North American Motoring - GP NOISE: CAN'T FIND THE SOURCE

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GP NOISE: CAN'T FIND THE SOURCE

GP0032 was nearing 1,300 miles when I started hearing a "thunking" sound coming from the right rear portion of the car...always at slow speed around town. At times it sounded like it was coming from the area of the rear hatch, like the body tweaking as well.

Dropped off the car to the dealer for this and a mirror problem as well.
You can see from the technician's write up below what they've done to locate the source. Amazing !

Can anyone advise if they've had a similar problem? I know it's not the hatch latch mechanism...that was replaced during the last trip to the dealer.

Charlie

From the MINI Technician's report

Re: Clunking noise from the right rear of the vehicle:

CHECKED OPERATION AND VERIFIED A CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM THE PASSENGER REAR
OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE REAR HATCH
WHEN THE BODY IS FLEXING. NECESSARY TO ADJUST REAR HATCH RUBBER STOPS AND
CHECK OPERATION AGAIN. ADJUSTED REAR HATCH RUBBER STOPS. CHECKED OPERATIO
AND NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. UPON INSPECTED FOUND NOISE IS COMING FROM THE
PASSENGER REAR CORNER SOMEWHERE, POSSIBLY FROM THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT
ASSEMBLY. INSPECTED AND FOUND THE NUT FOR THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NOT
SECURE. REMOVED RIGHT SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND INSULATED THE CONTACT
POINTS. INSTALLED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. CHECKED OPERATION AND FOUND NOISE IS
STILL PRESENT. PERFORMED EXTENSIVE TEST DRIVE W/ ANOTHER TECH DRIVING AND
INSPECTED. FOUND THAT THE NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN THE REAR HATCH IS OPEN OR
CLOSED AND THE ORIGIN OF THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE
C-PILLAR AND THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE PANEL. NECESSARY TO REMOVED THE
PASSENGER REAR SIDE PANEL AND C-PILLAR AND INSPECT AGAIN FOR NOISE. REMOVED
ALL NECESSARY COMPONENTS AND PASSENGER REAR INTERIOR SIDE PANEL. CHECKED
OPERATION AND FOUND NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. NECESSARY TO REMOVED PASSENGER
INNER C PILLAR COVER AND CHECK OPERATION AGAIN. REMOVED INNER C-PILLAR.
CHECKED OPERATION AND NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. REMOVED REAR HATCH SHOCKS AND
CHECKED OPERATION. NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. REMOVED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND
CHECKED OPERATION, NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. TEST DROVE VEHICLE W/ SHOP
FOREMAN ROBERT M. ROBERT M. RECOMENDED SWAPPING THE REAR STRUTS.

AND

Re: Driver's side Sideview Mirror:

INSPECTED AND VERIFIED THAT THE DRIVERS MIRROR HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY. REMOVED
MIRROR ASSEMBLY FROM DOOR AND TRANSFERED OVER THE MIRROR GLASS, MIRROR
COVER AND MIRROR ADJUSTMENT MOTOR. INSTALLED NEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY AND
CHECKED OPERATION. ALL IS OK AT THIS TIME.

Re: Passenger-side Sideview Mirror:

INSPECTED AND VERIFIED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN MIRROR. REMOVED MIRROR ASSEMBLY
FROM DOOR. TRANSFERED OVER THE MIRROR GLASS, ADJUSTMENT MOTOR, AND MIRROR
COVER. INSTALLED MIRROR ASSEMBLY AND CHECKED OPERATION. ALL IS OK AT THIS
TIME.

Check your sway-bar drop links. I would bet they are loose.

Longboard

I think the techs are just enjoying the GP, so they keep needing to take it for a drive to find the source :).

Hope your clunk gets taken care of quickly and efficently.

Well, as of 9 Am today, the technicians has the car up in the air inspecting the suspension. The SA advised that swapping the rear shock absorbers from right to left was on the agenda.........................

I got a similar problem .. noise coming from rear passenger side.. but the more confusing is a clunking noise coming from the front tire or around that area ( driver's side) .

Took GyPs in on Friday after the tech look at the possible issue - tire, rotor, breaks the noise is still there. It happens If I go on reverse or on first gear if I am almost rocking back and forth..

The dealership did not have a MINI loaner and I avoid driving other cars .. if I can help it, so I took her home she drives fine but is going back on Monday.

Thursday she will get a new Stereo-GPS install, can't wait .

Remove the panel that hides the baggage. I had the same noise when I first got my car. Turns out it was the rubber balls at the end of the retracter strings that were banging against the interior panel. I leave that baggage lid out of the car now unless I actually need to hide baggage from view.

That's assuming of course that the GP has that baggage lid.

