Ok, now I know disecting a noise that I'm not 100% sure what its coming from is difficult through just words, but I figured I'd give it a shot in case anyone else has ever had something happen like this.

Starting within the last 2 months or so my car makes a rattling noise when I start it. Seemed to start when it got hella cold here in New England. It sounds like its coming from right in my dash, like a foot below and behind my cupholders. ( I have a 98 EX coupe) When I rev the engine tho, the noise temporarily stops, then when I let the rpms drop it starts again. Once the car warms up it doesnt make the noise at idle, but when I start in first gear if I dont give it enough gas and the car "chugs" it makes the noise too. So something is obviously loose, and it is worse when its cold out.

Could it be a heat shield?? I really have no ideas...
Over Thanksgiving break I jacked the car up and checked my catback to make sure it wasnt that and checked the shields around the cat and those were fine so I dont know.

Figured I'd consult the board before I go disecting my dash to get to the problem

Edit: I'll try to take a short video with sound on my camera soon too.

 

Check the heat shields again. Also, check for heat shields mounted to the tunnel of the car. Lastly, check your donut gasket to make sure it's ok. If they split or are cocked, they will cause the two pipes to do that.

 

heat sheild or other loose exhaust component.

 

Yeah I have the same problem shit sucks . Its to cool out here to fix it or even look at it !