I must have driven over some pebbles at some point (can't remember when), but ever since, I've been hearing rattling in the undercarriage. Not all the time, but it's quite evident when I first start driving and get up to speed. Then it tends to be better as I go. Until the next drive, anyway.

Is it possible some pebbles could have gotten stuck? How would I find them and remove them? I can't remember this happening with any other car I've driven. Anyone else had this problem?

 

It could be a heat shield thats rattling,

 

Thanks, but I don't think it's any one thing. It really sounds like a bunch of little stones rattling around.

 

I have to agree with 2011GB/CS. Heat shields will vibrate and rattle. It could hitting another part or you may be hearing the heat shield and the loose bolt rattling together. The best advice, I can give you, is to put the car on a lift and start at the front. Check all the bolts you see for tightness, even the ones on the exhaust system which is another culprit that likes to rattle. Bang on a few things while under there and see if the noise occurs. Finding a rattle can sometimes be as nerve racking as listening to the thing rattle. This will also give you a chance to check for rocks or gravel as you move about under the car.

 

Other note about the heat shields--small rocks can get trapped up there and make a rattling sound. This has happened to me more than once during an "off track excursion".

Loosen the nuts a bit, let the shields drop down, shake anything off of em, bolt em back up.

 

Sure hope your catalytic converters aren't failing. When the catalyst fails and breaks apart, it'll rattle around inside the housing then eventually plugs up your exhaust. This is probably not the case in such a new car, but you just never know.....

 

Had the dealer look at it and drive it over the weekend, and they found no problems. Guess it's nothing. As it is, I also found a scratch on the door handle (don't know how that happened) so I'm taking it back on Thursday to get that fixed. Try as I might, it seems impossible to keep a car pristine (and I've only driven it 1,400 miles since buying it in mid-Sept.)