DIY: Rattle Hunt
Who needs valves?
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
HA!! i finally found the little bugger that was squeaking in my car 
every bump i hit it would squeak driving me crazy. its in front of the fuel tank and it holds up some cables. i need to know what size bolt it had in there
every bump i hit it would squeak driving me crazy. its in front of the fuel tank and it holds up some cables. i need to know what size bolt it had in there
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have an annoying creak/rattle that seems to come from somewhere inside the dashboard. At first I was suspecting that some trims could be rubbing but one day while taking a hard corner I heard something that sounded like a coin moving from one side to the other.
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
Registered
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario
I have an annoying creak/rattle that seems to come from somewhere inside the dashboard. At first I was suspecting that some trims could be rubbing but one day while taking a hard corner I heard something that sounded like a coin moving from one side to the other.
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
By the way, you mentioned trim rubbing. Do you have any ideas how to address that? Two pieces of plastic parts rub and squeak when I put pressure on them. It is quite annoying. It also happens everytime i hit a bump.
every time i hit a bump it i get a rattle/ something sounds loose onthe front end .it literally sounds like something is going to fall off and i cant find what is wrong with this thing for the life of me
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,880
Likes: 340
From: Australia
Try your front Sway Bar end Links, joiners or whatever you guys call them, they have a tendency to break at threaded pivot ends.....or it could be something else.
F151-34-150 R H
F151-34-170 L H
F151-34-150 R H
F151-34-170 L H
Registered
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario
I am experiencing this noise that can only be described as "light finger nail tapping on hard surface". It seems to come from the rear of the car. My passenger and I cannot agree where the sound is coming from. She thinks it is from the driver's side, I think it is more from the passenger side. Perhaps it is coming from the middle? It happens more often when it is cold out. It happens when the road surface is bumpy. Sometimes it happens at high speed on highway.
I pretty much accepted all the other squeaks that the interior makes, but I find this sound extremely annoying. Please help.
I pretty much accepted all the other squeaks that the interior makes, but I find this sound extremely annoying. Please help.
Mars
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: CA
@ K.C.C.
I have this "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" sound comming from the rear of the car as well. However, mine only happen when the weather gets warm. I have took all the rear interior trim out hopping to find it, but the rattle was still there even without all the trim. Not sure what to do.
I have this "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" sound comming from the rear of the car as well. However, mine only happen when the weather gets warm. I have took all the rear interior trim out hopping to find it, but the rattle was still there even without all the trim. Not sure what to do.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Rattle fixed - back piece of rearview mirror
The plastic piece on the back of the rearview mirrors would rattle with bass and make the car sound cheap when closing the doors. I fixed this by removing the back piece applying silicone. Much better.
- Grab the top part of the plastic piece furthest from the car. and run your fingers around the edge. The clips that I colored purple will come free.
- apply pressure torwards door trying to free one side of the double clips. once those are free the whole plastic piece will come off
- Apply liberal amout of silcone on the rearview mirrors exposed sides. I colored these spots yellow in the attached picture.
- to reinstall piece: the clip that I colored RED goes in first. then align the pieces colored green on black piece with the rearview mirror, once that is done press in firmly until you hear them clip in.
- run your fingers around the edge so that the pieces i colored purple clip in.
- enjoy.
Driving a Black R3
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Bronx, NY
I have an annoying creak/rattle that seems to come from somewhere inside the dashboard. At first I was suspecting that some trims could be rubbing but one day while taking a hard corner I heard something that sounded like a coin moving from one side to the other.
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
Do you guys reckon there's a coin lodged in the dash somewhere or could it be something else? I've tried pushing the instrument cluster but the noise is still there. It's really annoying as the rattle/creak is always there I have to turn stereo on max to avoid hearing it...
I don't know where it is, I can have the radio at half blast and I can hear it clearly. Just started today. 09 R3.
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 8
From: Las Vegas, NV
The only thing that rattles in my car is the glove compartment. What i did to stop the rattle is i inserted some folded papers on the top edge and closed it and the rattle stops. Try it if your glove compartment rattles like crazy. It really works!
Mars
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: CA
@ K.C.C.
I think I have found the source/solution to that "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" rattle. This was actually mentioned earlier in this same thread, and there is a diagram in post #28 showing the bolt, labled 4, that goes on the side of rear windshield. If im not wrong, it is that bolt making the rattle.
My solution is simply redo the bolt, and that annoying rattle went away. Be carefull though, as people have note that the specific torque for it is pretty low-23-30(in lb). I hand tighten it with just a 10mm socket without any wrench as I dont have the right torque wrench. You will need to remove the rear seat, inner scuff plate, tire house trim, and finaly the rear pillar trim to get to that bolt. Make sure which side is making the noise before you start taking things apart.
