Stock '03 Liberty Sport
3.7L V6
Automatic
Command-Trac

Saturday after I drove out onto the beach, my Liberty developed an unusual rattling sound. It usually occurs around start up (though it seems to occur more after sitting for a while). When I start the Jeep, there is a metallic "ping" sound, followed by a metallic rattling sound. The sound generally decreases in volume as time passes to where it will stop for a second, then begin again. When I put it into gear, the volume and speed of the rattling increase once again, but eventually go away. Today, it made the noise again as I accelerated after having driven about 1/10 of a mile, but did not make the noise anymore. I have not seen any new puddles underneath the Liberty, it still runs the same as it ever did. I at first thought it might have had to do with the starter because when I replaced it two months ago, the new one was a little bigger than the old one, so I had to modify the heat shield slightly and was unable to attach it with both bolts that came on the original. I figured the bumpy terrain knocked it loose, but the noise seems to be coming from the passenger side more than the driver's side, so I do not believe it is the starter. I was also considering it possibly being the transmission because I had an '86 Cherokee that would rattle when it was shifted into Reverse, caused, IIRC, by the flex plate. But as I said, the Jeep still runs like it always did and the ATF level was fine. So, does anybody have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

James

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Sometimes noises are hard to pinpoint where they are coming from. Have you tried this testing when someone is outside the vehicle?

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Frankenlift,Gibson Performance Exhaust
K&N drop-in filter

The rattling noise might be your heat sheild to the muffler. Maybe one of the tack welds broke loose and that is the noise your hearing.
It happend to me a while ago, and seems when the jeep ran for a little bit, it would go away. I guess from the hear that the shield expanded from the heat and moved away from making tapping contact.

Just a suggestion from my end man.

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2003 KJ Sport JEEPZILLA Edition
American Flag flying high
Frankenlift removed =(
Moabs and plenty of pin striping
Flexable people don't get bent out of shape!
Current MPG 6" to a gallon
L.O.S.T. # BL065211
www.ItAtYourHome.com

I haven't yet had someone stand outside the vehicle when I start it to test it. I've only been able to try to pinpoint it on my own. But I'm definitely going to have someone I trust to listen in in the near future. I was unaware that there was a heatshield on the exhaust. But that is something I will look into. Thanks for the info.

James

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited