I have a small (I hope) problem with my new Rubicon. When trail riding under slight to middle load I hear a rattle that sounds like a loose exhaust shield. It is a resonance type noise that varies slightly depending on how much the throttle is opened. It does not make this noise when revving in neutral (no load on the engine)and I hate to take it back to the dealer if it is something that I could tighten myself. Thanks for your time and help!

 

I remember reading about this around September. I don’t remember the fix but I do know it was simple and repairable. There is no need to take it back to the dealer. I wish I could help you further. Texmud would know for sure.

 

I had the very same problem. I also was worried about it because it didn't sound like the average heat shield rattle. I asked and someone said it could be the timing chain tensioner and that made sense to me beacause it sounded "funny."

When I first started hearing it, it would only do it while coasting down and at a certain RPM. Then it progressed to where it would do it standing still while reving the engine. Bottom line is, it may not sound like a heat shield, but it is. Best fix... a hammer.

When I took mine to the dealership for its first service, (not because I can't do it myself) they tried a few different things. Tightening this clamp tightening that clamp. When I got it home, it still made that noise. They told me, though, that if you couldn't pull it far enough away from the exhaust to make it stop, to just try pushing it in closer. Everything has a resonant frequency, you just need to find a distance between the exhaust and the heat shield that cancels that frequency.

That's was my experience.

 

Look back for a topic in the honda forum that is called "Rubicon Rattle".....this will answer your question...it is nothing serious at all I had the same "problem"...its just the shield vibrating from being clamped on too tightly or not tight enough...hope that helps

 

I can not find anything using that search.

 

Although I have not experienced this problem here is a post that explain how to fix it:

http://forums.atvconnection.com/thre...B=1&TID=128311