MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => How to Guides / Troubleshooting => Topic started by: john87 on August 29, 2012, 09:52:51 am

Title: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on August 29, 2012, 09:52:51 am
Has anyone else experienced an intermittent but frustrating rattle coming from the rear of the car?

With the gloriously potholed roads we have in this country, coupled with the Monza 2's, I've noticed this rattle more and more recently, it sounds like something in the armrest compartment or an empty bottle in a rear cup holder when I go over potholes and even upon engine start/stop..however there's nothing in said cup holders or armrest compartment  :confused:

I doubt very much that I'm going to get to the bottom of this, but I'll seek some comfort in knowing I'm not alone on this. Or am I?  :laugh:
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: TIGER-UPPERCUT on August 29, 2012, 11:14:17 am
I get a rattle coming from the rear passenger side.  Looks like its coming from the boot area, thought it was parcel shelf but thats in solid.  It seems to be coming from the plastic behind the rear lights...
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: scopes on August 29, 2012, 11:19:17 am
There is metal clips that hold the inside plastic to the boot lid sometimes the plastic can brake & the metal clips bounce around in there...

Hope that helps you out  :happy2:
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on August 29, 2012, 11:21:05 am
^^^^
So, is it definitely a rattle and not a clunk or squeak? And definitely from inside the car? - Sound travels so can be tricky to source.

Small stone caught in a brake shield?

Screw worked loose somewhere in the interior trim?

Rear seats bedded properly?
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: stealthwolf on August 29, 2012, 11:33:34 am
You need to drive around with someone in the back listening for the noise.
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on August 29, 2012, 11:39:43 am

You need to drive around with someone in the back listening for the noise.


.... :signLOL:

I wish I could quickly find that vid of someone travelling in the boot in an attempt to locate an undesirable sound. I think it's from a movie.

Would you mind getting into my boot, Jas?
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: scopes on August 29, 2012, 11:43:42 am
 :signLOL:

Funny that... Oh Hello Officer Just checking for sounds there really annoying the driver
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: JMP on August 29, 2012, 11:49:35 am
If you have a subwoofer, feed sine waves (approx 20Hz-100Hz) throught it with a moderate to high volume when car is standing still. Go up the frequency one by one or use a sweep. You will most likely hit the correct frequency for the rattle. Then just put it in an repeat and go find & fix it.
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on August 29, 2012, 12:13:14 pm
Thanks for the replies folks  :happy2: I have come to the conclusion that it's something loose either behind a panel or under the seat, its definitely not the seat bench at it's tight down and the noise is still there when there's people in the back... and the fact that I can hear the rattle when I turn off the engine suggests that its something unrelated to the cars' movement (suspension etc).

When she goes in for precat removal next week, I'll have a look underneath and see if it's anything to do with the milltek
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on August 29, 2012, 12:17:25 pm

and the fact that I can hear the rattle when I turn off the engine suggests that its something unrelated to the cars' movement (suspension etc).


....I don't quite understand how the rattle can be heard when the engine is off and there is no car movement. A rattle is a sound which is only created by movement,

Wasps nest? Dirty big blow fly?
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on August 29, 2012, 12:25:01 pm

and the fact that I can hear the rattle when I turn off the engine suggests that its something unrelated to the cars' movement (suspension etc).


....I don't quite understand how the rattle can be heard when the engine is off and there is no car movement. A rattle is a sound which is only created by movement,

Wasps nest? Dirty big blow fly?

Haha  :grin: what I meant was that the sound can be heard briefly when the engine is shut off, i.e. the engine shutting down causes just enough vibration to cause said rattle...and it really is quite a smooth engine so it must be something bloody sensitive!
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: Sonic6103 on August 29, 2012, 12:26:57 pm
I might be wrong but just with the start up and switching off of the engine makes me think it could be the exhaust vibrating on something or maybe even a heat shield too. I'm not sure if it's a similar noise to this but maybe worth a check

Good luck with it and I hope you find it soon too!

Karl
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: TIGER-UPPERCUT on August 29, 2012, 01:14:36 pm
There is metal clips that hold the inside plastic to the boot lid sometimes the plastic can brake & the metal clips bounce around in there...

Hope that helps you out  :happy2:

Thanks for that will have a look.
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: gigolo456 on August 29, 2012, 01:36:10 pm
I had a rattle recently that sounded like the boot wasn't shut properly, but only ever happened when the car was bang up to temperature, never when cold or just warming up! I convinced myself it was to do with my recently installed TBE, and sure enough when the exhaust was moved a bit, well made longer in fact, said rattle/banging now gone (touch wood)!!
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: stealthwolf on August 29, 2012, 02:10:10 pm
Would you mind getting into my boot, Jas?
I think there are a few things I'd rather not do in my life. Getting into the boots of you and Hedge is one of them.
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: daboy3000 on August 30, 2012, 05:14:21 pm
Its not your balls banging around is it?  You know, the weights for the parcel shelf!!!
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: ED30_jase on August 30, 2012, 11:54:55 pm
Make sure the plastic cover under the armrest is firmly locked in position this rattles on mine sometime when someone has used it and not returned it!
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on August 31, 2012, 10:01:59 am
I can confirm its not my balls banging  :wink: the noise still occurs when the shelf is out! However I've just noticed that the noise only starts to occur once the car is up to temp.. which makes me think it's something to do with the exhaust, even though the noise isn't a metallic 'clunk' . I'll be sure to have a good butchers under the car on tuesday when it's on the ramp. Thanks for your input, fellow mk5ers  :pomppomp:
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on August 31, 2012, 10:14:54 am
^^^^
Sounding more and more like the rattle is under the car. Also check the bolts on the exhaust tunnel cross ties, and obviously all bolts etc that you can see. Also that the exhaust system is hung clear of things it could rattle against.

Check this fuel line rattle too:  http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18277

Do let us know what it was. Meanwhile:

Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: GS WAX on September 02, 2012, 08:24:42 am
This will sound bizarre... have you checked the handbrake adjustment? i say this because i had a similar sounding noise on start up(minor clunking noise) or turn off and traveling over larger bumps as you describe,after  some routine brake maintenance at the dealers the noise vanished.
 Try applying the handbrake a couple of notches then open and close a door a few times to see if it makes the same noise.

old E30 beemers were the same,creaks when the handbrake is on as the suspension moves(usually when getting in the car)
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: Andy on September 02, 2012, 10:23:33 am
Had a rattle from the front vents,ended up stripping the dash down to find it
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: joseleeds on September 03, 2012, 10:53:08 pm
i recently had a rattle/squeaking coming from the boot, turns out when i fitted rear lights my hesitation to over tighten the fastening bolts had resulted in it rattling itself off and rubbing on the boot lining!

rattles are insanely frustrating...i convince myself i need to replace all the parts on my car and all i have is a penny rattling around in the ashtray!!
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on September 07, 2012, 09:52:37 am
The rattle seems to have left after I had the exhaust removed and replaced for pre-cat removal, so must have been something loose / hitting the underside of the car!

Thanks for your help all  :party:
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on September 07, 2012, 11:04:58 pm

The rattle seems to have left after I had the exhaust removed and replaced for pre-cat removal, so must have been something loose / hitting the underside of the car!

Thanks for your help all  :party:


....Seems I guessed correctly: (:smug: smilie)


Also that the exhaust system is hung clear of things it could rattle against.


 
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: john87 on September 10, 2012, 08:42:56 pm

The rattle seems to have left after I had the exhaust removed and replaced for pre-cat removal, so must have been something loose / hitting the underside of the car!

Thanks for your help all  :party:


....Seems I guessed correctly: (:smug: smilie)


Also that the exhaust system is hung clear of things it could rattle against.


 

 :congrats: god knows what part of it was rattling! Think it was the mechanical equivalent of 'turn it off and on again'  :wink:
Title: Re: Rattles!
Post by: RedRobin on September 10, 2012, 09:11:39 pm

Think it was the mechanical equivalent of 'turn it off and on again'  :wink:


....As in Ch4 'The IT Crowd'  :laugh: