)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-what-this-buzzing-metallic-noise-could-be/141049/1 "2019-05-26T21:41:19Z")

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recently I have started hearing a weird buzzing/ metallic noise from  
my 2011 Subaru Forester when I’m lightly touching the gas while going  
between 15-30 mph. It’s not loud enough to hear when the windows are up. I  
checked the transmission fluid and it is fine.

Anyone have any idea what this could be. Any likely problems associated  
with this sound? We have had to pay a ton on recent fixes for my wifes mini  
so the possibility of this being the transmission is soul crushing. Thanks  
everyone.

This is a video of the sound.  
[https://vimeo.com/user98985225/review/338571919/a763446718](https://vimeo.com/user98985225/review/338571919/a763446718)

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-what-this-buzzing-metallic-noise-could-be/141049/2 "2019-05-26T21:43:32Z")

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The video wouldn’t load.

But a loose exhaust heat shield can cause that kind of sound.

Tester

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**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-what-this-buzzing-metallic-noise-could-be/141049/3 "2019-05-26T21:55:06Z")

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> [@Sean\_Lovell](#):
>
> We have had to pay a ton on recent fixes for my wifes mini  
> so the possibility of this being the transmission is soul crushing.

Good news. Your prose description doesn’t sound like a transmission problem to me. As posted above, good chance it is an exhaust system problem, and quite possibly easily corrected. If it was a transmission problem, it might be the torque converter lock-up solenoid. But that seems pretty unlikely. To eliminate that as a possibility ask your dealership if there’s a way they can temporarily prevent the lock-up function. If the buzzing goes away then you know it is probably that solenoid.