I'm definately afraid of them messing up my 8, Family man, but the door rattle drives me crazy. What's worse is I brought it in and they could not "reproduce the customer's complaint". It is possible because it doesn't do it all the time. They did find the rattle in the dash and also said there's a TSB out and a replacement part was ordered for me.

 

I just had my 8 in today to fix the dash panel rattle that I had, get it back and now my driver's door is rattling...I think this car's required to maintain at least one rattle at all times.

 

I too have noticed many different rattles and squeeks coming from both Driver side and Passenger side door. The strange thing is it doesn't remain consistant.
I purchased my RX8 in FEB 2005 and I've only had out maybe a dozen times (when the roads are dry) in varied temperatures (+5C to -20C) and there were no rattles when it was above zero . I noticed a considerable difference in interior plastic skins when the temperature was below zero, they seemed noticably more rigid and not as tight. Obviously plastic changes with temperature but I have owned other cars where the plastics remained flexible and tight to the door in sub-zero temperatures. I'm just say'n.
However I bought the car to drive in the summer so I'm turning up my radio to solve the problem for now.

 

Mine is an 04. Haven't had it but a week and I am starting to here it too. Rattles and squeeks from the passenger side. If I go over a rough surface, I'll hear it. I noticed it this morning (temp was about 30F). I haven't noticed it any other time. I think I'll wait till it gets warmer since spring is almost here. But if it's still there, I'm getting it checked.

Other complaints:
temp control **** came off
brakes squeek (pads I think, it's on the TSB)
previous owner put Mobile1 synth in car

Other than that, the car is awesome. This car gets a LOT of attention.

 

Mine rattles as well. I've been holding off taking it to the dealer fearing the fix is worse than the rattle.
All you guys should bring your cars in so the dealerships gain experience fixing the problem!

Vince

 

My driver side door rattles, and when it's cold(20 degrees) my steering wheel rattles too. I have to press my hand on the horn (w/o honking it) and it stops.

 

Yep, I got the same damn problem!!!!

RX8Power

 

mine too. Mine is actually only bad when the road is bad and the door vibrates... unfortunately if I play music the speakers make the door vibrate as well... it's really beginning to drive me nuts !!!! I'm adding it to my list of things next time I take the car in.

 

Other factors affecting these door panels would be the materials used, process to manufacture, and the design gaps between the components.

As an example, ABS tends to rattle more than polypropylene, and any vinyls will definitely introduce BSR if they are rubbing up against anything. Also, it appears that the RX-8 doors are composed of at least 2 major pieces. Depending on the process used to join the 2 parts, BSR can also be introduced by this joint if it is not put together tightly.

If anyone ever gets a chance to take some backside pics of these door panels, I'd be interested in seeing them...

 

I am about ready to rip my door off this weekend

 

Pics would be great.

Good luck with the removal. If possible, try and get a plastic "fiberstick" that will help you pry the door loose. Also make sure all screws have been removed so that you don't damage anything.

 

Do you have (or need) the sheets from the service manual that describe how to remove the door? I have an Adobe file, but I'm not sure at this point how to extract the 3 pages out of 443 that you would need.

If you want it, I can try and figure it out. Maybe I can scan it in or something.

 

well I have gotten lazy
dont worry about it

 

I've got the '04 rattle on my drivers side as well.

It drives me nuts. That is one of the biggest complaints I have about the rx8. At times it sounds like a bunch of monkies put the darn thing together. When a car rattles it makes it sound cheap.

 

Have you guys tried popping the interior of the doors off and tape everything down? There's alot of loose crap you can tape down.

 

Thanks for that pic, RX-Hawk. I've been interested in seeing what's underneath. Did you take any pics of the back of the trim panel itself?

 

did taping that stuff down fix all the rattling for you?

 

You can hear the biggest squeeks on mine if you lightly pull on the handle (where the maps are suppost to go) and push and pull back and forth. Did taping all that down get rid of the sqeeks?

 

sometimes moving the window up and down will help for a moment

 

Had mine in the dealer last week for rattles, mostly in the passenger door. They took the door panels off, shaved some plastic here and there, taped things down etc. Didn't make a damn bit of difference. Same rattles, same places. Same times.

Mine is worst at 100+ km/h. But get this: the dealer said they "couldn't drive my car that fast," even though they're 5 minutes from a highway.

I give up, crank the stereo.

 

If you crank it, it still rattles loud. This **** is really pissing me off bad. I want to just kick the **** out of the door. I can't believe I paid so much, and my wifes 20k car has not one sound. BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I am just going to drive the car right through the showroom floor. I got both doors rattling, and a lound one behind the stereo it seems like. What is bad is the rattle is much worse with the radio off then on. CRAP!!

 

Yeah. Mazda told me to just crank up the radio to avoid hearing it. Yeah. Ok. I didn't pay all this money for a radio to mask a rattling door! And YES, Mazda DOES mess up things when you bring them in to get fixed. Some idiot tecnician put white compound on my door and glued the part above the door controls (that shines the light down) after he broke it installing a new speaker......and thought I wouldn't notice it. SURE........

 

i have this annoyin problem too and i dun really know how to pop the doors off so can you gimme some advice on to doin that. everything is like hidden and i cant really find it. i brought it back to the dealer and showed them by turning the music up and they told me not to listen to the radio that loud. and i was like what the hell...and can you tell me if it still rattles after you taped everything down please? thanx!!

 

I have the steering wheel airbag rattling, right in front of me, and the guys at Sansome Rt.1 Mazda "cannot reproduce the customer's complaint." And is not like they did not keep the car 7 hours and drove several miles! Nice and fun lunch break drive for the mechanic, probably....
Is this the place you went to as well?

 

I had a sqeak/rattle in the drivers rear door. Took it to Nucar Mazda in DE. They pulled off the panel, replaced all the sound deadening material, adjusted the door panel and voila...rattle is gone. I think you should get a second opinion if your dealer tells you they can't fix it. The better ones seem to be able to.;-)