The heat shroud between the cat and the muffler is rattling louder and louder. I have tried tightening wire around it in a couple place but that only slightly helped. I'm not sure if its a good thing to take it off but the noise is only getting worse. Also I was looking at getting a new exhaust so does anyone know what's good for the money? And one more question, what are good stock height shocks/struts for the sportage?

Any advice would help.

Thanks,
Matt

Matt,
It may not be the shroud...could be the inside of the cat coming apart.
It happened to me on a honda and I suspect it was happening too on my 2000 just recently.
Hope it isn't, but a possibility.
Everet <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

My 96 Sportage had a rattling noise too, thought it was the heal shield and it turned out that the guts of the catalytic converter were rattling around inside, and sometimes blocking the airflow causing me to lose a lot of horsepower!

Maybe a local muffler shop will check the cat for you for free and tell you if it's bad. The shops here do that.

I will go get it checked this weekend when I get back home from school. I might just buy a whole new exhaust when I get paid if its not too expensive. Any recommendations and price ranges?

Thanks for all the help! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

hope you have lot's of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If it's the heat shield, just take it off! (You don't need it! Canadian Sportages had theirs removed at the dealer when they came loose) If the noise goes away problem solved, no money spent! If the noise does not go away you could spend money by taking it to a shop, or you could replace the cat yourself. Replacing the exhaust system may not solve the issue, as most (all) systems are sold as 'cat back' systems, and do not include the cat. You could remove the cat all together, but then you'd never pass 'air care' or what ever inspection you guys have down there.

I very well could be the heat shield. Mine rattled real bad so I took it off, no more rattle. The dealer installed a new cat under a recall (not because of rattles) and that heat sheild rattled also, so off with that one. If it is your heat sheild there is another heat sheild attached to the underside of your floor so I never felt heat coming through the carpet. I now have a MagnaFlow cat with no rattles.

Dennis

This weekend I went home and took the shield off between the cat and the muffler. It sounded like that fixed the problem until I got back to my school. It actually sounded like a different type of rattle now so maybe cat heat shield is rattling too. I guess I'll have to end up taking it to a shop this weekend. I am hoping its not the cat itself.

Thanks for the help. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Matt

Well I finally got it fixed, ended up cutting out the old muffler and welding on a new flowmaster. I also had the shocks and struts done with KYBs all around and some 215/75/R15 goodyear tires mounted on the stock alloy rims. Will post some pics soon. Next I'm looking at putting an electric fan in because it likes to overheat when I'm stuck in traffic (already put a new radiator, thermostat, hoses, temp sensor/sender). I think the next step would be to replace the fan clutch but I would rather just go electric instead. Does anyone know where to get a kit for the electric fan or do you have to buy the parts separately?

Thanks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Matt

any good auto parts store should be able to get you an electric fan control kit. I mean one that doesn't rely on computers to looks up parts, the ones that have actual aftermarket parts catalogs.