Hello,

I have a manual transmission 2006 Mazda Tribute.

There is a rough rattle noise that I can't locate.
The noise only happens at low speeds when in 1st and 2nd gear, usually on rough surfaces or if I jerk the steering.
I just got a Missouri inspection and everything passed except a tie rod which was replaced. My mechanic didn't find anything else.

Initially I thought the sound was simply the jack bouncing around in the rear (it kinda sounds like metal on hard plastic)
My girlfriend says that the rattle seems to be under the gearshift and a bit toward the passenger's side.

Clutch works fine.
I tapped on the heat shield and it seemed stable and okay (I'm an amateur though)

Ideas?
Chris

 

When the rattle happens is it at a certain RPM? Usually heat shields will only rattle at a very narrow range of engine speeds (usually around just off idle to 1800). Can you feel anything through the shifter or is it only noise?

 

I don't feel anything. If I press hard on the **** there is slight vibration, but nothing that I wouldn't expect and there is no difference in the usual vibration when the rattle occurs. My mechanic said that the clutch is fine.
Sitting here at my desk, I've been trying to thing of all the easy to overlook things like the spare tire, etc.
If I am out of the car and push and pull on the cargo rails, I can hear a similar noise.
The sound occurs more when slowing, not so much when accelerating.

 

I'll check the rpm, but it happens most at a bit above idle.

 

Sounds like a heat shield rattle still, sit at idle and slowly raise the engine speed until it rattles or find a big parking lot or empty street and slowly accelerate while watching your RPMs for the same "sweet spot", once you get the rattle go up and down -+100RPMs, if you get it at the same RPM range its is most likely a heat shield vibrating/rubbing, my 323 has a heat shield rattle at 1800 RPMs and mostly on deceleration, just don't want to roll around in the snow to fix it yet. If you don't get the rattle at a consistent RPM but during maneuvers (turning, swerving etc) it could be loose exhaust pieces (missing rubber holders).

 

Thanks. Your comments are reassuring. The noise doesn't annoy me and if it is the heat shield, then I'm a happy camper, I can live with the noise. Even if it is the exhaust pieces, that's also pretty good news. I'll try to trace the exhaust and muffler and feel for movement.

 

I'm bringing it into the shop on Sat to see what they have to say.
It seems the sweet spot is around 1900 rpm but anywhere around 1000-2500 you can hear it. I tested it while in neutral, same problem. It sounded a lot on a crappy cobbled alley that I tested it upon today, but sill I can hear the problem in the "sweet" rpm spot while maneuvering on nice tarmac.

 

It was the sway bar bushings and links.

 

WOW, they must have been GONE to rattle that bad! I will remember this one since I didn't even think of those as a possibility. Wish it would have been a heat shield though, that is easy to fix.