Hi all, I'm truly losing my mind with a rattle in my car. It has completely gotten in my head and is killing me.

Any type of uneven road and the most annoying clicking/tapping noise starts coming from roughly head hight to the left of my head. Basically it could be the pillar behind me, just above the door or part of the door. I can't pin it down though. It really doesnt sound like the squeeking of surfaces, it really sounds like a contact.

It has been in a few times to the dealer and they keep "fixing" things yet it only seems to get worse. It's no tthe Harmon K tech. bulletin either.

PLEASE tell me if you've had this and know the fix. It's really amking me enjoy driving less becasue I'm always wondering.

THANKS!!

 

Do you have a sunroof? I had a rattle recently that I swore was coming from the passenger side windsheild pillar. When a tech rode along with me and I got him to hear what I was hearing, he thought it was coming from the driver's side pillar. He ended up doing some fiddling around with one of the air deflector flaps that pops up when the sunroof opens. He said that if those flaps aren't operating properly, or if the spring is giving out, then they will rattle when the sunroof is closed. The rattle went away when we popped the sunroof up. I still have mysterious rattles and squeeks, but that fix took care of probably 80% of what I was hearing at the time.

If you don't have a sunroof, then I dunno.

 

Hmmm I do have a sunroof and actually the last time they "fixed" my rattle they said they fixed part of the sunroof, but I swear it is worse now. I'll try with it open a bit tomorrow. Thanks.

Other theories still much appreciated!!

 

Have someone else listen, too. I had a rattle that I swore was "over there"; my wife listened, opened the armrest, and took out the tic-tacs. Problem solved!

 

I keep a tin of altoids in my door for just that reason. Any rattles are automaticly associated with the altoids and I just ignore them.

 

hmmm... not sure if your rattle is the same as mine, but I have one that originates from the seat belt adjustment area, where you are able to raise and lower the strap. I found positioning it to its lowest setting helps to dampen the vibration and subsequent rattling come from that area. I would try fixing the problem, but that involves too much work, like removing the back seats and pulling out the plastic liner that runs along the side. Hope you are able to pinpoint the location and come up with a solution.

GotMINI

 

I've accepted that I bought a Brit car and leave it at that (rattle wise, that is).

 

I dont know if ultimately your sunroof is whats causing all those rattles but from reading this thread it makes me hate sunroofs even more that i already have before, i guess thats another thing that can make something go wrong with ANY car
It sucks that you have that.

 

Yeah I'm definitely sure now that it is not the sunroof - it really is somewhere in the surrounding door area. Has anyone ever taken off bits and pieces around there and had any success? It's a helluva rattlesome car isn't it? ...I think rattlesome is a new word

 

Many drivers can in their left ear hear a faint rattle from the seatbelt tensioner apparatus. Sort of a cellophane crackling, only decidedly metallic. Next time you hear it while driving, try leaning forward and back in your seat to work the take-up reel and see if it changes. I'd guess that your noise is more than "faint" so this probably won't be the answer; but if it is - at least you'll know what it is.

 

okedoke, will try that next! Thanks muchly!

 

NAda - I'm sure its in the door frame above me head - anybody know whats in there!?

 

Fritos?

I'm taking a long trip tonight and now I am worried about rattles!