Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel Muffler Rattle- [Troubleshooting Guide!]

So, recently you’re hearing the rattling muffler sound from your Grand Cherokee and it’s quite irritating. 

So, you want to know about Grand Cherokee ecodiesel muffler rattle?

The muffler might rattle because of a loose O2 sensor. There might also be a loose clamp somewhere in the exhaust system. The baffle inside the muffler might also be loose. An unseemly attached heat shield can also make this noise. They all vibrate with the exhaust system and cause this sound.

But, there’s still much more to know. So, we’ve written a whole article to describe it properly.  

Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel Recall

FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has issued a recall for approximately 30000 Jeep Cherokees. All of them are 2014-2019 models and 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engines. The reason for this recall was a faulty EGR cooler. It can crack and catch fire. 

According to NHTSA, the cooler is weak to thermal fatigue. Thus, it’s prone to crack. Vaporized coolant can enter through the crack into the intake manifold. Thus, there’s a high possibility of catching fire.

FCA started notifying the owners regarding this issue on December 31, 2020. They’ll replace the faulty part with a new one. You can check the NHTSA website to see if your Jeep Cherokee is called for recall.

Now, if you don’t find your car model eligible in the recall list then the next segment is for you.  

Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel Muffler Rattle- Reasons and Solutions

The Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel muffler might rattle in different gears. Some car owners suggest that they can hear a rattling sound when they are in D or R gear. Some can hear it in the P gear. 

Regardless, the reasons and their solutions are provided in the table below briefly:

Reason for Ecodiesel Muffler RattleSolution to Stop the Rattling Noise
Loose O2 sensorTighten it
Loose clampTighten it
Loose baffle inside mufflerReplace muffler
Heat shield out of placeHeat shield placement

Now, let’s discuss them in detail. 

Reason 1: Loose O2 Sensor

The first and most common reason is a loose O2 sensor. In the Grand Cherokee, the O2 sensor is located near the driver-side front tire. Just follow the exhaust pipe. You’ll find the O2 sensor between the heat shield.

If this sensor is loose then it’ll make a rattling sound. There’ll also be a problem with the oxygen supply. Like the O2 sensor, there’s also an FCW sensor in your Cherokee, which might get dirty. So, you should know how to clean this FCW sensor.

Solution: Tighten It

To fix the problem you have to tighten the O2 sensor. Tightening the O2 sensor is an easy process. You can tighten it down using a wrench. Although, if the car was running then the O2 sensor will probably be heated. Don’t touch it directly. 

After tightening it, start the engine and check if the rattling sound is still there.

Reason 2: Loose Clamp

Another possibility is a loose clamp in your exhaust system. As the car keeps running the whole exhaust system vibrates with the process. Thus, if there is a loose clam, this vibration will produce a lot of noise.

The bolts in a loose clamp will obviously be loose. You can even feel it using your hands.

Solution: Tighten It

Again you have to tighten the loose clamp. Just slide under your car and locate the loose clamp. Then, follow the same process as the previous one.

Reason 3: Loose Baffle inside Muffler

If there’s a loose baffle inside your muffler, it’ll also create rattling noise. But what is a baffle? The baffle is a tube placed inside your exhaust system. It helps to lower the sound level and deliver extra horsepower. 

A loose baffle won’t work properly. Also, it’ll shake within the muffler and create a rattling sound. 

Solution: Tighten Baffle

Unless you want to replace the muffler, tightening the baffle inside it is your only option. So, how to tighten baffle inside muffler? Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: First, check if the baffle is loose using your hand. If it is, then the rivets will also be loose. Drill out the rivets and give it a little punch. The baffle should come right out. 

Step 2: Check if the fiberglass mesh is damaged. In most cases, the mesh will be damaged. That’s why the baffle vibrates against the pipe. You can purchase a repack kit that will have a new fiberglass mesh. 

Step 3: Wrap the baffle with the new fiberglass mesh and wire tie it. 

Step 4: The repack kit will also new rivets. Use them to re-rivet the baffle into the muffler. 

Repeat the same process for any other baffles inside your muffler. Then, start your car and check if the rattling sound is still there. Not to mention, if the remote start is disabled, reset the jeep

Reason 4: Heat Shield Out of Place

The heat shield might become loose due to rust damage or poor hardware. Thus, it’ll vibrate and produce a rattling sound. The noise will change depending on the speed of your engine. But it’ll be the most noticeable during lower engine speeds. 

