Good afternoon everyone,

Today I noticed a weird rattling noise coming from my engine bay. It sounds almost like something is knocking or loose. Any thoughts? I have attached a link to a video. Thanks to anyone who can help!

http://youtu.be/-T7k7QfrzWI

 

Get a stethoscope and locate the area

 

Although probably useful I do not have one on hand. If anyone has had a sinilar issue like this please let me know. Thanks!

 

Then use a stick, dowel, small hollow tube of whatever and hold it to your ear and then to valve covers, ancillaries, etc. find out where it be louder

 

Sounds like the fan hitting the plastic shroud, remove the belt and give it a try. Had a noise similar to that and lights would dime or flicker at times, I replaced the belt and alternator and everything got better no noise and lights don't flicker anymore. don't overlook the belt tensioner as a place for noise to come from

 

The shroud was what I was thinking initially so I was moving it around (carefully) with the fan going to see if it would make the noise on command. No luck there however I'm not ruling this out yet. I'll take a look at the belts and the tensioner. It's defiantly coming from that area and I think from the left side of the engine bay.

 

Check out idlers too

 

That sounds far deeper in the engine than an ancillary. I'm guessing here, the oil pump, small end or possibly big end or a cam follower. May be wrong, I often am, but as Dusty says get hold of a stethoscope (essential in a tool kit) or improvise with a dowel or copper tube etc to nail where the sound is coming from.

 

I'll take a look at something like that. It's extremely sporadic though. Sometimes it won't do it, sometimes it's quiet and sometimes it's obnoxiously loud. And has nothing to do with RPM's or engine temperature