I had a cat fail once, it sounded like shaking a coffee can full of nuts and bolts. I recently started getting the same noise in my 96. I decided to live with the noise till I had time to pay more attention.
I recently had my engine mount bracket bolts shear and that could not wait. I replaced them plus a new mount. After I finished I had somebody start the car up and the "cat" noise started at the same time. Being outside the car I realized that the noise was not coming from the cat. I checked the flywheel bolts and found them all loose. I replaced one of them and loktited all of them. I was lucky to catch it before they either fell off or sheared and left me stuck.
I hope somebody benefits from my mistake.
I recently had my engine mount bracket bolts shear and that could not wait. I replaced them plus a new mount. After I finished I had somebody start the car up and the "cat" noise started at the same time. Being outside the car I realized that the noise was not coming from the cat. I checked the flywheel bolts and found them all loose. I replaced one of them and loktited all of them. I was lucky to catch it before they either fell off or sheared and left me stuck.
I hope somebody benefits from my mistake.