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Rattling from under car 1995 850se estate

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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wigsy7
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Rattling from under car 1995 850se estate

Post by wigsy7 »

Got a metal rattling sound from under car at low speeds over uneven bumpyish road surfaces,not noticeable until windows put down but checked underneath and nothing obviously loose.Could it be cat needing replacing,had heard they break up inside with age.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

It could be the cat but when they blow up the noise is usually fairly loud and not dependent on the bumps. You can rap on the cat with your knuckles (while the car is cold so you don't get burned). If it sounds like it is filled with gravel it is bad.

What you describe sounds more like a heat shield rattle. There is a big heat shield just above the cat that is affixed to the car floorboard and a smaller one on the tail pipe near the fuel tank that is affixed to the tail pipe. One of mine had a rattle at the rear shield and I fixed it by slipping a big hose clamp around the shield and clamping it to the tail pipe.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

Free2drive!
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Post by Free2drive! »

Wigsy

From what you describe I am thinking its the exhaust manifold. I speak from experience because, I thought my cat was bad as I could hear it rattle but we found out that it was the exh manifold. I had even ordered one from ATS (270 quid) but the guy wouldn't fit it. So we took off the heat shield they could see a small hairline crack on the manifod.

On the 10v motors they are a known weak point. Do you have a louder rattle at start-up?

Aside from the exhaust system it could also be any manner of suspension faults.
Matt

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