I've got an EM1 and around 1400 rpm or so I hear a rattle coming from the front. Sounds metal and tinny. Could be the heat shield? Any ideas of what it is and how to fix it?

 

Yes

 

How do I get rid of it?

 

....

The first step is looking for the rattle. This step does not entail posting anything on the internet. You'd like us to find a rattle on your car via the net?

The second step is fixing it. You'll likely need to use a wrench.

 

I was just looking for a place to start man. No reason to get bent out of shape.

 

The obvious place to start is the exhaust heat shields. Inspect them. Are they loose or cracked?

Proceed carefully. Crossing B serious is a bad idea.

 

Something you don't understand about asking similar questions is the forums don't have any visual of the car, the rattling noise can be anything like a loose bolt just sitting on something metallic and rattling away as you drive over bumps, engine vibrations, etc..etc.

Truthfully is nothing technical and should be visually inspected by owner, track it down...

 

I bent a heat shield out of shape once. Fixed a rattle all by myself.

 

<p>I unbolted all of my heat shields, and suddenly, as if magically, my rattles vanished! &nbsp;You'd be surprised what you can accomplish if you, ya know, actually put in a modicum of effort.</p>

 

you guys are filling this place with garbage, can it.

Another SI guy, if its the heat shields, you will likely tighten the retaining bolts with a 10mm wrench, maybe a 12mm. There is a shield on your manifold held on by I think 4 bolts. There may be a shield behind that, its harder to access as its behind the manifold. When the engine is cold, grab it and shake it with your hand. If that's not it, you'll want to crawl under the car. Ther are heatshields on the cat converter ( near the shift linkage), there's one under the seats where the exhaust makes a turn, and also check your muffler, especially if you have a chrome tip bolted onto it.

 

before my exhaust was completely replaced (new is always so nice).. A worm clamp was placed around both ends of the exhaust shield (on the a-pipe) to hold it down. That stopped the rattles until the entire exhaust looked like a leopard print and rusted out. Could try the worm clamps if the bolts are rusted away. Or.. get a new heatshield if it's too rusted.. many options here.