Strange Rattle coming from the right side of the engine compartment

[RHugg01]

I recently was on a camping trip with my 2021 Gladiator and was towing a small teardrop trailer. When under higher load ( higher revs) like when passing or going up steep hills I am hearing a strange rattle, like a loose screw or small bolt, coming from the right side of the engine compartment. I have looked over the whole area as best as one can without it being on a lift and can find nothing loose. I have not yet taken it to a dealer or mechanic. My brother says not to worry since it only happens under load and higher rpms . Well. I do a lot of camping and towing that trailer and it worries and irritates me. Any Ideas?

Sponsored

 

[1WildPig]

This may be way off... but, I had a rattle that was coming from the right side... sounded like in or behind the dash at different times. I couldn't find anything loose under the hood, around the firewall or underneath. I finally figured out it was the factory mud flap on the right front I had installed that was hitting against the factory side step rails... there was just enough movement in them for the wind to cause it to vibrate against the side step at different times sending the sound up into the cabin. I hadn't used all of the bolts that came with it when installing them which left it with just enough flexible movement to make contact when the wind hit it when driving... I added another bolt/nut to snug it up and all was well. Hope yours is that simple...

 

[Silverator]

^^^^. That! I had a similar issue with an Infiniti FX35 that I bought. Didn't start to "rattle / thump" until it got up to around 100mph. (don't ask me how I knew that).

My son found it quick. A few of the press in clips had either been robbed for elsewhere or fallen out. Check your inner fender well to see if there are any of the push-in clips missing.

 

[RHugg01]

Sorry, no mud flaps on my Gladiator. I am thinking about adding them so that's a goods tip for what to avoid.
As for having taken my gladiator to 100+, nope. I have had it to 80 when passing someone though. I won't say where or when though just in case the wrong ( from this point of view and I went right back to under the speed limit) people are reading. Yeah, when I was a teen I did take the family car to over 100 once. Of course my father heard about it when the friend I had riding with me was overheard talking about it by his father, and so on. I didn't get the keys back for a couple of weeks on that one.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This may be way off... but, I had a rattle that was coming from the right side... sounded like in or behind the dash at different times. I couldn't find anything loose under the hood, around the firewall or underneath. I finally figured out it was the factory mud flap on the right front I had installed that was hitting against the factory side step rails... there was just enough movement in them for the wind to cause it to vibrate against the side step at different times sending the sound up into the cabin. I hadn't used all of the bolts that came with it when installing them which left it with just enough flexible movement to make contact when the wind hit it when driving... I added another bolt/nut to snug it up and all was well. Hope yours is that simple...

That's interesting as when I was under my truck a week ago doing a semi-regular check for leaks or weird stuff and I noticed that the left front MOPAR mud flap had an interesting wear pattern on it- it was vibrating and hitting against the brace in that area that holds the fender liner and stuff in place.
I've not heard anything from that side of the truck. It's quiet - no rattles or squeaks or whatever.

Sorry, no mud flaps on my Gladiator. I am thinking about adding them so that's a goods tip for what to avoid.

Don't avoid them because of that - they are big help keeping crap off the door hinges, preventing rocks from being tossed up against the hinges and side of the truck and so on. You can easily secure them to prevent rattle. I'd never consider not getting them just because they could possibly make a sound.

There's a lot of stuff that can move and rattle, especially when the engine is under load, a high torque situation, because the mounts flex and pipes and parts move to being closer than when you are under there looking. 1" of clearance now can almost disappear when under heavy load.

 

[RHugg01]

That's interesting as when I was under my truck a week ago doing a semi-regular check for leaks or weird stuff and I noticed that the left front MOPAR mud flap had an interesting wear pattern on it- it was vibrating and hitting against the brace in that area that holds the fender liner and stuff in place.
I've not heard anything from that side of the truck. It's quiet - no rattles or squeaks or whatever.



Don't avoid them because of that - they are big help keeping crap off the door hinges, preventing rocks from being tossed up against the hinges and side of the truck and so on. You can easily secure them to prevent rattle. I'd never consider not getting them just because they could possibly make a sound.

There's a lot of stuff that can move and rattle, especially when the engine is under load, a high torque situation, because the mounts flex and pipes and parts move to being closer than when you are under there looking. 1" of clearance now can almost disappear when under heavy load.

Sorry, I should have reworded that. I won't avoid putting on mudflaps I will just watch out for the issue that was pointed out. I fully intend to put on some type. I was actually looking at the Weathertech no drill flaps.

 

[Silverator]

As for having taken my gladiator to 100+, nope. I have had it to 80 when passing someone though. I won't say where or when though just in case the wrong ( from this point of view and I went right back to under the speed limit) people are reading. Yeah, when I was a teen I did take the family car to over 100 once. Of course my father heard about it when the friend I had riding with me was overheard talking about it by his father, and so on. I didn't get the keys back for a couple of weeks on that one.

