Creaks and Rattles

[jakenbake]

I love this car...But holy creaks and rattles Batman!

Has anyone had a noise that almost sounds like a hole in the muffler or a plastic plate vibrating on something? It only happens at start up and only very occasionally (maybe once or twice in a month). It gets a little little louder as I start to accelerate but disappears when I hit about 10 MPH and then it is gone for a month or so again. Normally I just kind of deal with it since it doesn't happen often...but it is awfully embarrassing when a friend is in the car and they point it out.

[NJGuy]

I've got a low pitch plastic rattling noise in my EX, but I think I know the culprit. It's probably related to my engine splash shield, which has a long crack across it. There's also one bolt for the splash shield that's stuck to the metal clip, so when one tries to remove it they both spin together. I just chalk it up to the age of the car and the Northeast weather.

It sounds like you might have to do a lot of investigating before you find the source of the rattle. I think I have a better and easier solution. You upgraded your sound system, right? Just take advantage of the money and effort you invested there, and turn up the volume!