Suzuki Forums banner

Rattling noise at low RPM

593 views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  JardaB  
#1 ·
Hi everyone,

I drive a Suzuki Vitara 2015 (petrol, manual) and I’ve recently started hearing a rattling or vibrating noise from somewhere around the engine bay or possibly underneath the car. It sounds like something metallic is loose or resonating.

Here are the symptoms:
  • The noise is most noticeable at low RPMs (around 1000 rpm) — for example, when idling or driving slowly.
  • At higher revs, the noise disappears completely.
  • The sound becomes very clear when the AC is turned on, especially when the compressor kicks in.
  • When I’m coasting downhill at low revs with minimal engine load, I do not hear it
  • It sounds like something is vibrating in sync with the engine rhythm, possibly a loose heat shield, AC clutch bearing, or maybe even a bad engine mount.
I’ve tried toggling the AC on and off at idle, and the noise seems to follow the AC compressor cycle — which makes me suspect the AC clutch or pulley bearing. But it could also be something external that just resonates at that engine speed.

I’ve attached a video clip where you can hear and see the noise happening. If anyone has had a similar experience or knows what this could be, I’d really appreciate your input before I take it to a shop.

Video:

Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
It sounds like something is loose, rather than rhythmically vibrating at engine revs. Of course it’s impossible to say from the video, but I would look at the heat shield first.
 
#8 ·
LOL….’contribute’ to 3 Suzuki forums, and advise the poster here that this rattle might be ‘cylinder ignition failure’. Seriously???
 
#9 · (Edited)
Why not? One cylinder does not ignite a temporarily lean mixture when you step on the gas. I can hear the engine misfiring (tarot card game) on three cylinders. There could be 10 other causes, as others have suggested.
** Just as - what about the dual-mass flywheel clutch (If fitted)?
** ?? rattling of metal sheets and exhaust ?? ... why not ? That's the same advice ...
** There's no need to be surprised... Mr. Smart. Can you diagnose the exact cause and bet on it?
 
#12 · (Edited)
First of all, thanks a lot for the helpful responses!

I checked the heat shields but couldn’t get a proper view from above, and I haven’t had the chance to lift the car yet. However, I did record underneath the car and tried pressing on the pipe shown in the video — and interestingly, the sound reduced a bit when I applied pressure to it.

Now that I look at the video again, doesn’t it seem like there’s a heat shield on that pipe that might be loose? Could that be the cause?

Here are two more video clips for reference: