DIY: Rattle Hunt
04-23-2008, 08:44 PM
#101
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Jedi,
I had the rear deck rattle, but figured out what it was. You can get to it from the trunk (thats if your rattle and mine are the same).
First, pull out the tire kit and unhook the padding and pull it back. There is a plastic 'plate' that runs from the bottom of the truck all the way to the deck. My rattle came from that plastic piece hitting something on the deck or the deck itself....its hard to see. I felt around there and added some little felt self stick things. Put it back together and problem solved.
What sucks about that rattle is is you cant locate it by tapping or shaking. The car driving down the road hits just the right frequency to make it happen.
I had the rear deck rattle, but figured out what it was. You can get to it from the trunk (thats if your rattle and mine are the same).
First, pull out the tire kit and unhook the padding and pull it back. There is a plastic 'plate' that runs from the bottom of the truck all the way to the deck. My rattle came from that plastic piece hitting something on the deck or the deck itself....its hard to see. I felt around there and added some little felt self stick things. Put it back together and problem solved.
What sucks about that rattle is is you cant locate it by tapping or shaking. The car driving down the road hits just the right frequency to make it happen.
06-02-2008, 08:36 PM
#102
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Please Help!!
My rear deck/window rattle promted me to tear out the rear interior. I did find that the bolt/screw labled #3 in the previously posted diagram was loose enough to spin by finger. After tightening, the rattle went away for a few days, but has returned.
My dealer told me that it's all but impossible to remove the rear windshield w/out it breaking. I am convinced that the squeak/rattle is indeed the rear windshield. For those of you that have had the rear windshield replaced-- how did you convince your dealer to do it, and has that been a definitive fix?
I can't take the rattle--or driving around with no rear interior anymore.
My dealer told me that it's all but impossible to remove the rear windshield w/out it breaking. I am convinced that the squeak/rattle is indeed the rear windshield. For those of you that have had the rear windshield replaced-- how did you convince your dealer to do it, and has that been a definitive fix?
I can't take the rattle--or driving around with no rear interior anymore.
06-14-2008, 09:26 PM
#103
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OK! this one is my fault.. i was replacing those damn dim maplight bulbs with leds. After I took the bulbs out, I put them on the dash. when I finished I reached for them while thinking, "What a dumb *** place to put those bulbs, They'll go down the defroster duct!!" Guess where they went
Now, every corner, I hear them rolling merrily along the duckt. Every bump, there is a rattle. When I turn the defroster on high, they blow around in the duct. So, Please, how do you get to the duct. How do you disconnect it. And, most importantly, how do you put it back together?? Yes, I've tried searching the threads, and that is ohow I ended up here. Okay, I'm STUPID!!
Now, every corner, I hear them rolling merrily along the duckt. Every bump, there is a rattle. When I turn the defroster on high, they blow around in the duct. So, Please, how do you get to the duct. How do you disconnect it. And, most importantly, how do you put it back together?? Yes, I've tried searching the threads, and that is ohow I ended up here. Okay, I'm STUPID!!
06-15-2008, 08:45 AM
#104
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Only thinking outloud here, so read with caution.....it's only a suggestion.
What if you turn the air flow switch to inside only(not floor, just dash vents), then get a can of compressed air which should have one of those little plastic tubes(like WD-40 has) and try to blow it towards the side vent? You might be able to then see it and or grab it????? Don't drop that plastic down there, see if you can get enough flow without the tube........if not.......hold it so you don't create more issues.
There are some DIY's that show how to take off those side vents and you can even pop out the defrost vents on the sides(that are on top of the dash by the corners of the windshield), but you need to be able to move them(it) over to where you can get at them.
What if you turn the air flow switch to inside only(not floor, just dash vents), then get a can of compressed air which should have one of those little plastic tubes(like WD-40 has) and try to blow it towards the side vent? You might be able to then see it and or grab it????? Don't drop that plastic down there, see if you can get enough flow without the tube........if not.......hold it so you don't create more issues.
There are some DIY's that show how to take off those side vents and you can even pop out the defrost vents on the sides(that are on top of the dash by the corners of the windshield), but you need to be able to move them(it) over to where you can get at them.
Last edited by Mazurfer; 06-15-2008 at 08:47 AM.
06-15-2008, 12:03 PM
#105
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Not too sure how blowing compressed air in the outlet duct is going to help; I can't vizualize it. The defroseter vent removal, some whire and doublle sided tape might be a solution. so would a couple pounds of C4 thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.
