Anyone have a rattle coming from........

imag · 06-04-2009, 01:56 PM

If I had rattles, I'd be pissed too. The reason I bought a new car was so I didn't have to listen to that. That was also one of the main reasons I didn't buy a Lotus - they've always been bad. I was thinking of having a car stereo place just felt tape all the panel seams, just because squeaks and rattles drive me so nuts.

I thought I was getting squeaking the other day, but it was only that a passenger had put the seat all the way back, so it was squeaking against the rear shelf.

Thanks to you guys for hunting these down. If I get any, I'll make sure to post the fix. Dash rattles are the worst.

khtso · 06-04-2009, 01:59 PM

As I wrote above, I do believe a lot of rattles from hatch area are from underneath the hatch panels (both in the back, and on the hatch door around the rear window. I'm heading to Home Depot tonight to buy a ton of high density closed foam weatherstripping tape and covering any possible contact areas underneath the panels and also duct taping all wires securely. Crossing my fingers all issues are gone. Now to just fix my loose driver's seat.....

ZCarGo · 06-04-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

It's serious if you have one like ours which drive you nuts. It makes me hate the car at times... makes me really wish I never bought the effing thing.

I am going to rip this POS apart this weekend and see if I can fix anything.

It's safe to say that right now I HATE my car.

To think I chose this car over the Cayman S. It makes me wonder now if that extra $20k or so would have been worth it!!!

As long as you're capable of taking this car apart to seek and destroy the rattles, it's not that bad. I'm just pissed that I spent nearly $40K and I have to seek out rattles. This is a warranty repair I could ask the dealer to fix, but I just don't trust anyone else messing around inside my cars.

ZCarGo · 06-04-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imag

Dash rattles are the worst.

My 09 Acura TSX had a vibration rattle in the spedo between 60 and 70mph. Couldn't get at that one so my solution was drive 70+MPH everywhere. It was just teasing me..day after day. First thing in the morning and then all the way home..buzz buzz buzz. I often thought of driving off a cliff..good thing there are no cliffs in FL!

Thankfully, niether of my cars have spedo rattles.

-ZCarGo-

jakoye · 06-04-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZCarGo

As long as you're capable of taking this car apart to seek and destroy the rattles, it's not that bad. I'm just pissed that I spent nearly $40K and I have to seek out rattles. This is a warranty repair I could ask the dealer to fix, but I just don't trust anyone else messing around inside my cars.

Yeah, the problem with dealers is that they have very selective hearing and almost NEVER hear the rattles that you do. Unless you're riding with them on a test drive and can point it out to them, they probably won't ever fix a damn thing.

I think we've got to go like ZCarGo and fix the stuff ourselves.

BTW, my Mustang has rattles galore. I never bothered to fix them, but they are annoying as all hell. A little (well a lot) music usually solves the problem!

StLRedrider · 06-04-2009, 04:00 PM

None here, just rolled 400 miles, you guys are not driving on log roads are you? Ha ha. No i'd be pissed too, my truck is my rattle trap not the z.

GregR370 · 06-04-2009, 04:15 PM

I had the same rattles on mine, one in the front passenger dash where the speaker is and the other from the hatch. I brought it back to the dealer and asked them to fix them. They ultimately tightened a bolt in the hatch and something else that was causing the rattle by the speaker and it's much better now but I do still hear some rattles from the hatch. I am in total agreement that a $40k car shouldn't rattle 2 weeks after buying it!

Just curious why noone else has gone back to the dealer to make it their problem?

---just read a couple more posts about this, I think Jakoye is right, the dealer mechanics have selective hearing and often don't fix the root problem. I just had the 2 rattles fixed so I'll wait and see if they come back.

spearfish25 · 06-04-2009, 04:52 PM

Just have the dealer figure it out and save yourself the headache. The service manual has a whole section on diagnosing rattles.

m4a1mustang · 06-04-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZCarGo

As long as you're capable of taking this car apart to seek and destroy the rattles, it's not that bad. I'm just pissed that I spent nearly $40K and I have to seek out rattles. This is a warranty repair I could ask the dealer to fix, but I just don't trust anyone else messing around inside my cars.

I plan on taking it apart this weekend while I install my short-throw shifter. I'm going to take the hatch apart and see what I can do.

shesha · 06-04-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZCarGo

Yes, I was the one who identified the rattling gas cover locking mechanism.

Well it turns out there are more rattles. Nothing drives me more freaking nuts than these freaking rattles!!!

Alright, so I took care of the locking mechanism. More rattles started. Back to my original suspicion that it was something in the hatch. It had quieted down during the cold weather, but now that it's warmed up again, the rattles have come back with a vengeance. Here's what I've been able to identify.

1. Hatch..as others have described, remove the hatch covers. You have to pop open the covers on the hooks where the retractable cover attaches to gain access to the 10mm bolts holding these clips in place. You must remove the clips before you can pop off the plastic covers. Near the back (near the brake light) of the hatch, you will find two square boxes..one on each side. Both are different sizes, but attached the same way to the hatch (10mm bolt). I have no idea what they do, but my guess is something to do with the defroster. Unscrew the bastards and put a piece of foam tape (I used double sided heat resistant foam tape and only removed on side. I stuck this to the hatch, so the metal box rests on top of the non-sticky cover.

