You are cruising down the road in Franklin, and suddenly you hear a buzzing or rattling from underneath the car, often loudest at idle or during acceleration. Before you worry about a major repair, know that one of the most common causes of this annoying sound is a simple loose heat shield.
Heat shields are thin metal covers positioned around parts of your exhaust system. Your exhaust runs extremely hot, and these shields protect other components, and the floor of your vehicle, from that heat. Over time, the brackets and fasteners that hold them in place can rust and weaken, especially in humid Middle Tennessee. When a shield comes loose, it vibrates against the exhaust or the underbody and creates that unmistakable rattle.
While the noise is irritating, a loose heat shield is usually not an emergency in itself. However, it should not be ignored, because the shield is there for a reason, and a shield that fully detaches could drag or fall off. The good news is that repairing or resecuring a heat shield is typically quick and affordable.
As an exhaust specialist, Quick Auto and Exhaust in Franklin can quickly determine whether that rattle is a heat shield or something more serious, and fix it correctly. We will put your vehicle on the lift, find the source of the noise, and take care of it. If a rattle under your car has been driving you crazy, do not just turn up the radio. Stop by our Franklin shop and let us track it down and quiet it for good.