Fixing the rattles?
Discussion
Feeling a bit glum today having taken my mk2 out for a spin after work. The number of rattles and general noise in the cabin is getting a bit too much and it feels like a bit of an uphill struggle to identify them and then fix.
So far I've fixed:
- Upper bonnet catches were rattling when car is stationary - Fixed by adjusting the pins.
- Wipers rattling against bonnet - Fixed by changing angle of wipers and/or adjusting bonnet
- Windows rattling at idle - new felt fitted, but not really fixed it.
However I now have the following rattles and was hoping that someone else might have experiences to share in terms of what to actually check! All of these only happen when driving over anything less than a perfectly smooth road surface.
- Loud creaking sound from behind steering wheel when hitting bumps. Sounds like something is pressing against the window or is an interference fit and it's just moving around with the bumps. Changing the angle of the steering column etc doesn't help.
- Doors are still very noised/rattley. It sounds like it could be the lock mechanisms, or also still the windows.
- Roof is rattley are the point where the rear pins engage. I've bought some self setting rubber to bond around the bits that the receiving holes where the pins go into, and thinking maybe just some more adjustment of these also? The roof is a fairly tight fit already, and you can't move it by hand once it's all engaged.
- Rear window... still haven't found the holy grail of a squeak free window. I've got non friction tape on the underside of the rear bootlid, but the only thing that helps is to put grease all over the rear seal. This only lasts a couple of weeks though. Anything that would work for longer would be great!
So my plan to find these is to take the window glass out and drive it, then take the front dash out (needs to come off anyway to fit a new window switch), and then basically tape down any rogue cables etc.
Anyone care to share their experience of anything similar? What worked/didn't work? It's things like the door catches that I can't work out how to improve!
Internet beer for any advice!
So far I've fixed:
- Upper bonnet catches were rattling when car is stationary - Fixed by adjusting the pins.
- Wipers rattling against bonnet - Fixed by changing angle of wipers and/or adjusting bonnet
- Windows rattling at idle - new felt fitted, but not really fixed it.
However I now have the following rattles and was hoping that someone else might have experiences to share in terms of what to actually check! All of these only happen when driving over anything less than a perfectly smooth road surface.
- Loud creaking sound from behind steering wheel when hitting bumps. Sounds like something is pressing against the window or is an interference fit and it's just moving around with the bumps. Changing the angle of the steering column etc doesn't help.
- Doors are still very noised/rattley. It sounds like it could be the lock mechanisms, or also still the windows.
- Roof is rattley are the point where the rear pins engage. I've bought some self setting rubber to bond around the bits that the receiving holes where the pins go into, and thinking maybe just some more adjustment of these also? The roof is a fairly tight fit already, and you can't move it by hand once it's all engaged.
- Rear window... still haven't found the holy grail of a squeak free window. I've got non friction tape on the underside of the rear bootlid, but the only thing that helps is to put grease all over the rear seal. This only lasts a couple of weeks though. Anything that would work for longer would be great!
So my plan to find these is to take the window glass out and drive it, then take the front dash out (needs to come off anyway to fit a new window switch), and then basically tape down any rogue cables etc.
Anyone care to share their experience of anything similar? What worked/didn't work? It's things like the door catches that I can't work out how to improve!
Internet beer for any advice!
It seems that getting married took over my summer! But i'm back on the case with the rattle with renewed vigour as they are starting to ruin the enjoyment of the car 
So.. i've started on the doors with the following:
- Door cards removed, and some sound barrier foam stuck to the back of them
- Foam pads placed around the outside of the inner door cavity to prevent the door card squeaking within the door
- Upper edge of door card now has thin felt stuck over it so that it wedges into the cavity against the silver trim
- Sound deadening placed on door outer skin (dubious but i've got loads just sitting in the garage)
- Felt placed behind the door striker plate to prevent any minor noises
- Felt placed to help prevent rubbing against the bodywork as below
With all that in place, the only rattle I can now definitely identify is the window. Most likely its rattling agains the runner as the window felt has seen better days. Anyone know any good suppliers?
Next on the list is to tackle the other door, then onto the roof itself with the following:
- New rubber/foam sleeves on the female bits where the targa pins hold the roof in.
- New felt over the rear edge of the targa panel
- Anti squeak tape over the front leading edge where it sits in the channel at the front window.
Hopefully this will stop the noise when going over any kind of bump in the road surface as at the moment the car feels very very kitcar-esque!
I'll put some more pics when i'm next working on it, and then it'll be onto the rear window, before the mother of all rattle behind the dash will be tackled which will be a dash out job!
Any other tips that people have done?
So.. i've started on the doors with the following:
- Door cards removed, and some sound barrier foam stuck to the back of them
- Foam pads placed around the outside of the inner door cavity to prevent the door card squeaking within the door
- Upper edge of door card now has thin felt stuck over it so that it wedges into the cavity against the silver trim
- Sound deadening placed on door outer skin (dubious but i've got loads just sitting in the garage)
- Felt placed behind the door striker plate to prevent any minor noises
- Felt placed to help prevent rubbing against the bodywork as below
With all that in place, the only rattle I can now definitely identify is the window. Most likely its rattling agains the runner as the window felt has seen better days. Anyone know any good suppliers?
Next on the list is to tackle the other door, then onto the roof itself with the following:
- New rubber/foam sleeves on the female bits where the targa pins hold the roof in.
- New felt over the rear edge of the targa panel
- Anti squeak tape over the front leading edge where it sits in the channel at the front window.
Hopefully this will stop the noise when going over any kind of bump in the road surface as at the moment the car feels very very kitcar-esque!
I'll put some more pics when i'm next working on it, and then it'll be onto the rear window, before the mother of all rattle behind the dash will be tackled which will be a dash out job!