2. Next, the wiring throughout the hatch has the plastic sleeve that can rattle if squashed at all. I retaped and secured it to the hatch in a few more places than what the manufacturer did. All of the wiring under the spare and throughout the car are in the same plastic sleeve.

3. Headliner directly behind the dome light controls. I haven't tackled this one yet as I'm still trying to figure out what the best approach for insulating it would be. I was thinking of using filter floss and tucking between the liner and roof panel. As long as there's no electrical wiring, I think this will work.

So after reassembling, the noise coming from the hatch was greatly reduced. (almost tollerable) I believe the remaining noise must be coming from the plastic sleeve surrounding the wiring in the hatch or the clips which hold the wiring to the car. I will work on this over the weekend.

When I filled out the JD Powers survey, I reamed them on the rattles. My comments were exactly what was said in an earlier post. A nearly $40K car shouldn't rattle.

The thing that really burns me is I bought my wife an EX35. The damn thing has a rattle that's been driving her crazy. She usually doesn't even notice rattles. I drive down the road slamming the dashboard or hitting the glove box and she thinks I'm nuts. Infiniti has an add showing these idiots with stethoscopes listening for rattles so they can eliminate them. Clearly the guys with the stethoscopes are deaf. I'm beginning to wonder if Nissan/Infiniti are just prone to rattles.

This has been so significant for me that I'm considering never buying a Nissan/Infiniti product again, which is a shame because every other aspect of both cars are excellent.

-ZCarGo-

I understand, there were times I wanted to drive my g35 right intoa wall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SoCal 370Z · 06-04-2009, 06:57 PM

Folks, the Porsche Cayman had a similar issue in their rear hatches as you would drive over irregularities and hear a thud.

m4a1mustang · 06-04-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal 370Z

Folks, the Porsche Cayman had a similar issue in their rear hatches as you would drive over irregularities and hear a thud.

That wouldn't bother me near as much as a consistent, high pitched, metal-on-metal noise that comes from various places in the Z. By consistent, I mean it rattles for 100% of the hour it takes me to get home from work. If the stock market doesn't make me want to drive off a cliff at times, this noise does.

Cypress · 06-04-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shesha

the passenger side? I can't figure out if its coming from outside, or inside. Its so damn annoying man. I lived with a horrible glove box rattle with the g35 for 3 years!!!!!!!!!

I found that sometimes the passenger seat belt knocks around. My Miata came with a place on the set to "tuck" the metal part of the buckle so it would not move around.

RCZ · 06-04-2009, 09:00 PM

Stupid rear hatch rattle with the exhaust is so annoying.

shesha · 06-05-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCZ

Stupid rear hatch rattle with the exhaust is so annoying.

Can you tell me more about this?

06-04-2009, 04:00 PM	#21 (permalink)
StLRedrider A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St.louis,Mo Posts: 17,755 Drives: O9Sprt/Touring,p-51 Rep Power: 61	None here, just rolled 400 miles, you guys are not driving on log roads are you? Ha ha. No i'd be pissed too, my truck is my rattle trap not the z. __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today J.Dean

06-04-2009, 04:15 PM	#22 (permalink)
GregR370 Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Austin, Tx Age: 56 Posts: 5 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	I had the same rattles on mine, one in the front passenger dash where the speaker is and the other from the hatch. I brought it back to the dealer and asked them to fix them. They ultimately tightened a bolt in the hatch and something else that was causing the rattle by the speaker and it's much better now but I do still hear some rattles from the hatch. I am in total agreement that a $40k car shouldn't rattle 2 weeks after buying it! Just curious why noone else has gone back to the dealer to make it their problem? ---just read a couple more posts about this, I think Jakoye is right, the dealer mechanics have selective hearing and often don't fix the root problem. I just had the 2 rattles fixed so I'll wait and see if they come back. Last edited by GregR370; 06-04-2009 at 04:31 PM.

06-04-2009, 06:57 PM	#26 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 34	Folks, the Porsche Cayman had a similar issue in their rear hatches as you would drive over irregularities and hear a thud. __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) Why I NEVER say NO to the Panda Lou Fusz!!!

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06-04-2009, 01:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
imag Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 446 Drives: up the wall Rep Power: 17	If I had rattles, I'd be pissed too. The reason I bought a new car was so I didn't have to listen to that. That was also one of the main reasons I didn't buy a Lotus - they've always been bad. I was thinking of having a car stereo place just felt tape all the panel seams, just because squeaks and rattles drive me so nuts. I thought I was getting squeaking the other day, but it was only that a passenger had put the seat all the way back, so it was squeaking against the rear shelf. Thanks to you guys for hunting these down. If I get any, I'll make sure to post the fix. Dash rattles are the worst.

06-04-2009, 01:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
khtso Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 59 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 16	As I wrote above, I do believe a lot of rattles from hatch area are from underneath the hatch panels (both in the back, and on the hatch door around the rear window. I'm heading to Home Depot tonight to buy a ton of high density closed foam weatherstripping tape and covering any possible contact areas underneath the panels and also duct taping all wires securely. Crossing my fingers all issues are gone. Now to just fix my loose driver's seat.....

06-04-2009, 04:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1857	Just have the dealer figure it out and save yourself the headache. The service manual has a whole section on diagnosing rattles.

06-04-2009, 09:00 PM	#29 (permalink)
RCZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 6,403 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 1119	Stupid rear hatch rattle with the exhaust is so annoying.