nugget

After reading the various rattle threads, it would appear the various common rattles such as the doors, passenger seat, and middle consul (NAV region) have been discussed in great length and I do feel the pain…

I have more or less fixed, or at least treated in one form or another, these rattles and will gladly reply to you with my various remedies & fixes.

Even though, the sports car/coupe enthusiast should have a bit of tolerance to some rattles, I have a rattle that has stumped me the last month and everyone at this point in South NJ for the time being.

Keep in mind, I have driven this car last 10 months as my primary car in sun, rain, sleet, and some snow cautiously, resulting in over15K on my Blue 8…. and it’s a cool 4 door car….

HOWEVER, has anyone experienced a low clicking-tapping noise coming from the “rear seat window quadrant area” on the passenger side.

I have done the battery of tests, including sitting in the back seat, while another drives/moves the car on several occasions....

It almost sounds like the glass is being tapped when backing up and driving at various speeds.

Even with being able to simulate this noise any time I choose, not even the dealership has been able to solve this rattle.

When I apply some pressure on the window near the side passenger air bag (Near the head of the passenger), I can muffle the rattle, but cannot eliminate or treat….

Keep in mind, it NOT the following:

1) Speakers under the back dash (padded after I removed the covers)
2) Trunk items of any kind (removed)
3) Plastic backing that covers the back seats in the trunk have even been padded
4) Back seat hooks have been padded, which can be accessed from the trunk not easily
5) Plastic clips of any kind around the back seat in the trunk or the cabin

It sounds as if the consist rattle, which is getting louder in time, seems to coming from inside the wall of the car (at or near the side passenger air bag).

1) Could something be tapping the window?
2) Because the window is technically in constant movement and stress against the car, could it be an exposed area against metal?

I have been around many car rattles and seem to solve them all in some way. I know it is just a matter of time… But, this rattle at the moment has me stumped….

Thanks to anyone that has solved this one and can lend a hand… In addition, if there is already a thread in progress discussing this rattle I apologize for spending your time…. However, please point me in the right direction….
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Tigger

iTrader: (3)

Not sure if you have seen this TSB

Rear Quarter Window Glass Lock Becomes Loose - Issued 4/07/04

Look on Rosenthal Mazda's sight http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ocs/index.html

Actual TSB is http://www.finishlineperformance.com.../09-011-04.htm

nugget

Great link for future references....

I apologize for the slight confusion…

Specifically, the sound is emanating from the “rear windshield area” on the passenger side, “near or at” the left rear speaker...

We have placed our ear right on top of the rattle and it appears to be arising “at the location” where the rear passenger air bag, the rear windshield, and the rear speaker cover intersect. The noise is not at or near the rear passenger door or small lock window.

When we press on that location, the sound is more quiet as though we are solving the problem. This leads me to think it might be a windshield issue and not a typical rattle at all…. Something could be rubbing up against the glass or the glass is getting twisted ever so slightly causing a tapping-rattle sound…

Tigger, thanks for the insight....

beachdog

Reminds me of a noise problem that my father had on a brand new 1974 Plymouth Satellite. There was a light metallic clank from under the passenger-side dash, constantly, whenever the car was moving. The dealer had removed the entire dashboard and the noise was still there. They then proceeded to remove everything possible from the firewall. Since the car was not driveable at this point they had half the guys in the shop shake the car and sure enough the noise was still there. They consulted with the factory and were told to cut open the firewall (unibody car). They found the culprit. There was a large allen key welded at one end to a thin wire which was welded to the underside of the cowl just behind the hood. The allen key was hanging like a pendulum. The car was sabotaged at the factory.

Not suggesting that this is what is wrong with your car, but look for foreign objects in unlikely places.

The rear seatbelt/shoulder harness mechanism is in that area. There are lots of potential rattles in those.

nugget

Thanks beachdog...

Based on the energy I expended at this point on the "creek, rattle, tap", at the moment, I am just living with it, with the intension of waiting and watching until it gets loader and the radio will not be load enough to drown out the sound........

Of course, it is not too load, but we all know how load a noise can get in our minds, especially in a new and cool car….

I will check the back seat belt, along with the ceiling liner again as it meets with the rear windshield….

Thanks for the insight…

PS
By the way, I also owned a 72 Plymouth Satellite Sebring for 8 years. It was a big white boat of a car, w/ a big engine, a big rear, and a big trunk… Great car…

Titaniumdan

Alas, I think I have a variant of the same problem. Instead of a tapping, I have a high frequency rattle, almost a buzzing, when going over minor bumps at 50-60MPH. When the #$%^ thing gets going, it is by far the loudest thing in the car. It comes from exactly the location you describe, on the passenger side. Been to the dealer 3 times for this, with 2 test drives with the head mechanic. He has heard it. First time, he stuffed a large piece of foam under the rear dash between the speakers; all this managed to do is muffle the bass response of the speaker, but did not change the rattle/buzz.