Any other tips that people have done?
Cockey said:
You might have already tried this, but have you made sure the hoops on the roof where the pins insert are screwed down properly? I found mine were a little loose a few years ago.
I get more squeaks than rattles, and I've learnt that spraying the seals on the roof with silicon spray works really well. I also put some grease in the roof hoops which I think helped a little.
I do get window rattles, but only when they're partially down. Fully up or down and they're fine.
Not checked this so will definitely take a look next time i'm working on it. I'm thinking of putting some felt on the inside and outside of the hoops so that any noise due to their inevitable movement is minimised.I get more squeaks than rattles, and I've learnt that spraying the seals on the roof with silicon spray works really well. I also put some grease in the roof hoops which I think helped a little.
I do get window rattles, but only when they're partially down. Fully up or down and they're fine.
The window rattle is definitely there even when raised so i'm hoping some new felts will fix it.
I think so long as I tackle one thing at a time then i'll get there in the end. There'll always be more general noise than most other cars, but it shouldn't feel/sounds like a kit car!
Time for an update as i've made some decent progress. All yet to be tested but here's what i've managed to do in the past couple of weeks:
- Targa metal pins are now covered in rubber. I used Sugru which is moldable and then sets hard. It's also adhesive so worked a treat.
- Targa panel itself now has felt on the inner lip to help get a tighter seal without squeaking.
- Rear screen top covered front and rear with felt, lower inner with felt, and then felt placed on the inside of the boot where is pushes the screen down.
- Door cards cleaned and dynamat type stuff put on back, followed by a layer of thick acoustic felt
- Same done for the thin panels that sit behind the seats against the body.
- Felt placed between the leather panels on the door that were squeaking against each other
- Felt placed on the bottom of the door to make it a tighter fit
From going round the car, there are a few bits left to do:
- Inside of doors itself - check for any cables/window channel rattles
- Behind the door lock mechanism, within the body, has loads of loose cabling which seems likely to be a major source of rattles. This all needs to be tied, and the whole inside of that area dynamatted and foam put anywhere possible.
- Check the door lock/pins themselves are tightly holding onto the door. From when i'm driving if I go over a major bump in the road, this is the time when I get a loud knock/rattle from the door. I suspect it's the cables behind the lock, but does anyone have any good suggestions on how to check if the lock/door pin itself is causing it?
- Remove the dashpod and dash and find the mouse that's behind there
Anyway... some pics!
- Targa metal pins are now covered in rubber. I used Sugru which is moldable and then sets hard. It's also adhesive so worked a treat.
- Targa panel itself now has felt on the inner lip to help get a tighter seal without squeaking.
- Rear screen top covered front and rear with felt, lower inner with felt, and then felt placed on the inside of the boot where is pushes the screen down.
- Door cards cleaned and dynamat type stuff put on back, followed by a layer of thick acoustic felt
- Same done for the thin panels that sit behind the seats against the body.
- Felt placed between the leather panels on the door that were squeaking against each other
- Felt placed on the bottom of the door to make it a tighter fit
From going round the car, there are a few bits left to do:
- Inside of doors itself - check for any cables/window channel rattles
- Behind the door lock mechanism, within the body, has loads of loose cabling which seems likely to be a major source of rattles. This all needs to be tied, and the whole inside of that area dynamatted and foam put anywhere possible.
- Check the door lock/pins themselves are tightly holding onto the door. From when i'm driving if I go over a major bump in the road, this is the time when I get a loud knock/rattle from the door. I suspect it's the cables behind the lock, but does anyone have any good suggestions on how to check if the lock/door pin itself is causing it?
- Remove the dashpod and dash and find the mouse that's behind there
Anyway... some pics!
Edited by MrChips on Sunday 14th December 21:25
Time for another update. Dash has now been off, and all areas underneath where it could be rubbing/rattling have been filled with acoustic foam. Top of the main ali/metal shelf now has felt on, as does the whole of the outside of the main removable dash piece so that it can't squeak against the other leather trim. I've been very careful only to put a small bit on so that the fit is still good, and you can't seen any of the actual felt itself.
Centre radio pod has also been out, cleaned up, and refitted with felt on all areas where it could rub. Ideally i'd like to tidy the wiring in there but as my radio isn't working then i'll leave that to another time to sort out.
Now left is to refit the speedo pod, and then the door cards back onto the car. A trial fit shows that it's a very tight fit with all of the acoustic foam so I may need to trim this back again in a couple of areas.
Finally, I re-did the targa seals, and filled in the gaps at the front corners with Sugru. This should help stop any wind noise and provide a better seal.
Here's some more pics!
Now got to have another go at refitting the windows. That's a whole other world of pain as the rear window clamp seems to sit way too low for where the glass actually needs to be so i'm struggling to get a good seal against the targa panel. There seems to be no adjustment available to actually position the clamps any higher so some lateral thinking may be needed. Or a hammer.
Roll on the nicer weather!!
Centre radio pod has also been out, cleaned up, and refitted with felt on all areas where it could rub. Ideally i'd like to tidy the wiring in there but as my radio isn't working then i'll leave that to another time to sort out.
Now left is to refit the speedo pod, and then the door cards back onto the car. A trial fit shows that it's a very tight fit with all of the acoustic foam so I may need to trim this back again in a couple of areas.
Finally, I re-did the targa seals, and filled in the gaps at the front corners with Sugru. This should help stop any wind noise and provide a better seal.
Here's some more pics!
Now got to have another go at refitting the windows. That's a whole other world of pain as the rear window clamp seems to sit way too low for where the glass actually needs to be so i'm struggling to get a good seal against the targa panel. There seems to be no adjustment available to actually position the clamps any higher so some lateral thinking may be needed. Or a hammer.
Roll on the nicer weather!!
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