Vibration/Rattle at Cold Idle

[mad1]

Hi All

Since about a month ago, my '88 2.6 has been vibrating when in Drive, at idle, when it is cold. It is a sort of metallic rattle, noticeably loud. If I shift to neutral, it goes away. Once the engine warms up, it goes away. I had the engine mounts replaced about a year ago.

[xp]

I got the same thing, I'm quiet sure it's the belt tensioner shock, but it was rattling right after getting replaced with a brand new one, and it was replaced due to the rattling. I'm not sure what else I can do, but I'd love to lose the rattle, anyone every cure this?

[spikeym]

I had a metallic vibration as well... It turned out to be the heat shield around the catalytic converter that had rusted loose at both ends. $15 at the local muffler shop to tack it back into place and good as new. Probably not the same problem you have though.

[mde3]

Originally Posted by xp

I got the same thing, I'm quiet sure it's the belt tensioner shock, but it was rattling right after getting replaced with a brand new one, and it was replaced due to the rattling. I'm not sure what else I can do, but I'd love to lose the rattle, anyone every cure this?

The tensioner shock itself is not only what goes..the rubber hub of the tensioner usually fails as well...better to change the whole assembly.