Nugget or other kind soulmates united against rattle torture- wonder if you also have encountered a rattle that is coming from the driver's side dash. This one stops if I put my hand on the triangular fixed air vent on the top of the dash (not the circular adjustable vent to the side of the intrument cluster). This one was pretty temperature sensitive- needed to be warm and sunny to slightly heat the dash, but then I took it in to the dealer, and the "fix" made it much louder and no longer temperature sensitive! It doesn't seem to be the vent itself that is making the noise- slight pressure on the vent seems to deform the dash enough to stop the din.

Love the car otherwise and don't want to be accused of whining- these two rattles are loud enough to make conversation difficult!!!!

army_rx8

i have the same sound coming from the passenger side of my rear window. cna't figure it out to save my life...it doesn't do it all the time...just some of the time. Liek in teh mornings it won't make a sound then by about noon (sun out and beating down) it'll make a tapping sound after i hit like ~20 or so mph....driving me crazy...everytiem i tried or had an appointment with the dealership..it was raining...lol talk about bad luck..can't find a tapping sound with rain coming down. oh well. sorry i can't gelp you out as to what the problem is but you aren t the only one. but i still got nothing but love for my baby.

nugget

Thanks Titaniumdan & army_rx8 for your feed back.........

For Titaniumdan,
1) Have you checked the obvious....? The "Rear View Mirror" has a low-tone rattle/tap. When you squeeze the mirror just slightly or adjust the mirror the plastic stops the noise for a small period.

2) There is a rattle in the dash, also. But I believe it is internal to the "vent system". This would explain why when I close the vents, the noise/tap/rattle would seem to be muffled or go away.

For army_rx8,

Although I have been living with the rattle/tap/noise for the moment, I am still under the impression that it is originating around the corner of the rear window on the passenger side “near or at” the air bag location.

A theory I have is that the sound is partially or entirely in the frame body of the car, which is coming in contact with the window through vibration……


“Obviously we are dealing with a lot of variables, which all have to do with Plastic/Styrofoam/Electronics/Metal rubbing up together.... Until there are better glues, molded parts, seamless connections, installation practices, tires, and even engines, we will all be facing the challenges of car sounds….”

misterwilson007

same problem here too Nugget.............it drives me crazy on my way to work every a.m.......
haven't found a fix for it yet.............

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

I've got it also - and I checked my window lock and it is tight....

AF-RX8

I have the same exact rattle ...

PlayUltimate

I too have this rattle. When I have brought my 8 into the dealership for it regular TSB fixes and oil changes they have tried to track down this rattle...of course they cannot find it. I have embarked on my own mission to find this. During my dismantling of they interior I have found a couple of other loose items that have helped out other rattles and squeeks. (The door handles for the suicide doors were VERY loose...the driver's side in particular. I tightened these screws. The rear plastic panel behind the rear seats was thumping against the cross members...I put padding between these)
Finally I had 4 people in the car and I asked the two guy in the rear if they could tell me where the "tinny" noise was coming from. BOTH told me that it was inbetween the two rear speakers. One of these guys PUSHED DOWN on the center panel between the rear speakers and the noise stopped. He stopped pushing...the noise started.
Okay, now I SWORE that it was from the passenger side rear, but that was with me sitting in the driver's seat, so I guess the acoustics were just playing tricks on me. Once I had two pair of ears in the rear seat, they were able to isolate the source point of the noise.
Here's the problem...I don't know how to remove that panel to insulate it!

misterwilson007

keep us posted!

PlayUltimate

Does anyone know how to remove this center panel? (Without breaking it!)

nugget

Thanks for the comments…… We are getting closer…

To PlayUltimate:

In reference to your rattle in between the two (2) speakers, keep mind the speaker covers and back seats are directly linked together. Essentially, there is a series of push-pin plastic inserts.

Understanding how the push pins work gives you an advantage. Some of the inserts are made up of two (2) sections. One section slides inside the outer sleeve section, resulting in the inner section pushing out the outer section to anchor the part.

When you slightly pull one of the rear seat back from the top corner, you will notice a series of plastic pins holding some of the plastic speaker system in place, which is linked to the middle speaker section. You can peal the seat back enough to get a view and slip your hand down to pull pins.

Also, some of the pins can and need to be accessed from the trunk behind the seat area, if you want a better view of the seat.

I am aware of these part areas because, I too thought “maybe the speakers” and/or the plastic covers in the trunk over the back seats were causing the rattle….

After stuffing “foam-type material” through the speakers and in the trunk between the plastic cover over the back seats, the tap/rattle still exist.

Above all else, to take your time to slowly and gently pry back some of the parts….
The assembly will become more apparent in time… The speaker covers, partially pop-up from the center side location giving you a better picture....

I notice when pressing on the speaker covers near the window the noise appeared to be muffled only…… Take a look at the 1st post in this thread to recap on the efforts taken….

boyboydan

Hi There!