You don't have to be going 100 for this to happen. That was just an example. So much of these vehicles are held together by plastic push pins - not nuts and bolts. Check under your R fender flares to make sure they are all secured. That's what I was suggesting.

 

[RHugg01]

Thanks, I will check that out. I have been finding out about the plastic push pins. One of the upgrades I did very soon after getting my Gladiator was to put a new cold air intake on it. This turned out to involve removing the grill to get at the core support so as to remove part of the old intake. The grill is held on by 6 push pins on top and snap into place spots on the bottom.

 

[Tim H]

If the rattle follows the RPMs it could be a bad cam. With your windows down, so you can hear better, park somewhere where you have a structure beside you (for the noise to reverberate). Have it in park start slowing raising the RPM's. If the noise starts coming up with the increase in RPM's and faids out with the decrease I would lean toward a cam lobe going flat. Also, if it is a bad cam over time the noise will continue to get worse.

 

[hjdca]

I recently was on a camping trip with my 2021 Gladiator and was towing a small teardrop trailer. When under higher load ( higher revs) like when passing or going up steep hills I am hearing a strange rattle, like a loose screw or small bolt, coming from the right side of the engine compartment. I have looked over the whole area as best as one can without it being on a lift and can find nothing loose. I have not yet taken it to a dealer or mechanic. My brother says not to worry since it only happens under load and higher rpms . Well. I do a lot of camping and towing that trailer and it worries and irritates me. Any Ideas?

Fill up with higher octane gas and see if the rattle goes away. It could be pre-detonation that can manifest itself from cheap low octane gas at high rpm, heavy load, and higher temperatures. Try some Chevron 89 octane gas and see if it goes away. Pre-Detonation is not good for the motor, so, you do not want to ignore this condition.

PS. I always fill up with Chevron 89 and I have never heard any pre-detonation, but, I also do not tow.

PSS. If there is already half a tank of gas in your Gladiator, top it off with Chevron 91/92 octane gas, which should increase your overall octane to around 89. see if that makes the condition go away.

PSS. The Gladiator is supposed to have a "knock" sensor which pulls timing when it hears "pre-detonation". So, technically, you should not get pre-detonation, but, maybe, the gas you are using is so suspect under load that the knock sensor has run out of range to reduce the timing any more ?

 

[RHugg01]

Fill up with higher octane gas and see if the rattle goes away. It could be pre-detonation that can manifest itself from cheap low octane gas at high rpm, heavy load, and higher temperatures. Try some Chevron 89 octane gas and see if it goes away. Pre-Detonation is not good for the motor, so, you do not want to ignore this condition.

PS. I always fill up with Chevron 89 and I have never heard any pre-detonation, but, I also do not tow.

PSS. If there is already half a tank of gas in your Gladiator, top it off with Chevron 91/92 octane gas, which should increase your overall octane to around 89. see if that makes the condition go away.

PSS. The Gladiator is supposed to have a "knock" sensor which pulls timing when it hears "pre-detonation". So, technically, you should not get pre-detonation, but, maybe, the gas you are using is so suspect under load that the knock sensor has run out of range to reduce the timing any more ?

Thanks but I know the difference. I grew up doing all my own work on cars, tuning, repairs, even rebuilding carbs and at least helping on engine rebuilds.

 

[hjdca]

Thanks but I know the difference. I grew up doing all my own work on cars, tuning, repairs, even rebuilding carbs and at least helping on engine rebuilds.

Ok, cool. Note: there are a couple of heat shields underneat the truck, one on the control arm end and another next to the first cat. You might want to check to make sure they are not loose.

 

[RHugg01]

Ok, cool. Note: there are a couple of heat shields underneat the truck, one on the control arm end and another next to the first cat. You might want to check to make sure they are not loose.

Thanks, one more thing to check. I will

 

[Rod3Davidson]

If the rattle follows the RPMs it could be a bad cam. With your windows down, so you can hear better, park somewhere where you have a structure beside you (for the noise to reverberate). Have it in park start slowing raising the RPM's. If the noise starts coming up with the increase in RPM's and faids out with the decrease I would lean toward a cam lobe going flat. Also, if it is a bad cam over time the noise will continue to get worse.

Morning. Rod here. 2020JT Sport s MT. I have been chasing a rattle on the right side (drivers side) for 9 months, sounds like it’s right under me, similar to the sound of those plastic clack sticks. It’s noticeable at the high point of the rev and winds down after shifting. After much trial and error (sea foam on injectors, in crank case and gas tank, plugs and coil packs, new exhaust), the fear that I had a ping or knock in a 60k engine was becoming overwhelming. So I decided to crawl around underneath, look at what else could make that noise other than the heat shields I had already gone through. For me, this was it!!!!!!!! See the video. It’s the gear shift control that shifts 2x/4x. So much relief!!!!!. I threw a zip tie over it to confirm, noise was gone. No research yet into the job to fix/replace.

Sponsored