# Dodge Journey making fluttering noise on acceleration **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** journey, dodge\ **Created:** [May 20, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610 "2020-05-20T16:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bullfinch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bullfinch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bullfinch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/1 "2020-05-20T16:54:54Z")
2015 Dodge Journey with 132k. In the last week or so, I’ve noticed a fluttering sound when I press the accelerator. This is only at low speeds, around 20-40 mph, and never on the highway. I’m not sure how to describe it. It honestly sounds like a frog call or kind of like a dove cooing. I’ve been working from home for the last six weeks, so it’s only been driven a few times a week in that time. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/2 "2020-05-20T17:33:22Z")
Exhaust heat shield? Especially if it happens within a certain RPM range. ---
**Author:** ![Bullfinch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bullfinch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bullfinch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/3 "2020-05-20T17:43:23Z")
Would the heat shield make a sound from the back? It sounds like it’s coming from under the hood. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/4 "2020-05-20T18:05:45Z")
> [@Bullfinch](#): > > Would the heat shield make a sound from the **back**? Unitized bodies can “telegraph” noises, so they can sound like they are coming from a _slightly_ different area than where they are actually originating. > [@Bullfinch](#): > > It sounds like it’s coming from **under the hood**. Okay, now I’m confused. Does the noise seem to be coming from the back of the vehicle, or from under the hood? In any event, the first thing that I would do is to check for something (perhaps a plastic bag??) that is hanging from underneath the car. ---
**Author:** ![Bullfinch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bullfinch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bullfinch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/5 "2020-05-20T18:16:37Z")
Sorry that was unclear. The noise is coming from under the hood/behind the instrument panel, hard to tell. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/6 "2020-05-20T18:23:59Z")
> [@Bullfinch](#): > > The noise is coming from under the hood/behind the instrument panel, It is possible that something (a leaf, or… ?) is rubbing against the HVAC fan blades. ---
**Author:** ![Bullfinch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bullfinch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bullfinch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/7 "2020-05-20T19:41:52Z")
Just crawled under it and looked under the hood. No plastic bags, etc. When I give even a light press on the connector between the exhaust manifold and the muffler, it vibrates a lot and keeps vibrating for about 30 seconds. Is that normal? Come to think of it, that whole thing had to be replaced in 2015 after I was rear ended. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/8 "2020-05-20T19:55:42Z")
I would say you are hot on the trail of finding a loose heat shield. If you want to try a quick test, start the engine and put the vehicle in Drive…holding foot firmly on the brakes…apply the gas slowly until a certain rpm/vibration frequency is reached and the sound presents itself. Rinse and repeat. This will usually suss out a loose heat shield. If you were able to produce the sound with some regularity using the test above, you can then lay on the ground with a length of wood and tap along the exhaust system to try and find the offending piece… Doing a “power brake” maneuver is most often the quickest and easiest way to find a loose heat shield. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/dodge-journey-making-fluttering-noise-on-acceleration/164610/9 "2020-05-20T21:34:07Z")
The sound could also be a slight leak from a junction in the exhaust, anywhere from the manifold-engine connection on down.