Is your RX-8 Red? Cause mine is and the rear window just as rattle as yours. I live in Hong Kong and I had my RX-8 with 10000km on the clock. After a full day of inspecting my car I finally found out that the rattle sound was from the passenger rear window. The tapping sound was the same as you discribed. I took the car back to the dealer and they replaced a new window together with the seal. Unfortunetly, it didn't help. So what I did was to remove the window myself and I tape around the window with spounch tape (you could buy them in hardware store). It is about 6mm in thickness and 25mm in width. You should tape it just aside of the window sill abd should cover it with all the metal towards your door edge (towards the front door or the screw area where you screw the window out). After I done it the noise was completely gone! So I hope it will work for you too.

Good Luck!

mospeed

Has anyone figured out this problem? I have the same rattle/squeak also....

Ed

pricer01

Can anyone give an update on this - I'm going nuts. I spent all afternoon looking to solve teh rattle - no joy!

H E L P

nugget

I am surprised that no one has been able to completely solve the rattle as of yet, which leads me to believe it is window related and also not easy to remedy without doing some window/seal work and causing an expensive warranty challenge with Mazda……….

It does appear that “boyboydan” with his Red RX8 might have solved the problem with a rear window remedy. (See above post). What concerns me is that Mazda took a shot at the problem by removing the window but the remedy failed until the “re-removal” and some additional tape around the seal….

Now, what we need to remember, if this is the actual remedy, we need to drive this fix back to Mazda to initiate the change using our warranty….

Although I have plenty of warranty left on my Blue 8, we need to find the “tap quickly” ourselves and have Mazda get the “fix” with only one (1) attempt, instead of constant missed attempts….

We need to identify in the window region what makes the tap…….. No one wants to have Mazda spend the time removing the rear window, replace the seal, and not solve the problem…

We need to be patient, but focused on the tap, by having someone in the back seat press on the rear glass window when the tapping occurs…. Listen for a “tap” that might be reduced or increased in frequency and/or volume. (See my previous post above)

We’ll get it…
Nugget


PS...
boyboydan,

Please Comment more on how you "fixed" the tap.......... Talk about how you removed the window.....

Thanks for your feedback....

mrthundercleese

Ive got a rattle coming from my steering wheel/column . It has been around for a while but at first I attributed it to something back in the dash. I discoverd this location this week lightly thumping on things until it rattled. If I press the steering wheel into the dash while driving, the rattle goes away! Anyone else see this?

Now there is only to solve the rattle coming from behind my drivers seat. Sounds like its in the door. The window lock is tight though.

nugget

The rattle in the steering column has historically come from the area under the plastic shield around the top of the column. When the sound occurs, press on the plastic cover over the column, in front of the consul.

For your doors, keep in mind the driver side door is equipped with several styro-foam type material pieces, which can be seen when the driver side cover is taken off. (There are pieces on the inside of the metal window support and on the outside of the support between the door and the metal window support.

If you press and pull on driver arm rest you can re-produce the squeaking/rubbing sound of the Styrofoam material, which I removed months ago and has virtually eliminated any sound arising from the door and doesn’t appear to have any repercussions of the removal.
Keep in mind, I used some soft cushion foam to replace the removal on the inside portion of the door before placing the cover.

The rear side door does have some rattling on big bumps in the latch mechanism.

If you need further support, do a quick search on “driver side door rattle”, which will produce some great feed back by others who have solved this issue. There are a few posts with pictures on the door cover removal, which is done simply by removal a few screws and slowly pulling up the cover with a plain screw driver wrapped in cloth to prevent mild scratching.

Nugget

brtzrx8

I brought my car in to the dealer today for a rattle coming from the rear speaker shelf. (Not the passenger window on the suicide doors.) Sounds like something was hitting the glass.

They ended up replacing the entire rear window and seals. This is madness, may car only has 1100 miles on it.

In any case, I hope this fixes the rattles. I won't know till I get the car back on Friday.

Brett

brtzrx8

Correction to my prior post. The dealer only replaced the rear window seals. I just got the car back and the rattle appears to have been fixed. I am hoping that it stays this way.

Rasputin

Nugget,

I too have this rattle issue. It's quieter lately, but it comes and go. Sometimes, it's so bad I must stop by the side of the road and give the rear right parcel shelf a good banging. I too asked my dealer to pad the rear parcel cover (over the loudspeaker), but it has no effect.

I've kept an eye open on this forum and the few European forums I follow and I once found a possible fix. A guy, in UK if I remember correctly, had the same issue and fixed it by taking off the C-pillar trim next to the rear right passenger. He found out one nut was not tightened properly. I know it's vague but it's all I remember.

I hope you already feel better by knowing you're not alone with this issue as you see by all the replies here.

Good luck,

Fabrice

roytheboy

Hello,

My 2003 model also suffers from the rear parcel shelf ?/ rear window? rattle / tapping noise which comes and goes for no apparent reason. Having followed this thread, there appears to be lots of good suggestions, but I am still unsure of the definitive cure, or indeed, the source of the problem. Has anybody (and specifically, Mazda) got to the bottom of this one yet. My dealer appears to have gone into denial, and all he wants to do is to grease my front seat runners! Not sure how this is supposed to solve the problem!!