GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

2007 Vibe here. As the winter has gotten extremely cold here in the midwest, I've noticed that sometimes the car will make a rattle noise off and on for the first couple minutes of driving when it's really cold.

The noise sounds like it's coming from below the center console in between the front seats, and it's pretty loud. It only happens while the car is really cold for the first couple minutes of driving, and it happens only for a couple of seconds at a time randomly.

UPDATE: Here's a video of the noise: https://youtu.be/uXcMCGXUcZY

It happens more often when I'm accelerating. I'm taking it in to have a mechanic look at it, but I at least want to get some ideas from the community first.

Craig. I find on some of my vehicles that snow/ice gets jammed up in certain areas and when it sits overnight FREEZES in place so that when I start up & drive the next day, it rattles for a while until it shakes itself loose or melts. This could be similar to what you're experiencing. I doubt that you have anything seriously wrong and that it is strictly a temperature related issue. Let us know otherwise if there really is something wrong.

Update! I got a video of the noise: https://youtu.be/uXcMCGXUcZY

I'd check exhaust system hangers and heat shields. In extreme cold there may be enough contraction, or rubber hangers getting hard enough, to change the dynamics. There may be something missing or broken by now, too.

It sounds a lot like something hitting a fan blade... was the HVAC on? When's the last time the cabin air filter was changed?