Engine bay rattle

[SIZE=-1]Forgive me if I get the terminology wrong here but I'm fairly new to Freelanders and don't have a great knowledge of cars but I'll try and describe the problem my freelander has.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=-1]I recently purchased a 2002 TD4 Freelander and have had problems from day 1. When driving I can hear a rattle coming from the engine bay left hand side as you look out the windscreen. This was diagnosed as a worn clutch so I had this replaced under the warranty. The rattle never disappeared and I sent it back to another dealer (non land rover) who said the prop shaft bearing and diff mounts had gone. They were replaced and the rattle is still there. The rattle isn't constant but can be heard every day. The exhaust has been checked out okay. The rattle sounds like metal on metal and the only thing I've found is a heat shield slightly loose above the transfer drive (I think its that, middle of the engine and connected to the propshaft ???) and directly below the downpipe of the exhaust, which I cant get to to tighten up. The gearbox and transfer drive have both been out and checked out fine, however I've noticed a coolant leak now. Does the same engine coolant cool the transfer drive ? Is the transfer drive also known as an IRD ?[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=-1]I've posted about this before but cant seem to get to the bottom of this. Anybody got any more ideas please.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=-1]Wish I'd never bought it now !!


Thanks in advance and I await all the humouress comments I'll get for my description, but where would we be without laughter and non mechanical people like me eh !![/SIZE]

When does it rattle - Tick over, whilst driving, cornering. what revs if driving, speed related i.e changes tone the faster you travel or revs related
Does it change sound when you press the clutch down

It does it mainly when slowing down and it can be heard more prominently in 2nd gear. I think I can hear it in 3rd 4th and 5th but cant be sure. It's not there permantly but cornering does tend to set it off also. Towing a caravan also tends to set it off ie when under load. I dont think its there when the clutch is pressed in. On acceleration it cant be heard. If I did 30 say in 2nd and eased off (not ideal I know just an example) the noise is horrendous.

Sounds like a heatshield. The turbo will have one around it and normally the downpipe coming off the turbo to the remainder of the exhaust.

Get the belly pan off and take a look around, if the vibration is there at 30 mph in 2nd what ever it is will be loose enough to feel by hand when stationary.

Just repaired a similair problem on a Subaru Impreza, cracked heat shield on the downpipe off the Turbo.Rattled like a bitch when under load.

had similar problem , turned out to be the interior of the cat breaking up

Has a similar problem on the XEDi. Traced it to bracket that bolts onto the exhaust and gearbox. Bracket had developed a crack. Replaced it with a handmade bracket, and problem solved. L/R wanted to replace the IRD...... that was their diagnosis. Would not have solved the probelm. Had some red faces when I took it back to them to show the actual fault. Noise was heard mostly when pulling under load (going up a hill at approx. 3000 rpm or towing a caravan), cornering or decelerating.

rattles like this are difficult to pinpoint exactly where they are comming from , get underneath with a tourch and start at the back checking everthing, heatshields, exhaust/mountings etc working your way to the front
good luck let us know what you find

faureb said:

Has a similar problem on the XEDi. Traced it to bracket that bolts onto the exhaust and gearbox. Bracket had developed a crack. Replaced it with a handmade bracket, and problem solved. L/R wanted to replace the IRD...... that was their diagnosis. Would not have solved the probelm. Had some red faces when I took it back to them to show the actual fault. Noise was heard mostly when pulling under load (going up a hill at approx. 3000 rpm or towing a caravan), cornering or decelerating.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice on the problem but would anybody know if this problem still applies to the TD4 engine or was the bracket replaced with a more substantial one on the 2002 build Freelanders. Probably not I guess.

Any Ideas on this one ?

sounds to me like the cat's breaking up like stevieb42 says
get it on a ramp and have someone inside rev engine at constant revs at listen carefully.

Got similar problem on my TD4 on an 02 plate also had same problem on V reg 2.0 D ES Never did get to the bottom of that one, my rattle on TD4 only happens on country lanes where the surface is rough once on the main roads it is OK at all speeds, trouble is there aren't that many good roads in the fens.
Pongo

My head is aching where I've been bashing it against the wall so much. Yes I have a similar problem. Now Ive noticed that it stops when I just lightly (very lightly) touch the clutch pedal. Im going to check all clutch related fixings this weekend and lightly grease the contact points ie pivot and pedal link. The week before I sprayed the general area with silicon lub and did notice that this cured the noise for about a week. Can I suggest that a similar action may provide you with another clue as to where the noise / problem is coming from. I understand how you feel - good luck.