Its been two days and its dead quiet since. Hopefully this can help you cause I know how annoying that rattle is, and I dont speak too soon that this will actually fix it. =)
I think I have found the source/solution to that "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" rattle. This was actually mentioned earlier in this same thread, and there is a diagram in post #28 showing the bolt, labled 4, that goes on the side of rear windshield. If im not wrong, it is that bolt making the rattle.
My solution is simply redo the bolt, and that annoying rattle went away. Be carefull though, as people have note that the specific torque for it is pretty low-23-30(in lb). I hand tighten it with just a 10mm socket without any wrench as I dont have the right torque wrench. You will need to remove the rear seat, inner scuff plate, tire house trim, and finaly the rear pillar trim to get to that bolt. Make sure which side is making the noise before you start taking things apart.
Its been two days and its dead quiet since. Hopefully this can help you cause I know how annoying that rattle is, and I dont speak too soon that this will actually fix it. =)
Registered
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario
@ K.C.C.
I think I have found the source/solution to that "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" rattle. This was actually mentioned earlier in this same thread, and there is a diagram in post #28 showing the bolt, labled 4, that goes on the side of rear windshield. If im not wrong, it is that bolt making the rattle.
My solution is simply redo the bolt, and that annoying rattle went away. Be carefull though, as people have note that the specific torque for it is pretty low-23-30(in lb). I hand tighten it with just a 10mm socket without any wrench as I dont have the right torque wrench. You will need to remove the rear seat, inner scuff plate, tire house trim, and finaly the rear pillar trim to get to that bolt. Make sure which side is making the noise before you start taking things apart.
Its been two days and its dead quiet since. Hopefully this can help you cause I know how annoying that rattle is, and I dont speak too soon that this will actually fix it. =)
I think I have found the source/solution to that "light finger nail tapping on hard surface" rattle. This was actually mentioned earlier in this same thread, and there is a diagram in post #28 showing the bolt, labled 4, that goes on the side of rear windshield. If im not wrong, it is that bolt making the rattle.
My solution is simply redo the bolt, and that annoying rattle went away. Be carefull though, as people have note that the specific torque for it is pretty low-23-30(in lb). I hand tighten it with just a 10mm socket without any wrench as I dont have the right torque wrench. You will need to remove the rear seat, inner scuff plate, tire house trim, and finaly the rear pillar trim to get to that bolt. Make sure which side is making the noise before you start taking things apart.
Its been two days and its dead quiet since. Hopefully this can help you cause I know how annoying that rattle is, and I dont speak too soon that this will actually fix it. =)
Mars
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: CA
Thank you, sir! I will give it a try this weekend. I went back to the diagram (attached). Item #4 seems more like a clip rather than a bolt. Please double-check if it is the one you're referring to. Also, please report back if you later find out this is not the source of the noise because from what your describing (I haven't looked in my car yet) it is not very easily accessible. Thanks for the torque specs!
Also I might be a little unclear in the last post. Now I look at the diagram again, #4 is actually not what I was reffering to. However, the bolt I was talking about is right there around the area of #4 in that diagram. In fact, it might be the female part that goes on what looks like a screw as #3 in the diagram. It is a lot easier to spot it in person once you open up the rear pillar trim- "A bolt that holds the rear windshield and C pillar".
I have took apart my rear deck before and didnt find much place that can cause any rattle.
diagrams from the shop manual
referance: shop manual
Last edited by families81; Apr 26, 2011 at 05:59 PM.
It's creaking pretty bad when its cold outside, i aslo found that the dash start to make some kind of cricket noise when i drive for an hour or so...driver door always creaks if my arm is not on the armrest. gonna check things out when it's gonna get warmer outside.
found out 1 rattle was the piece under the on/off button of the radio, pushed on it and it stopped. doors dont make any more noises but sometimes rear deck does...its worse when below 32°f
The plastic piece on the back of the rearview mirrors would rattle with bass and make the car sound cheap when closing the doors. I fixed this by removing the back piece applying silicone. Much better.
- Grab the top part of the plastic piece furthest from the car. and run your fingers around the edge. The clips that I colored purple will come free.
- apply pressure torwards door trying to free one side of the double clips. once those are free the whole plastic piece will come off
- Apply liberal amout of silcone on the rearview mirrors exposed sides. I colored these spots yellow in the attached picture.
- to reinstall piece: the clip that I colored RED goes in first. then align the pieces colored green on black piece with the rearview mirror, once that is done press in firmly until you hear them clip in.
