We have a 99 Cirrus Lxi with 68K miiles and for the past 2 months it has this loud rattling sound coming from the engine area mainly when its idling, and worse when its cold.

Tried jacking up the car and tapping all the exhaust / shields etc. but couldnt find anything loose.

Just curious if anyone has any ideas, I recorded a short audio clip, you'll notice around the 17 second mark when the engine is revved up the rattle briefly gets louder just as the rpm begins to climb.

Car runs great other than this.

Audio link: http://ded.zenblue.net/99_Cirrus_Lxi_rattle.mp3

Thanks.

 

Maybe you have a loose piece of metal on the exhaust system "maybe around the resonator". I had a similar sound and as it turns out, that was the exact problem. Mines was the outer shield of the resonator that was rusted straight threw and was hanging.