Solution: Heat Shield Placement

To stop the rattling sound, you have to put the heat shield back in place. So, how to fix heat shield placement? First of all, you’ll need the tools below:

  1. Socket
  2. Hammer
  3. Wrench
  4. Fixings
  5. Optional: Aluminum can
  6. Optional: Paint
  7. Stand

Now, just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Lift up the left side of your car using a stand. This will help to better access the heat shield.

Step 2: Slide under your car and one by one, remove the fixings of the heat shield. Don’t remove all of them at once.

Step 3: Next take the new fixing and place it in place of the older one. Using a socket, hold the fixing in place. Then hammer the socket to give it a good grip. Be sure that the new fixing is larger than the previous one.

It’s because, over time, the area around the fixing gets damaged and the hole gets bigger. If the new fixing isn’t larger, it won’t be able to hold the heat shield.

Optional Step: If you struggle to get a larger fixing then we have an alternative option for you. Cut off the bottom of an aluminum can using scissors. Next, drill a 6 to 8-mm hole in the middle.

Heat Shield Placement
Source: youtube.com

Then use a plier to smoothen the edges.

How to Reset The Muffler Generated Fault Code
Source: youtube.com

Paint it with any paint you have. Now, you can use this as the base for your fixing. While attaching the fixing, first place this part. Place the fixing on top of it and follow step 3.

Step 4: Repeat the same process for all the fixings.

With that, the heating shield should be properly gripped with your exhaust system. Now, you can just check if the rattling sound still remains by starting it. Although, you should know about its start/stop system warning light.

How to Reset The Muffler Generated Fault Code

A faulty muffler means an issue with your exhaust system. It may cause a problem with oxygen levels. Thus, it can also generate a fault code. Even after you fix the issue, the code will be there unless you reset it.

So, how to reset fault codes on your grand cherokee? Just follow this step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Open the hood of your vehicle by pulling the release lever. You can locate the lever on the dashboard under the steering wheel.

Step 2: Place the support rod to keep the hood open. Then, using a wrench remove the nut connecting the negative battery terminal.

Step 3: Keep it disconnected for about 30 minutes. This will allow the computer to reset automatically.

Step 4: After that, reconnect the terminal and tighten the bolt using the wrench.

Step 5: Finally, put away the support rod and close your hood. Then, start your engine to see if the check engine light is still on.

If the issue has been addressed properly then the check engine light won’t appear again. That means the fault code has been reset.

Should I Use Muffler Delete on Grand Cherokee?

As you already know, the purpose of a muffler is to reduce exhaust noise. So if the master is removed then the exhaust noise will be much louder. This is the essence of muffler deletion where the muffler is removed. And a muffler delete kit is installed instead of the muffler.

Installing a muffler delete kit on your Grand Cherokee will also make the sound louder. If you prefer the aggressive sound of the exhaust, you can use it. You can even use an exhaust pipe as a replacement part for the kit. But use a pipe of the same diameter. 

Although, Using a muffler delete doesn’t increase the performance of your car. It might even reduce the performance. That’s because the car was originally meant to work best with a muffler.

Even so, we understand if you still want to install the muffler delete kit. In that case, you have to contact the mechanic to do it for you. That’s because the installation process is rather complicated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Why Is my Jeep Cherokee So Loud?

The most probable reason for your Jeep Cherokee being loud is a failing or dirty sensor. If the sensor is bad, it’ll send the wrong data. Thus, the engine will receive too little or too much fuel. Without proper fuel levels, the engine will be rough and loud. Even, a bad spark plug might be the reason. 

Can A Damaged Muffler Damage Engine?

Yes, a damaged muffler can damage the engine over time. A damaged muffler won’t be able to siphon the exhaust fumes out properly. Thus, the engine will be negatively affected by these fumes. As a result, the car will produce higher emissions. It’ll also lose its fuel economy and the engine will sustain damage.

Is It Okay to Drive with a Broken Muffler?

You shouldn’t drive with a broken muffler. If your muffler is broken, toxic exhaust fumes might leak into the ventilation time. It’ll also reduce the efficiency of your exhaust system. The engine will have to work harder. Thus, you’ll have decreased fuel efficiency.

Lastly, as the muffler reduces emissions, a damaged muffler is detrimental to the environment. 

Bottom Line!!

Hopefully, this article was of great assistance to you. We tried our best to answer all your questions about the grand cherokee ecodiesel muffler rattle.

Even so, here’s an extra tip for you. Changing your muffler after 40000-80000 miles is a good option to consider. 

Thanks for sticking with us till the end.

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