Bill
thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.Bill
06-15-2008, 08:00 PM
#106
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Hoping you could blow it(or them) to the side vents......where you could get them......that's all. I also have a long flexible grabby tool that has a syringe
thing on one end and when you push it, the other end pops out with four little grab prongs. It's about two feet long and flexible(kinda like a snake, but more round)..............but I don't know what the hell they call it. It would fit in there, but finding it and grabbing is another story. Might want to browse around in a good hardware store.
thing on one end and when you push it, the other end pops out with four little grab prongs. It's about two feet long and flexible(kinda like a snake, but more round)..............but I don't know what the hell they call it. It would fit in there, but finding it and grabbing is another story. Might want to browse around in a good hardware store.
Seems so damn far away!! Thanks for the ideas!!
06-18-2008, 05:57 PM
#109
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i have an annoying sound almost like a loud buzz in my over head light unit. any ideas on how to fix that and/or how to remove it? my trunk rattles real bad closest to the rear window. ideas for fixing this?
06-19-2008, 03:57 PM
#110
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Nice looking car. I gotta get my avatar going.. Anyway, check out the bulb replacement pages in the owner's manual. I assume you are talking about the unit with the sunglasses case and map lights. The manual will show you how to take that light unit out of the head liner, then you will have it in your hands and can see what might be causing your problem. Hope this helps! BTW, be sure to be careful wrap whatever tool you usse to pry it out.
08-11-2008, 09:48 PM
#117
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love this car, but rattles absolutely make me want to sell it. I have 2 rear deck rattles, steering wheel crickets and another one when I apply the brakes. Anyone in Chicago area wanna fix them? I will pay!!
09-18-2008, 05:23 PM
#118
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sounds like loose change in the rear
Anyone else had an issue with a noise that sounds like loose change coming from what seems like the rear wheel wells? can't hear it with the windows closed, but if i have them down i can hear it every time i go over a bump. going to take it in to the dealer, but if anyone has any ideas i'd love to hear...
10-14-2008, 02:13 PM
#119
Adding info into the "Rattle Hunt"
Rattle hunt update: 2008: User Gyro_Bot:
I have successfully removed or greatly diminished the following rattles in the car:
RX8 Rattle
Passenger&Driver Side: Suicide Door: Sound "Loud Buzz Rattle":
When: When playing loud thumping music.
Where: Lower area of door.
Findings: This rattle is caused primarily by: Seat belt roll/coil [This rattle cannot be fixed due to safety - however, you can muffle it]
Findings: Secondary rattle is caused by: Door latch release mechanism: found inside cavity of door, at the bottom.
Passenger&Driver Side: Suicide Door: Sound "Buzzing":
When: When playing loud thumping music. When driving around normally.
Where: Rear window: Lower region near hing, next to B-Pillar.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: The window latch becoming loose over time, allowing vibrations to carry into the seem of the window.
RX8 Rattle
Driver Side Door: Sound "Rattle":
When: When playing loud thumping music. When driving around normally.
Where: Near seem of the door, underneath the door lock, continuing to the bottom of the door.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: a metal rod used by the Key lock manual release latch [This rattle cannot be fixed due to safety - however, you can muffle it]
RX8 Rattle
Passenger Side: Ceiling Area: "Rattle":
When: When driving around normally.
Where: In the ceiling, sounds like it is the sunroof, or directly above the passenger seat.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: The "Holy $H!^ Handle": As the springs wear down, the handle will make "micro bounces" during every day driving. To fix this, install small foam squares inside the two square recesses, to absorb the driving shocks.
"Muffle it": To muffle the sounds of components that cannot be otherwise repaired, I found that using "Fire resistant" cushion cotton (looks like cotton ***** - only collected in sheets) works well. This "Cotton" can be stuffed behind objects, to apply non adhesive force to objects without interference. In addition, if you stuff the suicide door cavity with this cotton, the pressure is good for absorbing the surface vibration from the speakers, the road shocks and the sound of the seat belt coil rattle.*Please note, for safety, do not apply in areas where electrical wires reside*.
Overall, the muffling effect was successful with dampening the rattles by 75% - 85%. I am very pleased with the results.
There is a downside however: Now that these rattles have gone away, I can hear "other" rattles in the car, specifically: rattles in both the rear viewing side mirrors.
I have successfully removed or greatly diminished the following rattles in the car:
RX8 Rattle
Passenger&Driver Side: Suicide Door: Sound "Loud Buzz Rattle":
When: When playing loud thumping music.
Where: Lower area of door.
Findings: This rattle is caused primarily by: Seat belt roll/coil [This rattle cannot be fixed due to safety - however, you can muffle it]
Findings: Secondary rattle is caused by: Door latch release mechanism: found inside cavity of door, at the bottom.
