2 Car Problems...American and Import....HELP!! (auto, brakes, tire, best)

[NEastBound]

2 cars...2 problems....

1. 2004 Tahoe Z71

It sounds like the exhaust pipe is rattling, but nothing is loose. Then I has some guy that changed the oil in it tell me that it was the cadalitic (spelling??) converter, his buddy then said it was a heat shield for the exhaust. It does it while idling, while driving slow, and I'm sure it does it even when I am flying...it's annoying.

Has anyone had problems that sound similar to this? How do I fix it? or if I take it somewhere, how much??? (also, what company is not shady??) recommendations are VERY welcome.

2. 2004 BMW 325ci

Bent arm (is that such a thing??) makes grinding noise while driving (front wheel pass side). How bad is this and how much will it cost to fix? I want to be able to go into the service dept w/o getting totally ripped off.

[getmeoutofhere]

1) If it is your converter, a new exhaust system is only $300 - $400 from the converter on back. Easiest fix.

2) If it's a bent control arm on a BMW, you're going to need to take out a home equity loan.

[NEastBound]

1. deep breath in...deep breath out. ok, not as bad as expected

2. I think someone needs to drive me to the hospital...or the place with the padded rooms.....

[miu]

!. Sounds like heat shield rattle. The cheap way out is to crawl under there yourself and remove it. The heat shield is the cover surrounding your catalytic converter.

2. Find a replacement control arm at a junkyard (Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market). Have a local garage replace it. You don't need a dealership service department to do this.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by NEastBound

2 cars...2 problems....

1. 2004 Tahoe Z71

It sounds like the exhaust pipe is rattling, but nothing is loose. Then I has some guy that changed the oil in it tell me that it was the cadalitic (spelling??) converter, his buddy then said it was a heat shield for the exhaust. It does it while idling, while driving slow, and I'm sure it does it even when I am flying...it's annoying.

Has anyone had problems that sound similar to this? How do I fix it? or if I take it somewhere, how much??? (also, what company is not shady??) recommendations are VERY welcome.

Not much help on the BMW, NEastBound.

However, I'm with the other guys on the Tahoe rattle . . . my bet is either the Heat Shield or the Catalytic Converter. You may want to check with your local Chevy Dealer because the converter may still be under warranty.

Good Luck

[okie333]

unless your exaust is not factory i doubt its the heat shield, take it off after the exaust has cooled and drive it and see if the rattle goes away.

more than likey though like everyone else has said, its your Catalytic converter.The insides ( like a honeycomb) have either cracked and/or started to crumble. I hate Catalytic converters, they are a pain.

Go to an exaust shop and ( i dunno if its bolted on or welded) they will take it off ( it would be more if they have to cut it off and reweld another. But not a whole lot more. The guy that did my exaust custom charged 20 bucks per weld ( not a spot weld ofcourse but an entire weld).

your Catalytic converter shouldn't to expensive and the labor shouldn't be horrible. I had my whole exaust done custom for 150 so theres an idea to kinda put things into perspective. Do some shopping around to the exaust places in your area, you can usually find some good deals.

As far as the BMW im not too familiar with them at all but for a fairly new BMW i would not put a junkyard part in unless it had no mechanic signifigance. Especially a steering or suspension part. I would take it to a good mechanic that knows BMWs and have them do there thing. Never take chances on your prime things on your car like brakes, steering, and suspension.

hope you can get this stuff fixed, its a bad time economy wise to have to fix a car on top of everything, hope the best for you.

[usafracer]

Make sure your spair tire is tight. I have seen a few of them rattle loose and drive people crazy.

[NEastBound]

Thanks!! I just did not want to get taken at the shop...

I'll check it all out.

[Fnix]

if you dont have inspections just take off the cat and dont buy a new one

[Fastway57]

Check with your local dealer, There is a TSB on the exhaust rattle, It requires new straps for the heat shield. If I remember it covers 2004 to 2007.