whats up guys i have a 2001 king ranch and its been making a really weird rattle lately but only when i was idleing so i decided to look under the truck while it was running and i started poking around and i realized it was the cat that was rattling, i dont know too much about but my buddy said a rattling cat means its on its way out...what do you guys think? and if it is on its way out should i replace the pair or all 4? and what brand do you guys reccommend. any advice helps. thanks

 

Are you sure it's not a loose exhaust heat shield?

 

I'm not totally sure. i thought it was the cat but you made me think twice

 

Be sure to check, it's not cheap changing out them cats. And to answer your other question, If you don't mind spending the extra bucks I'd change them all out (assuming their all the same age).

 

Truck heat shields are better attached than a lot of cars would be. Just use a rubber mallet and thump all the cats. A metallic clang is usually a heat shield problem, either loose or bent up against the cat. If the cat is shot internally, you should get a noise like lead shot rattling in a tin can. Note that the cat can also just get ruined from oil contamination or super heating from a prolonged misfire, but you should have gotten CEL indication of those problems.

Dave

 

I'll bet you will find its a simple heat shield.

 

Ya, you guys were right. heat sheild the clamps are a bit rotted and partially broken off, tied a couple coat hangers around for a quick fix, I'll have to really fix it when i have more time. thanks a lot

 

Glad to hear.

 

much cheaper fix then the cats would have been..