Tracking down a rattle
Discussion
I have a MK5 golf which has a rattle coming from the the tailgate area when going over broken up roads or manhole covers. In fact it's more like a clunk. The strange thing is that it only does it when the weather is colder, so today for example there is no noise and then in the evening it does it. Has anyone any experience of similar problems on this car or a good way for identifying the noise. The car is pretty quiet so it tends to be all you hear and is driving me mad!
If it's only happening in colder weather I would firstly look at whether it's the expansion/contraction of all the relevant surfaces leading to tailgate fit. You'd be surprised at how small temperatures can cause extremely slight movements in nominal latch position on something like a tailgate, in turn leading to rattle noises transmitted into the cabin. My door latches have to be adjusted perfectly on my E46 to not rattle.
So, easiest thing to try is wrap a piece of duct tape around the tailgate striker then go out for a drive. This will soon tell you if that's the problem.
So, easiest thing to try is wrap a piece of duct tape around the tailgate striker then go out for a drive. This will soon tell you if that's the problem.
RobCrezz said:
I would be checking out the rear suspension and antiroll bar busches. I did have a similar problem to you, which only happened in the colder weather, that turned out to be a dodgy suspension top mount.
Would that be something that starts and stops with warm weather? As someone not very mechanical what am I looking for? Thanks
I sold a car once because I because the front passenger door had a rattle which I couldn't cure.
I also had a 2003 Astra which had exactly the same symptoms as your Golf. It was fine in the warm weather but rattled and clunked when it was cold. It took me ages to sort it out, I checked all the adjustments on the lock, I emptied the boot to make sure it wasn't the jack or spare wheel and had the suspension checked out. Nothing made any difference. Then someone told me to lubricate the tailgate hinges and bingo! no more rattles.
Don't know why it worked but it did, give it a go.
Good luck!
I also had a 2003 Astra which had exactly the same symptoms as your Golf. It was fine in the warm weather but rattled and clunked when it was cold. It took me ages to sort it out, I checked all the adjustments on the lock, I emptied the boot to make sure it wasn't the jack or spare wheel and had the suspension checked out. Nothing made any difference. Then someone told me to lubricate the tailgate hinges and bingo! no more rattles.
Don't know why it worked but it did, give it a go.
Good luck!
duckers26 said:
Would that be something that starts and stops with warm weather? As someone not very mechanical what am I looking for? Thanks
No idea why these things happen sometimes only in cold weather, but I have experienced it my self.Its going to be hard to track it down, but a good way of trouble shooting is to replace the cheapest bits first
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