metal-on-metal "whirr" noise very suspicious

[cjbear]

Last Sunday I went out driving and noticed my car is making this metal-on-metal "whirr" or "buzz" noise ONLY around 1st/2nd gear and ONLY when accelerating and ONLY when my foot is lightly (not heavily) pressing on the gas (like the pressure you would have if you were slowly driving in heavy traffic). It sounds like its coming from the front middle or passenger area of the car. If I put my foot down heavier on the gas (which I do if no cars are in front of me at a green light from a total stop) then there are no strange noises. I tried recreating this while in park and revving up the RPMs but it won't do it then.
- 2003 NB, 53,000 miles, upcoming oil change next week, timing belt and water pump changed this last November.

Ideas?

[BUGSTUFF]

My guesses:

Middle exhaust hanger or loose catalytic converter heat shield.

[cep]

Another thing that sometimes rattles is the cover around the oil pan.

[vdubbugman53]

Originally Posted by cep

Another thing that sometimes rattles is the cover around the oil pan.

if your car has more then 30k miles on it there is no way that thing is still on there

[cep]

Originally Posted by vdubbugman53

if your car has more then 30k miles on it there is no way that thing is still on there

Believe it or not, ours still is at ~80K.

[cjbear]

Took the car to "The Volkswagon Man" (I totally trust this guy!!) - said it's the catalytic converter...and he found that I must have run over something that bent some metal under the car (ice chunk perhaps). Getting the car to the dealership tomorrow AM (ick) to take care of it (covered under warranty I suppose!). Could have been worse!

[1.8 Turbug]

mine is making the same sound, and i have been told countless times that it was the heat sheild on the cat.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by vdubbugman53

if your car has more then 30k miles on it there is no way that thing is still on there

I still have mine at 106k.

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by cjbear

Took the car to "The Volkswagon Man" (I totally trust this guy!!) - said it's the catalytic converter...and he found that I must have run over something that bent some metal under the car (ice chunk perhaps). Getting the car to the dealership tomorrow AM (ick) to take care of it (covered under warranty I suppose!). Could have been worse!

I had the same problem happen to me over the summer and the dealership said that it was covered under the warranty. I have a 2000 with almost 60K miles. Oh yeah...my oil pan cover was missing when I brought the car. LOL

[cjbear]

Ok, went to the dealer. I guess my car threw 2 codes (so I had to pay the WHOLE price for the code check, even though I tried to talk them into charging me half since one code was for the catalytic converter...curses!). The other code was for my thermostat, so with the cost of the code check, oil change (I still have my oil pan!), oil disposal, thermostat parts + labor (no charge for the repairs on the catalytic converter) = $350 and 2 hrs 15 min. of my life I'll never get back.

Eh, could have been worse, all and all not many major repairs *knock on wood*. No more funny noises, CEL finally off since last March, but I did see the CEL flash 12 times and then stay off...guess we'll wait and see.