this has been going on for a couple of weeks now just never got the chance to explain it. i have a 97 SC300 with 68k miles on it and stock exhaust. ive noticed that sometimes when accelerating i hear a slight scraping or rattling noise coming from what sounds like the exhaust mainly between 2-3k rpms. this is when the exhaust note is most distinctive. i saw one other thread that was similar but it was a 2000 rx300, and was dated back to a while ago. i also heard it more when the rpms are staying at about 2.5. (usually when going up a hill or something) but when i rev it while not moving, i dont hear the sound. any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated

 

There are these heat shields near the rear cat. Cut them off and sound goes away.

 

will that have any effect on the car at all?

 

That area will get warmer...I cut the one off my 97 SC300 Auto. My 5spd either had it removed prior or didn't come with it.

 

is that bad in any way? i dont want to risk anything. you seem like you are sure of this. do you know what exactly makes that scraping noise?

 

i have the same problem, but i had no idea where it was coming from until now.

 

i had the same problem not long ago, its the loose heat shield, just tighten the bolts u should b good to go

 

well, since i dont have an sc yet i wouldn't know, but the same thing happened to my dirt bike, when i'd hit like 2nd high it would rattle and make a high pitch like whine. so i just took it off.

 

it could be the heat shield or your exhaust tip. check both

 

If its rattling, chances are the flange where the bolt attaches is broke.

You want to see the mechanics of it? Get under the car and grab it...if it moves, its loose.

If your cat produces enough heat to do damage, your car would not be running right and you would be able to smell it. When you see that dinky stamped piece of metal, you'll wonder what it shielded in the first place.

I took mine off and had no problems. Remember when your moving a nice 'Wing in Ground' effect happens under your car. Unless there are diffuser tunnels built into the undercarriage like a Ferrari...its pretty much an erratic compressed wind storm under there.

 

alright thanks a lot man