my girlfriend has a 1990 rs, 3.1 v6 with an auto transmission. when the car is in park it sounds fine. after it is put into any gear it makes a rattling noise. the noise sounds like it is comming from underneath the car...possibly near the transmission? any ideas/suggestions?

thanks a lot,
adam

 

Probably just the heat shield on the cat or above the exhaust somewhere. Mine does it too.

 

hmm...but why would it only do it when its in gear?

 

Most of our cars rattle. :blah: hahaaa, but hmm, let's see.My guess is that when you shift into drive the rpm's drops right? Perhaps under that rpm the harmonics the engine is making are just enough to start the rattle. Everything has its own natural frequency, whether it be under sound or physical movement. At least the what the physics class taught me. As far as fixing it; if it is the exhuast you can probably take it to a local muffler shop. I don't see why he couldn't take care of the problem.

 

her car needs new exhaust anyway so we will have to check it out then. thanks guys.

adam