GPs do not have that part - good try though :)

No Updates as Yet

GP is still at the dealer. Haven't heard back from my SA since Thursday. I'm on vacation in Vancouver, BC. Waiting to get an update. Thanks for the reminder.:)

mine makes the noise in the back also. :(

I received this update from Charlie, who is travelling this week:

Quote:

REMOVED BOTH REAR SUSPENSION STRUTS. TRANSFERED STRUT PLATES AND INSTALLED STRUTS. CHECKED OPERATION AND NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. RE-INSTALLED STRUTS ON THEIR CORRECT SIDE.
INSTALLED CHASSIS EAR ON ALL PASSENGER REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND DROVE VEHICLE WHILE LISTENING TO EACH INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION COMPONENT THROUGHT THE CHASSIS EAR. THE NOISE WAS NOT HEARD THROUGH ANY OF THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. COMPONENTS CHECKED WITH CHASSIS EAR INCLUDE: TRAILING ARM, UPPER AND LOWER LINK, SWAY BAR, REAR SUB FRAME AND ALSO THE BODY NEXT TO WERE THE STRUT MOUNTS.
CONTINUED CHECKING OPERATION WITH ANOTHER TECH IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE REAR SPOILER COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. REMOVED REAR SPOILER. UPON REMOVAL OF THE REAR SPOILER IT WAS FOUND THAT 2 PLASTIC WASHERS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE REAR SPOILER WERE MISSING. ORDERED WASHERS. CHECKED OPERATION W/ THE SPOILER OFF AND FOUND THE NOISE TO STILL BE PRESENT.
CONTINUED LISTENING AND FEELING FOR NOISE WHILE DRIVING WITH ANOTHER TECH. AT THIS TIME IT SOUNDS AS IF THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE C PILLAR. NECESSARY TO REMOVE HEAD LINER TO BETTER INSPECT AREA.
INSPECTED AND FLOUND NOTHING LOOSE. CHECKED OPERATION AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE NOISE COULD BE ORIGINATING FROM THE WHEEL WELL AREA AND ECHOING UP THROUGH THE C PILLAR. NECESSARY TO REMOVE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WELL AND USING CHASSIS EAR INSPECT COMPONENTS IN THAT AREA.

... so that's a load more things NOT causing the problem![/FONT]

I for one love the effort. I have had the same noise for over a year. I know the drop links are rubbing on the springs but I can't say for sure that this is the cause of the noise.

Keep us posted.

Longboard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longboard Mini (Post 1681766)

Hope that they can figure it out!

Good luck on the noise issue. With all of the stuff they have taken apart and put back together, I would be afraid that they have caused several other noises.

WOOOWW.. HOW MANY TECHS DO THEY HAVE... I lost count on 47 .. LOL
Hope they find the problem and your sweet ride gets fixed soon..

NO MORE NOISES (unwanted) for GyPsy

Got my Little One back

1) Complain: Clicking Sound in L front tire Problem: Excessive Clearance in Axle Repair: Replaced Front Drive Axle

2) Complain: Thump sound in rear Problem: Lock Actuator Weak Repair: Replaced lock and adjusted rear hatch

3) Complain: Engine light on and off Problem: Sensor failure Repair: Replaced Pre-cat axgen sensor

4) Complain: Driver side mirror rattling @ high speed Problem: Excessive Clearance in Mirror Housing Repair: Replaced Mirror Housing

Left dealership with nicely handwashed GP .. Car dies 40 miles later

Complain: MINI died. Won't start :mad: Problem: Driver forgot to refuel :eek2:
Repair: (after bitching at Dealership) MINI Road assistance added gas..
Owner feels like a MORON !!
Follow up: Owner called dealership apologized and felt like a MORON all over again !!! :sad:

GP NOISE IS FIXED !

Got a call from the SA r.e. the noise in the rear of the GP. After doing all of the above stuff (see earlier posts) the techs sprayed expandable styrene foam into the cavity inside the Passenger side C Pillar. Noise is now gone.

Can't pick up the car until next Monday, so I'm looking forward to the drive home.

Dealer also replaced both mirror assembiles, and did installs a "dash rattle update kit" per a MINI bulletin.

GyPsy rear noise is still there...
Stopped by MINI Service on Friday as the adjustment on the rear hatch made things worse 1) doesn't close properly : the hatch is not lower and there is a gap and 2) the rear noise is stil there...
My SA fixed the latch _ kind of - ( at least I don't have to slam hard to get it closed) but she has to go back in (after Labor Day)
I instructed my SA to read this thread and share it with the tech working on my GP ... hopefully they will get it right next time ..

lastrega,
Check for a PM

GyPsy is today back at the dealership for the mistery noise coming from rear passenger side. Took a spin w/ Tony lead mechanic of MINI (who is actually a BMW expert and not too fond of the little ones..) he promised me to have one of his mechanics to contact Chief Charlie's SA.. We shall see.

As of two days ago I started getting a thunk in the right rear. Seemed to be there when brakes are applied at very low speeds but is intermittant. Going in Tues to put on the rack. Any advice? GP1118

That's a different noise to what Charlie and others have suffered.

Yours is likely to be suspension related; or perhaps a rear brake issue. Good luck!

I researched a similar noise coming from the back and came to the conclusion through many posts that it was some sort of fuel system mechanism and had to do with exhaust vapors. If I am way off please correct me but I think its normal. It will happen even when the car is not moving. I think it only happens in close timing to when the car just started and a little after the car is turned off. BUT it may acually happen all the time even when the car is sitting as I think I have heard it when the car is not even on also, which makes sense that it would be venting gases...

Found a loose link on the rear sway bar. Thanks Ian

quick update on GyPsy ..

Chief Charlie- Thank you very much for your help and your SA help as well.
My SA - Calvin form TATE was really good and after a few phone calls was able to get the help from your guy.

I went to pick her up after a week but there were some cosmetic problems but they fixed everything and she looks good. I drove her just a few miles as I am getting around w/ the loaner (Streghina is now at the shop) but I am driving to SC (BMW driving school) this week end. Hopefully w/o noises but the engine !!!