rattle/noise from front of car- maybe downpipe heatshield

[jamgolf8v]

Hi, i have just had a new exhaust system fitted to my 1996 mk3 gti including a new cat. (cost a small fortune) 

I have noticed that when i accelerate hard and give the car a revs it sounds as if the sytems has a hole/leak at front. I have had the new sytem checked over for leaks etc but its fine.

They did say that it could be the down pipe heat shield which is joined to the downpipe.

Has anyone else had/got this problem.

great forum by the way 

[Overseer]

probably not the cause.. since i think we nearly established 8v's didnt come with them...

does your engine have a plastic undertray / bash plate?

mine rattled coz it was loose

[mrwotto]

I had problems with the bash plate, and rattling aswell.

[Golfer]

Unless my local garage is telling me porkies there is a heat shield on the down pipe.  Mine was rattling horribly, and when I last took it for a service they reckoned they secured it back for me, although given the position they couldn't do it properly without doing some more major taking to pieces.

Since then it's been quiet 

There are also heat shields on the underside all of which can rattle. :embarassed:

It's very annoying - I've had this problem on and off for years with my Mk3...

[Justins145bhpMK1]

HEat shield on the cat can rattle but if yours is new maybe not.

Mine made a dreadful racket as there was a stone stuck in it rattling about. try giving it a shake, might be the cause.

[jamgolf8v]

Hi, thanks for the replies guys.

There is a heatshield wrapped around the downpipes on the golf mk3 8v. The bloke at the garage showed me. It was a lil loose so he put a dubilee clip and a nut/bolt on it to try stop it rattling.

All the other various heat shields where checked and joints etc. They all seemed fine.

I still get the noise when reving/accelerating whilst driving. I still think maybe its the downpipe (maybe theres a hole inside it) or heatshield still vibrating against pipes.

I think my next step is to replace downpipe with a new one. I hope that sorts it out 

If it dont i have no idea what it is. it cant be much else as the sytem is all new. I hope its not the manifold (if it was, would it make the noise when just idling?)

Is sooo annoying. My girlfriend has a golf avantguard and that sound sweet. so jealous