Hi all!

I am a relatively new owner of a 2002 Disco, and have been reading everything I can on it. This site has been a HUGE help!

What I've got, is an intermittent clunking/ vibration coming from what feels like under my feet. This ONLY happens at a stop, and if I put the truck into neutral, it goes away. If I put it back into drive, it MAY begin rattling again, sometimes softer, sometimes rougher.

Do to many issues resulting from a first owner not caring properly for the vehicle, and having around 102k miles, I have done a bunch of recent repairs and maintenance. This includes plugs (plat +4's), STI 8mm wires, prop shaft rebuild, oil change, seafoam treatment, brakes, new MAF, replaced all four O2 sensors, etc. My engine mounts 'look' OK, no obvious cracks that I can see. I don't have a whole lot of experience with cars, and so I am a bit stumped as to what's making the noise.

I did notice the the driver's side cat seems to be touching the frame rail at a slight angle, and I am not sure if this is supposed to be like this, although I would not think so.

Any insight or ideas are most welcome, and thank you in advance!

Sam

 

I fired up the truck just now, set it in drive, engaged the e-brake and chocked the wheels. I was able to replicate the noise. I grabbed a long screwdriver and went underneath to use it as a stethoscope. Sure enough, I could almost see the cat slapping against the frame. Verified the noise with the screwdriver as originating in the cat.

Now, what might cause this? Even if I don't see obvious signs of a bad motor mount, could one side be sitting low and torquing the engine and exhaust in a way that one side hits the frame when put into gear?

 

They get close to the ftame, but I doubt it is actually touching.

Does it start rattling or get worse when it gets warmed up?

If so, burnt out cat.

Get new aftermarket y-pipe assembly-- expensive but coolness factor.

Or go to local muffler shop and have another welded in

 

Check the exhaust mountings first. If all OK try to realign the exhaust and wedge it away from the frame (chassis) but once you have got rid of this problem retest and see whether the noise has disappeared. If it hasn't re-post on here as it may be the front driveshaft from the transfer box to the diff, I say maybe.

PS engine mounts last about 10 years max and then sag or drop. I changed my mounts on a TD5 and the difference is absolutely remarkable. If you change the engine and gearbox mounts only use the LR genuine parts as many have used spurious aftermarket mounts and ended up doing the job again after a year, false economy.

 

You can check the motor mounts, by doing all the above, but have someone gun the engine a little to see if the engine jumps. Make sure you have your foot on the brake, try in drive then reverse. Engine should not move hardly at all. If it does jump in either gear, you have bad motor mounts.

 

France, he said he heard the noise originating from within the cat with a screwdriver.

Pretty sure the Ypipe doesn't have a hanger.

But even though newer, check that front shaft often

 

Thanks guys, I have some direction on where to go. As far as a bad cat, I just had the truck smogged 2 weeks ago and it passed. This noise has been happening on and off for months.

It seems to get worse after the car is warmed up, though even cold I might hear it.

Thanks for the tip on the LR mounts! Buy it once, I say.

I'll check the mounts as you guys have suggested and try to rule that out, one way or the other. I'll post back when I find out. Thanks again!

 

After rereading I have a question:

Is it a audible vibration/rattle sound, a felt vibration, or both?

 

Both. I can feel it in my feet, and can hear it as well. I can also visibly see the cat moving/vibrating heavily. If i bang on the cat while the truck is off, i dont hear anything rattling inside of it.