- run your fingers around the edge so that the pieces i colored purple clip in.
- enjoy.
On a different note... does anyone else have a kind of creaking or knocking sound coming from the dash, between NAV and the center speaker? This just started for me this winter, after almost 6 years of driving the car. Something is making noise just under the dash surface while I'm driving and going over the slightest bumps in the road. Like a lot of rattles and knocks, it seems to lessen as the temperature gets warmer, but I'd like to try and figure out where it's coming from since I'll have the dash apart in the coming weeks.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
So I have mixed reviews of this thread. I opened it up because there is a rattle coming from the back of my 8. I suspected it was the pass-through cover, but after playing with it I determined it is not. I came here to seek help. Awesome thread to get ideas of where it's coming from and even instructions on how to fix it.
However, ever since I've been reading this thread I've been noticing every small rattle the car makes!!!
However, ever since I've been reading this thread I've been noticing every small rattle the car makes!!!
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
I've sound deadened my entire car - sans the headliner - and most of my rattles now are dash related.
Seems on our terrible Los Angeles roads....the entire dash seems like it's not quite installed correctly. Have no idea how to address this...
I've done a gauge pod and glove box fix - removed the center dash and bose speaker and put in foam....still seems like the entire dash is a rattle trap...
Only thing so far I hate about this car...
Seems on our terrible Los Angeles roads....the entire dash seems like it's not quite installed correctly. Have no idea how to address this...
I've done a gauge pod and glove box fix - removed the center dash and bose speaker and put in foam....still seems like the entire dash is a rattle trap...
Only thing so far I hate about this car...
Here's how to stop the rear view mirror rattle:
Tools needed:
Torx screwdriver
Small flat screwdriver
Old credit card
Rubber cement
1) Take the mirror out of the car. To do this, unplug the wire from the back of the mirror, then take the torx screw out from the spot where the mirror hooks to the glass.
2) Once the mirror is out, take it apart. On the top of the mirror, put a thin screwdriver in the slot that runs around the mirror. Push the screwdriver down, and lever it towards the glass. You should then be able to slide the screwdriver into the housing. Now take the credit card and put a corner of it in near the screwdriver. Slide the CC around the edges- this will release all of the catches. The catches down near the buttons can be tricky and just pulling it apart once you get down here works.
3) It will all now come apart in three pieces- the back shell, front bezel, and the mirror/electronic assembly. There isn't anything loose in here. Keep the mirror and front bezel together. Make sure that the little clear bit that lights up green/red stays lined up in the hole in the bezel.
4) Take the rubber cement and paint around the whole edge of the back half of the case. You might want to do a few coats, but do it semi quickly. Click the whole thing back together.
5) Put it back in the car and you're done. Works great, gets rid of the creaking between the two halves, and it's reversable if for some reason you ever want to open it up again. You could use epoxy, but that will never come apart again...
Tools needed:
Torx screwdriver
Small flat screwdriver
Old credit card
Rubber cement
1) Take the mirror out of the car. To do this, unplug the wire from the back of the mirror, then take the torx screw out from the spot where the mirror hooks to the glass.
2) Once the mirror is out, take it apart. On the top of the mirror, put a thin screwdriver in the slot that runs around the mirror. Push the screwdriver down, and lever it towards the glass. You should then be able to slide the screwdriver into the housing. Now take the credit card and put a corner of it in near the screwdriver. Slide the CC around the edges- this will release all of the catches. The catches down near the buttons can be tricky and just pulling it apart once you get down here works.
3) It will all now come apart in three pieces- the back shell, front bezel, and the mirror/electronic assembly. There isn't anything loose in here. Keep the mirror and front bezel together. Make sure that the little clear bit that lights up green/red stays lined up in the hole in the bezel.
4) Take the rubber cement and paint around the whole edge of the back half of the case. You might want to do a few coats, but do it semi quickly. Click the whole thing back together.
5) Put it back in the car and you're done. Works great, gets rid of the creaking between the two halves, and it's reversable if for some reason you ever want to open it up again. You could use epoxy, but that will never come apart again...
Mars
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: CA
@MaD666MaX
I used to get that when I first installed an ipod adapter myself, but it went away after I took out the radio console again and reinstall it back.
I'm not sure what exactly causes that sound, but might be the radio console rubbing against the place that it is mounted on.
I used to get that when I first installed an ipod adapter myself, but it went away after I took out the radio console again and reinstall it back.
I'm not sure what exactly causes that sound, but might be the radio console rubbing against the place that it is mounted on.