Driveline rattle

[Dinsdale]

My 2000 SSLXI has a driveline rattle when you idle in gear. As soon as you accelerate it disappears. Even when you slow to an idle it is good until you put it into neutral and then back into gear. Rattle starts again. My guess is strut bearings. Any thoughts?

[Skiier64]

My 2000 SSLXI has a driveline rattle when you idle in gear. As soon as you accelerate it disappears. Even when you slow to an idle it is good until you put it into neutral and then back into gear. Rattle starts again. My guess is strut bearings. Any thoughts?

Most likely its the dampener plate between the engine and the trans. The springs get loose over time and rattle. You might need a new plate.

[Dinsdale]

Thanks for the reply. I've never heard of a dampener plate before. What does it do, and how expensive a fix is it? Any recommendations as to how I can isolate this as the problem?

[MandK]

My 2000 Sunsetter LXi started having similar problems today, works fine in Fwd or Rev but terrible noise in neutral. Also I have a very poor shift (engine almost dies). Still sound like the damper plate?

[tvano]

the damper plate connects between the transmission and the engine flywheel

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