Can someone identify this rattling?

jacketfan89 · 11-29-2009, 08:07 AM

Hey Guys,

I have an annoying rattling coming from the rear passenger side of my car. It sounds like there is a marble rolling around in that trim piece where the speaker goes in underneath the window. I don't think its anything on the interior of the car. I shook everything that moves and can't find the sound. It rattles the whole time I'm driving, but especially when I go over bumps. I can feel the vibration of the sound on the interior next to the back seat right above the rear wheel well. I looked under the car and on't see anything. The only thing I coudl think of was that shock back there, but apparently those have just been replaced and if I push the car up and down, I still don't hear it.

krystar · 11-29-2009, 08:12 AM

maybe there is a marble inside the panel? hehe

drive around a parking lot and have a friend...or a kid sit in the rear seat or trunk and listen for it.

flash968 · 11-29-2009, 09:40 AM

frequently this is (believe it or not) the rear seats - the hinges and latches develop wear and rattle - with the bubble back window, it acts like a bowl and amplifies the sounds, making it hard to tell where it is coming from

failing that, i would start looking at exhaust hangers, shock bolts, sway bar links, etc

John_AZ · 11-29-2009, 11:19 AM

Does the rattle happen when the rear seat back is upright?

flash968 · 11-29-2009, 11:57 AM

dropping it will eliminate the latch as a culprit, but not the pivot hinge

best thing to do is remove them to see if that's it

it's even worse in the 968 which has split seats - the center pivot frequently develops wear - it only takes about .005" to do it too

Lizard944 · 11-30-2009, 09:18 PM

I had a rattle in the area you describe. It was the speaker wires hitting the inside wheel well. I fixed it by removing the vent cover on the door pillar and duct-taped them down.

jacketfan89 · 12-01-2009, 09:12 AM

That's what it sounds like to me... You can almost feel it in the wheel well...does that trim piece just unscrew and pop off??

matthewb · 12-01-2009, 10:26 AM

He isn't saying to remove the trim piece. He wants you to open the door and remove the little plastic vent in the door pillar. It just has a little spring tab that holds it in there. Then it just pulls out and you should be able to get your entire hand in there.

Lizard944 · 12-01-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewb

He isn't saying to remove the trim piece. He wants you to open the door and remove the little plastic vent in the door pillar. It just has a little spring tab that holds it in there. Then it just pulls out and you should be able to get your entire hand in there.

Exactly. It's that oval-shaped vent grill just below the door striker post. There is a small tab at the top. Gently pry the tab down and remove the vent. This should give you access to the rear speaker wires.