[geoi310]

Problem just started last week.

When the car is idle it's fine. When the air conditioner is on, the slight increase in idle rpm causes some sort of fairly loud pinging/clanking noise from the center console.
Acceleration beyond 800 rpm and the sound is gone.

Accelerating from idle causes the pinging again when it passes that 800rpm range for an instant and quites down after that.

Any ideas on what might be happening and what needs to be fixed?

Thanks

 

[Flat Lander]

Check the exhaust heat shields. They may be missing hardware, cracked or have rocks in them. Wait til the car cools off so you can touch them. By touch them I mean pull, push, prod, bang on them with the heal of your hand.

 

[geoi310]

Resolved

Took it to the dealer. Was able to reproduce the problem. Mechanic looked over connections etc., said they didn't find anything but the problem wasn't occuring anymore.

My guess is that they left something loose after the recent oil change, found it, fixed it, but didn't want to look silly since it was their fault.

Anyway, whatever they did fixed the problem and the rattle is gone. No charge.

 

[ramblerdan]

Would have liked to hear a better answer than that, but it they "fixed" it for free, then I guess you got your money's worth.