Tracking down interior rattles / squeaks
Tracking down interior rattles / squeaks
Author
Discussion

b14

Original Poster:

1,298 posts

218 months

Monday 12th June 2023
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Anyone have any good tips for tracking down squeaks and rattles from interior trim etc? They annoy me far more than they should and are really hard to actually track down the source in my experience.

Any good tips / tricks for finding them?

Haltamer

2,672 posts

110 months

Monday 12th June 2023
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Owners forums for those that have been found before.

A list of the conditions that trigger them, and some long arms to go feeling, holding, pressing, knocking around the interior.

You can usually do it stationary - If something sounds like it is coming from somewhere, You pretty much know front / rear / left / right at best, Don't expect something to be in exactly the direction you hear it.

Take lots of tesa tape with you, the fuzzy side of some indusrial velcro, and sound deadening foam and you'll be sorted in no time smile

jonwm

2,741 posts

144 months

Tuesday 13th June 2023
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I basically spend my time removing interior trim, seats etc on my T6 Kombi, the rattles make me at times just want to sell it, appreciate its a commercial vehicle but it drives me wild, the forums are full of tips and tricks the particular models.

My life basically goes like this:

Hear a new rattle
Spend 2 weeks locating and researching forums, fb groups
Spend hours removing trim, silicone spraying etc
Either rattle hasn't gone or moved somewhere else
Rinse and repat for the 10 months I've had it!!

Chubbyross

4,982 posts

115 months

Tuesday 13th June 2023
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Buy a Caterham. You’ll laugh out loud at how you used to be bothered by rattles.

cuprabob

19,659 posts

244 months

Tuesday 13th June 2023
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Just turn the volume on the stereo up. You'll drive yourself mad otherwise smile

anonymous-user

84 months

Monday 2nd October 2023
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No method, persistence!

My 9 year old Skoda developed a rattle when ticking over, drove me nuts!

I was convinced as LH dash. Removed glovebox, tied back loose tubes etc, still same.

Bent back pipes under bonnet, etc, same.

Pulled back a bulkhead trim under bonnet, a broken plastic trim fell out,

Surety not that, it was!!

Flumpo

4,024 posts

103 months

Monday 2nd October 2023
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Take absolutely everything out of the car first. Took me about 3 months to figure out where a noise was coming from before I realised it was the sunglasses in the sunglasses holder.

I never would have thought that’s where the noise was coming from until I realised. Car acoustics are odd.

Also if you get a passenger to help, which you should as it’s too hard to do yourself while driving, get someone who cares. My other half who couldn’t care less claimed on several occasions she couldn’t hear the noise. If you think the rattle is annoying, that’s nothing compared to someone telling you they can’t hear it.

nismocat

937 posts

38 months

Monday 2nd October 2023
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My car is 26 years old. It is a noise!
In fact when it goes silent I know there is a problem, or I have stopped.

PositronicRay

29,007 posts

213 months

Monday 2nd October 2023
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You need a lube containing krytox. VW used to do it in a an aerosol. Very expensive but works.

A little application where ever plastics meet, it creeps into the joint and quietens it down. Then a smear of Gummi Pflege on any rubber seals.

(I'm obsessive re creaks and ratttles)

One car I purchased had a squeak, previous owner showed me invoices for front suspension and shocks to try to cure it, turned out to be the radio squeaking in its housing. Another one a 'front shock' squeak that was cured with a dab of grease on the bonnet latch.