Passenger&Driver Side: Suicide Door: Sound "Buzzing":
When: When playing loud thumping music. When driving around normally.
Where: Rear window: Lower region near hing, next to B-Pillar.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: The window latch becoming loose over time, allowing vibrations to carry into the seem of the window.
RX8 Rattle
Driver Side Door: Sound "Rattle":
When: When playing loud thumping music. When driving around normally.
Where: Near seem of the door, underneath the door lock, continuing to the bottom of the door.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: a metal rod used by the Key lock manual release latch [This rattle cannot be fixed due to safety - however, you can muffle it]
RX8 Rattle
Passenger Side: Ceiling Area: "Rattle":
When: When driving around normally.
Where: In the ceiling, sounds like it is the sunroof, or directly above the passenger seat.
Findings: This rattle is caused by: The "Holy $H!^ Handle": As the springs wear down, the handle will make "micro bounces" during every day driving. To fix this, install small foam squares inside the two square recesses, to absorb the driving shocks.
"Muffle it": To muffle the sounds of components that cannot be otherwise repaired, I found that using "Fire resistant" cushion cotton (looks like cotton ***** - only collected in sheets) works well. This "Cotton" can be stuffed behind objects, to apply non adhesive force to objects without interference. In addition, if you stuff the suicide door cavity with this cotton, the pressure is good for absorbing the surface vibration from the speakers, the road shocks and the sound of the seat belt coil rattle.*Please note, for safety, do not apply in areas where electrical wires reside*.
Overall, the muffling effect was successful with dampening the rattles by 75% - 85%. I am very pleased with the results.
There is a downside however: Now that these rattles have gone away, I can hear "other" rattles in the car, specifically: rattles in both the rear viewing side mirrors.
Last edited by Gyro_Bot; 10-14-2008 at 02:25 PM.
10-31-2008, 12:13 AM
#120
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Awesome. Thanks for the update!
I might start a new thread if no one can help with this. EVERY RX8 I've drive (ok, only 3) have had an issue with the center console (not the center stack with the radio, but the area with the shifter and cup holders). When it's hot or cold in the cabin, the entire area from near the ash tray to the hidden compartment between the seats makes a crackling noise.
If I take a turn or hit a bump, it 'crackles'. I can recreate the noise simply by applying pressure with my hand to various spots. I'm fairly sure it's the clips moving around or coming in contact with other plastic and I CAN NOT get rid of it. I've even thought about taking the whole damn thing apart and putting vasoline on all of the clips or, even more dramatically, cutting them off and using velcro to hold the center console pieces together. This noise drives my nuts. Sometimes I even think about trading in the car because of it...but then the temp changes, the noise goes away, and I think "God I love this car".
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Has anyone been able to fix it?
I might start a new thread if no one can help with this. EVERY RX8 I've drive (ok, only 3) have had an issue with the center console (not the center stack with the radio, but the area with the shifter and cup holders). When it's hot or cold in the cabin, the entire area from near the ash tray to the hidden compartment between the seats makes a crackling noise.
If I take a turn or hit a bump, it 'crackles'. I can recreate the noise simply by applying pressure with my hand to various spots. I'm fairly sure it's the clips moving around or coming in contact with other plastic and I CAN NOT get rid of it. I've even thought about taking the whole damn thing apart and putting vasoline on all of the clips or, even more dramatically, cutting them off and using velcro to hold the center console pieces together. This noise drives my nuts. Sometimes I even think about trading in the car because of it...but then the temp changes, the noise goes away, and I think "God I love this car".
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Has anyone been able to fix it?
12-26-2008, 04:08 PM
#121
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I apologize for reviving a dead thread, but there is a critical photo here that exhibits what I need. On black friday, some douchenozzle was kind enough to smash my passenger door and drive off. It was repaired, and not to my satisfaction. I guarantee, based on how this door now sounds when I close it, or just wrap my knuckles on it, that the two pieces of foam shown behind the black plastic panel (the black piece and the yellow piece) are missing. I can't find a part number to order them so I can fix this myself. Option B is just dynamatting the interior metal surface of the door. The noise drives me nuts. The door panel itself vibrates, it sounds like a tin can. Can anyone provide the part numbers for those foam blocks? I can't find them on the mazda parts websites I've searched.... Please help! The black clamps holding the yellow foam are probably missing too...
12-27-2008, 01:48 AM
#122
Foam
Send me pics of what you need and I'll see if I have them in the spare doors in my garage. You can have them for free, just pay shipping.
