Any good ways to permanently get rid of interior rattles?

I got to the point where I've had about enough of this. Something in my rear driverside door rattles periodically, the drivers door armrest rattles, the rear view mirror needs to be tightened monthly or it rattles, something arounf the shifter rattles, and now today i discover the passenger side seat back has slop in it and rattles.


This thing is approaching the rattletrapness of my horrible 8 yr old Probe GT before i got rid of it - and this car is only 2.5 yeras old. My previous expereince with that car was everytime I tried to fix a rattle I created another one as some interior panel wouldn't go back or some plastic clip breaks somewhere. Or I'd take it apart, find nothing wrong, put it back together and it would be rattle free for about a month and then be 2x worse then before.


Are there any good methods out there to get rid of these damn rattles once and for all besides selling the frikkin car?

 

Yeah, replace every fastener and tighten every bolt.

Do you leave your car out side? If so then the cold weather loosens stuff and interior rattles happen easier. Also, driving a car that sits in freezing temps all night and then drives on bumpy roads doesn't help.

 

I was able to fix all rattles in my Probe GT - but it wasn't an easy job and it required taking apart the interior a few times. So much so, that I knew every little fastener location by heart and could take apart the interior really quickly at the end. But it was worth it as the car was the most rattle-free PGT I ever sat in.
As it was said, making sure everything is tightened and actually using lithium grease spray at trim panel joints to quiet squeaks worked wonders - also, getting a rear strut brace but that was different with the Probe since it had that huge hole underneath the hatch lid.

In case of the RX-8, take off the offending trim piece and look for the source of the rattle. I also have a rattle that appears in cold(er) weather only and comes from the passenger side rear door. Make sure you check the shop manual for the exact location and type of the fasteners since you don't want to break anything (that'd just create more possibilities for rattles).
Also, seriously, these plastic push-pins are really bad regarding rattles. The panels are surely easier to assemble in the factory, but using screws would go a long way to keep everything tight. Maybe you can consider using screws at some places instead of pins and hooks and whatnot, but that has to be evaluated on an individual basis.

If this all sounds to be too much hassle for you, then just sell the car...

 

honestly, the only way to get rid of the rattles is to to buy a much higher-class car, which are made better- like a lexus, bmw etc. and then never leave it in the sun or any extreme temperature conditions. that said, even then, the "rattle-free-ness" of those cars usually is when they are still new. as all cars age, the seals & lining etc. (rubber, plastic) start to warp slightly- either from sunlight or temperature changes. if there's something really wrong with your car, take and have it looked at. otherwise, don't sweat the small stuff dude... perfection does not exist.

 

my steering wheel rattle and rear view mirror rattle are the one that drive me insane...

all my friends make fun of my NEW car compared to their older cars.. not even my ford focus SVt i repeat FORD .. didnt have rattles to the extent of this car..

 

Hmm seriously, my rattles are not as bad as yours, but I think the door panel rattles are hard to avoid in a car of this design, the freestyle door thing adds great flexibility but seems rather rattle prone. I 've seen the same problem in a Honda Element, leading me to believe that it's somewhat inherent in the design (until it gets better).

I've heard of audio installers using foam in certain areas to quiet down rattles and better sound insulation. Something you might want to look into?

 

Your steering wheel rattle might be fixed by this TSB. Check if your VIN is included.

 

for the rear view mirror there is a screw to tighten up the hinge on the mirror

 

yeah my dogs *** rattles too, and gassy as well, just jam some bean-o down his gullet and its all good

 

I have a couple of the same rattles you mentioned. The rear view mirror turned out to be my metal-framed sunglasses in the compartment.

There's one inside the driver's side door that has something to do with the glass. With the window is up and the engine idling, it rattles. When the window is down or I'm moving, it does not. I would really like to get that one silenced.

 

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