Waht would cause a loud rattleing noise in my engine?

Check for loose heat shields.

I suggest you have your car checked as soon as possible - while a rattling exhaust isn't desperately urgent it could be the cat breaking up which might later restrict the flow of gases. Most importantly excessively loose timing belts or chains tend to make most noise when the engine is idling. If the noise is being caused by this delay could be very expensive.

noise is at stop,put in neutral check if no noise,could be heat shield.

The rattle is caused because the rpm is lower. When stopped in drive with one foot on the brake, press the throttle down slowly until the vibration stops and the noise goes away. Cause? Weak or bad motor mounts, loose bolts or parts.

Sounds like a rattling noise is a bearing going bad to me.

If disconnecting the belt gets rid of the rattling, I would check for binding or loose pulley bearings.

4.0l's are notorious for valve rattle on cold start-up. There is really nothing you can do to make it go away short of completely replacing the valve train in the top end, and that isn't a permanent fix. It's is an top end oiling issue from the factory. Just don't race your engine on cold start-up until the rattle stops.

The rattle in the transmission sounds to me to be more of a loose dust shield/heat shield around the transmission or exhaust than a mechanical issue.

You didn't say which model or engine.
Check for loose heat shields, broken engine or transmission mounts.

Have you checked the catalytic converter (also reffered to as simply a Cat by mecanics)? It's the first big canister you encounter on the exhaust line right after the manifold and before the resonator and/or muffler. After a while rust and time can cause either the casing itself to come loose and rattle, or the insides themselves break up and rattle around the cat. And being where it is it often resonates sound around the engine compartment, making it seem the sound is coming from elsewhere than it actually is. And while your at it don't forget to check the flex pipe usually connected to the cat also (some models do not have a flex pipe though). If all that is fine, then the other things to check would be the accessory brackets, wire holders and the like. With vibration and time, sometimes they loosen up and start to rattle. Still nothing? check the suspension parts for anything loose (IE. sway bar links, coils springs, tie-rod, suspension tables). Other than that there isn't much in there that can rattle. If you look at how an engine is built, you'll see that there isn't much inside that can rattle around without causing the engine to fail altogether. I'm not saying it can't happen though, but it's highly improbable. Hope this helps

Sounds like your oil pump inside the engine is not pumping oil fast enough when you start your vehicle its common problem for mitsubishi motors my car does the same thing.

good luck

the heat shield on the exhaust manifold