Nick A.
Nick A.
I apologize for reviving a dead thread, but there is a critical photo here that exhibits what I need. On black friday, some douchenozzle was kind enough to smash my passenger door and drive off. It was repaired, and not to my satisfaction. I guarantee, based on how this door now sounds when I close it, or just wrap my knuckles on it, that the two pieces of foam shown behind the black plastic panel (the black piece and the yellow piece) are missing. I can't find a part number to order them so I can fix this myself. Option B is just dynamatting the interior metal surface of the door. The noise drives me nuts. The door panel itself vibrates, it sounds like a tin can. Can anyone provide the part numbers for those foam blocks? I can't find them on the mazda parts websites I've searched.... Please help! The black clamps holding the yellow foam are probably missing too...
12-27-2008, 08:03 AM
#123
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Wow, outstanding.
If you look at post number 2 of this thread, the second image contains what I need. I need the yellow foam block (and the two black clips that are holding it to the door) and the black foam block (and whatever is holding it to the door). I took my door apart and all that stuff is missing. Do you have any of those pieces by any chance? I'll gladly compensate you for them.
The people on this board are amazing.
If you look at post number 2 of this thread, the second image contains what I need. I need the yellow foam block (and the two black clips that are holding it to the door) and the black foam block (and whatever is holding it to the door). I took my door apart and all that stuff is missing. Do you have any of those pieces by any chance? I'll gladly compensate you for them.
The people on this board are amazing.
12-28-2008, 02:24 PM
#124
Door Foam
Yes, I have them. Unfortunately, the window is down so I can't just pop them off. I may have time to get them out later today; if not, it will have to wait until after New Years.
Is there anything else you need from the doors?
Is there anything else you need from the doors?
Wow, outstanding.
If you look at post number 2 of this thread, the second image contains what I need. I need the yellow foam block (and the two black clips that are holding it to the door) and the black foam block (and whatever is holding it to the door). I took my door apart and all that stuff is missing. Do you have any of those pieces by any chance? I'll gladly compensate you for them.
The people on this board are amazing.
If you look at post number 2 of this thread, the second image contains what I need. I need the yellow foam block (and the two black clips that are holding it to the door) and the black foam block (and whatever is holding it to the door). I took my door apart and all that stuff is missing. Do you have any of those pieces by any chance? I'll gladly compensate you for them.
The people on this board are amazing.
12-28-2008, 05:09 PM
#125
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Awesome. Thanks for the update!
I might start a new thread if no one can help with this. EVERY RX8 I've drive (ok, only 3) have had an issue with the center console (not the center stack with the radio, but the area with the shifter and cup holders). When it's hot or cold in the cabin, the entire area from near the ash tray to the hidden compartment between the seats makes a crackling noise.
If I take a turn or hit a bump, it 'crackles'. I can recreate the noise simply by applying pressure with my hand to various spots. I'm fairly sure it's the clips moving around or coming in contact with other plastic and I CAN NOT get rid of it. I've even thought about taking the whole damn thing apart and putting vasoline on all of the clips or, even more dramatically, cutting them off and using velcro to hold the center console pieces together. This noise drives my nuts. Sometimes I even think about trading in the car because of it...but then the temp changes, the noise goes away, and I think "God I love this car".
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Has anyone been able to fix it?
I might start a new thread if no one can help with this. EVERY RX8 I've drive (ok, only 3) have had an issue with the center console (not the center stack with the radio, but the area with the shifter and cup holders). When it's hot or cold in the cabin, the entire area from near the ash tray to the hidden compartment between the seats makes a crackling noise.
If I take a turn or hit a bump, it 'crackles'. I can recreate the noise simply by applying pressure with my hand to various spots. I'm fairly sure it's the clips moving around or coming in contact with other plastic and I CAN NOT get rid of it. I've even thought about taking the whole damn thing apart and putting vasoline on all of the clips or, even more dramatically, cutting them off and using velcro to hold the center console pieces together. This noise drives my nuts. Sometimes I even think about trading in the car because of it...but then the temp changes, the noise goes away, and I think "God I love this car".
Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Has anyone been able to fix it?
I kept applying pressure at different points along the silver pieces and the "crackling" persisted. I believe the issue is related to clips rubbing against other plastic areas. Also, because the silver pieces are hollow underneath they tend to twist and bend leading to more noises. I used some compression foam and shoved it everywhere it would fit under the silver pieces and put the whole thing back together. Now when I apply pressure in strategic areas there is very little (virtually none) of the crackling.
Of course this is weather dependent so I need to wait until it gets very cold or very hot to know if it worked.