Interior Rattle

[Mattba]

Hi, I've had an interior rattle for a few weeks and was wondering if anyone could help me narrow it down more before I bring it up with service as I prefer them to not have to spend forever trying to reproduce it.

I am pretty sure its coming from the front passenger seat or door. I think its the seat because it almost always goes away when I have someone sitting in the front seat, although sometimes it still present. I've looked under the seat with a scope and didn't see anything obvious.

It seems like a single bumpy section of road will set it off and then anything less than totally smooth road keeps it going for a while. It's a pretty high cycle rattle, but not squeaky.

Thanks.

 

[MGRMLN]

Hi, I've had an interior rattle for a few weeks and was wondering if anyone could help me narrow it down more before I bring it up with service as I prefer them to not have to spend forever trying to reproduce it.

I am pretty sure its coming from the front passenger seat or door. I think its the seat because it almost always goes away when I have someone sitting in the front seat, although sometimes it still present. I've looked under the seat with a scope and didn't see anything obvious.

It seems like a single bumpy section of road will set it off and then anything less than totally smooth road keeps it going for a while. It's a pretty high cycle rattle, but not squeaky.

Thanks.

I had the same rattle from my passenger seat. I sat in it and adjusted the settings in all different ways and then reset it in a comfortable position. That seemed to cure it. No idea why but it seems like there are certain positions without a passenger that might create the rattle. Hope this works for you.

 

[Mattba]

Thanks, I tried adjusting the seat a little a few days ago without luck, but I'll try again. I can use the screen to adjust it on the road which should give me pretty immediate feedback if I find a good position.

 

[Westchester Air]

Thanks, I tried adjusting the seat a little a few days ago without luck, but I'll try again. I can use the screen to adjust it on the road which should give me pretty immediate feedback if I find a good position.

Just wanted to add that when I picked up my AT, I had the same problem. Eventually figured out it was the front passenger seat. Out of desperation, I simply adjusted the recline (a bit) and adjusted the seat back a bit and presto, it stopped. I think it was just seated (if you'll pardon the pun) in a weird spot. Give it another try and good luck!

 

[Miami_Lucid_Man]

Yes! I’ve noticed the same thing from the same area! Going to try to adjust the seat on the fly.

 

[socktucker]

Have someone else drive it, sit in the back seat, and touch the areas you suspect are causing the sound. When you find it, make note of it.

Now you look for two surfaces that are touching causing the vibration. There are two ways to correct this: silicone grease for extremely small "sticky" vibrations like edges of door panels to doors, clips, etc. Use like a toothpick or dabber amount to lube the joint area and it will stop.

The other way, best for larger rattles, is felt tape. You only need to place or wrap a small amount on one of the surfaces. This is best for things like seat belts, buckles, speaker trims, etc.

Ultra luxury brands (Maserati in particular) actually wrap ALL metal panel clips in thin felt tape before they install them, that's why a 20 year old Maserati has no rattles in it.

 

[neuneleven]

Have someone else drive it, sit in the back seat, and touch the areas you suspect are causing the sound. When you find it, make note of it.

Now you look for two surfaces that are touching causing the vibration. There are two ways to correct this: silicone grease for extremely small "sticky" vibrations like edges of door panels to doors, clips, etc. Use like a toothpick or dabber amount to lube the joint area and it will stop.

The other way, best for larger rattles, is felt tape. You only need to place or wrap a small amount on one of the surfaces. This is best for things like seat belts, buckles, speaker trims, etc.

Ultra luxury brands (Maserati in particular) actually wrap ALL metal panel clips in thin felt tape before they install them, that's why a 20 year old Maserati has no rattles in it.

Have the same problem in addition to a rattle from the far back, behind the rear passenger bench seat.
For the front seat, it also stops once the seat is occupied. I have tried reaching for the sides of the seat and even just holding the seat while driving without success. I now will try different positions as suggested and I hope it brings some resolution, at least, as concerns the noise emanating from the forn seat area

 

[socktucker]

Have the same problem in addition to a rattle from the far back, behind the rear passenger bench seat.
For the front seat, it also stops once the seat is occupied. I have tried reaching for the sides of the seat and even just holding the seat while driving without success. I now will try different positions as suggested and I hope it brings some resolution, at least, as concerns the noise emanating from the forn seat area

Try different angles of the seat back. Sometimes they have internal metal springs that can rest against each other. My Tesla also bangs against the buckle at certain angles.

For the rear deck I haven’t dove into it yet. I had a Lexus where the plastic covers for the child seat latch would rattle! The good news is this rear deck rattle is BIG so it will be easy to find.

 

[Mattba]

Thanks for all the advice and ideas. Yesterday moving the seat helped, but only temporarily. I guess moving the seat shifted whatever was vibrating, but the next bump or whatever would set it back to being loose. I'll have to look under there again and see if there is anything that sticks out.

 

[neuneleven]

Thanks for all the advice and ideas. Yesterday moving the seat helped, but only temporarily. I guess moving the seat shifted whatever was vibrating, but the next bump or whatever would set it back to being loose. I'll have to look under there again and see if there is anything that sticks out.

I do not know how low your seat it. Mine was at the lowest position, I raised it slightly and for the last three days, it's been smooth sailing and enjoyable. Still some rear deck rattle but that is minimal, and I now enjoy driving without masking the rattle with music. Lets see how long it holds

 

[Mattba]

I think I've finally figured it out, I was vacuuming the car yesterday and noticed where the bottom of the safety belt attaches to the passenger seat looked a lot different that the drivers seat. Looking more closely with a flashlight I realized there is a little plastic frame with felt on it that had fallen down inside the seat. My best guess is it wasn't clipped in right originally and I pushed it down there with the crevice tool on a previous vacuum.

It wasn't easy to clip back in, I did learn you have to clip the back first and then the front or else it doesn't seat right and still rattles a bit, maybe that was what happened originally when the car was built, who knows. It helps a lot to have skinny fingers, I had to hook in an index finger front and back and slowly move it into place.

I've attached a picture of it back in place just in case someone else runs into the same issue down the road.

 

[socktucker]

It wasn't easy to clip back in, I did learn you have to clip the back first and then the front or else it doesn't seat right and still rattles a bit, maybe that was what happened originally when the car was built, who knows. It helps a lot to have skinny fingers, I had to hook in an index finger front and back and slowly move it into place.

nice find!! You can use 90 degree trim hooks to make that easier too.

 

[Mattba]

nice find!! You can use 90 degree trim hooks to make that easier too.

Good idea, that would work well too, although I think I only have one in my set, two skinny ones would make it pretty quick and easy.