Driving a 2001 Suburban . . . GREAT truck. Want to keep it for a long while.

Recently (last 3-4 weeks), have noticed a loud groaning/rattling (metal on metal) sound that seems to start slowly when I start up in the morning and gets worse during the day. It's especially prominent when I'm idling at a stop light, a drive-thru or in the pick-up line at my son's school.

I'm checking the exhaust system this weekend. Looking for clamps that might have come loose, etc. Anything else I might want to look at?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

-- PC

 

Most likely the exhaust system as you have guessed. Check for small rocks or gravel on the top side of the heat shields - this will cause a lot of noise and is often overlooked. A blast of compressed air would probably do the trick.

 

Sometimes a baffle inside the muffler comes loose and vibrates, causing a real cacophony of sounds at different engine and vehicle speeds.

 

I've also had the heat shields get loose and make noise. most def something on the exhaust the way your describing.


:chug: