# Rattling sounds in my engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [July 25, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451 "2022-07-25T01:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sidneyraye](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sidneyraye/32/30034_2.png) [@sidneyraye](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sidneyraye)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/1 "2022-07-25T01:19:47Z")
Hi, for about 6 months now I’ve been hearing a rattling noise in my engine. Seems to only happen when my car is idle (like at a stop light), or in park. I know basically nothing about cars, but I can say that it started to happen after breaking really hard once, but I don’t know if that’s the cause. I took a video of the sound, but am unable to post it on here as I am a new user. Maybe someone could help me out! Thanks much 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/2 "2022-07-25T01:26:02Z")
A mechanic will be better able to tell especially if it can be duplicated. I had a rattling sound that turned out to be the timing chain slapping against the cover. It’s mechanic had no idea but 2nd one knew. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/3 "2022-07-25T01:32:09Z")
It could be an exhaust heat shield rattling. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/4 "2022-07-25T04:01:22Z")
My vote is for a heat shield rattle which is not uncommon at all with any make of car. You might try wrapping the tailpipe with a towel and then whacking it with your fist while listening for any rattling noise. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/5 "2022-07-25T22:34:44Z")
Since the sound happens at idle, ask your shop to use a length of old garden hose as a sort of stethoscope to narrow down the noise location. Good ideas above, ask your shop to check those first. Ask them to check for broken exhaust hangers too, while checking the heat shield. This sort of problem could also indicate internal engine damage, esp if oil and filter changes deferred beyond Honda’s maintenance intervals, if engine oil level ever got very low, or if cooling system has ever severely overheated. Anything like that? Posting audio/vdo files here usually isn’t very helpful, sound quality not good enough to be diagnostic. That’s best done by a shop tech listening to the car in person ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 11:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/6 "2022-07-29T11:01:03Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > ask your shop to use a length of old garden hose as a sort of stethoscope to narrow down the noise location. Don’t you think that a professional mechanic’s shop is likely to have an automotive stethoscope? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/7 "2022-07-29T11:28:03Z")
Shut off the car, get out and give the tailpipe a good kick or whack it with a rubber mallet. If you get the rattle you hear, it’s exhaust related. Never mind something similar already suggested. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/8 "2022-07-29T22:07:11Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > Don’t you think that a professional mechanic’s shop is likely to have an automotive stethoscope? Don’t know if all auto shops have a commercial version or not. I don’t recall ever seeing a mechanic use one myself, but I don’t hang around auto shops. I’ve seen a pro mechanic use a long screwdriver for that purpose one time. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/10 "2022-07-30T19:26:57Z")
Can’t help it. Like asking your doctor if he didn’t have a piece of garden hose to use instead, telling him that’s what I use. Me thinks that might be why customers can’t go into the shop area anymore. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rattling-sounds-in-my-engine/185451/11 "2022-07-30T20:09:45Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Me thinks that might be why customers can’t go into the shop area anymore. Well there is that, and of course lawyers. 😁