I'm hearing things

[Lucky7]

I have a rattle that I can't find and it's driving me nuts. Sounds like it is coming from interior and sounds a bit a trim rattle but coming from the rear window area. I've had my son in the back and he thinks it is the window, but of course glass cannot rattle. I've unfastened the rear headlining and stuffed clothes in to try to isolate but no use. I've also prodded and poked everything I can see, removed the rear seat cushions and checked the boot in case it is coming from there. I've opened and closed the rear quarter glass. But I can't see or find an obvious cause. The noise is only when moving and the bumpier the road the worse it is. I had firmer PZ suspension fitted a year ago and the recalls done last winter, very little miles since as it is my weekend toy and I've mostly been home for the last year. Any thoughts and ideas greatly appreciated.

[warpc0il]

- anti-roll bar drop link
- something in the ski-hatch box

[HarSc]

loose bolt holding the rear seatbacks in?
something loose on the boot lid near the amp etc?
c-pillar trim bolt loose? (behind the SRS flap) or even a trim clip that's come out of that panel?
could even be something is rolling under the back seat if it's snuck it's way down the seatbelt buckle bit?

Honestly not all that likely, but worth a shot maybe if you've checked a lot of stuff

can't think of much else that it is in that area ontop of what dave's already said...

[nightfire10]

If he thinks it's the window is the screw loose holding the hinge to the glass? Just a thought

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[ChrisHolmes]

Check the diagonal brace bolts behind the rear seat backs

[Nutty_Chappie]

It could be the window. I have seen them come unbonded and rattle against the body- the two bolts that hold the window in on the bottom edges could also be a culprit ….

[brix79]

How metallic is the sound?

I had a similar thing, turned out it was a snapped spring. Easy to check!

[HarSc]

boing.gif

[AndyBrad]

Ive got the same. its the parcel shelf. If its been out then the clips can break when clipping it back in meaning it bounces against the glass.

[Lucky7]

Many thanks for all the suggestions above. Work has been hectic in the last week so not yet had a chance to investigate more. Will update when I do.

[Lucky7]

I've been looking again today and checking most things suggested, no luck. Things I have not done is remove the rear seats, just the lower cushions and for the parcel shelf suggestion, I cannot see anything out of place and it has never been removed in my ownership (15 years).

Also just this month I now have another noise as well, a slight metallic noise between 2000-4000rpm under moderate acceleration. It doesn't do it revving on the drive, just under load. It's not very noticeable if you not familiar with how these sound like.

I'll have to get paid help. I'm in South Bucks, I'd welcome any suggestions. I'm very wary of garages and noise issues, rattles and intermittent problems. I had an different issue a couple of years back with a dash rattle and tried a number places before I got it fixed by Luke Murdoch who of course is no longer available. Many thanks.

[WildMan10]

Noises are often very hard to track down. I had a rattle a while back that seemed to be coming from the rear but turned out to be something in the passenger’s door storage.

In a Skoda I had a rattle that I was convinced was inside then due to the exhaust. It turned out to be a loose suspension bolt.

A thorough check underneath may be time/money well spent.

[Ainmhidh]

I get an odd rattle that I tracked down to the glovebox - pushing on the door makes it go away, but man it was frustrating until I found it.

Also, have you checked something hasn't fallen in to the pocket on the back of your ski-hatch?

[Lucky7]

My rear noise persists. I've had the seats out and pulled down the head lining, as the noise sounds like something contacting something else. I've had my brother driving up and down with me in the back without seats but I can't quite locate it, maybe rear shelf but I've sandwiched all gaps with packing, maybe rear glass but nothing visible or maybe even something at the top of the rear wheel arch resonating through (pz suspension installed a while back). Baffling. I've had a several garages look at it, with "helpful" comments like " can't hear anything" (it is not especially loud), "just fit a louder exhaust", "my own car rattles more" etc. TPS did some work last month and replaced coils, knackered cat and found the exhaust had not previously been correctly mounted. They also put padding on the shelf. But this hasn't fixed it, although the new cat fixed a different noise from the front (cat internals rattling around). The noise does have a habit of not showing up much when I show other people (although today was persistent).
I don't think there is anything more I can personally do with my limited know how and time, does anybody know of any garage or mechanic prepared to take this job on? I'm sure TPS would have another look but I am in Bucks and they are in Kent, a long way for sods law to occur if it goes quiet on them. As ever thoughts appreciated. But please don't tell me to turn the radio up!

[30405]

Could it be parts of the old cat in the back box?

[warpc0il]

If the cat had broken up then there could be a chunk in the catback.

I recall SteveD being driven nuts by that scenario. He went as far as removing the catback, which at least proved that was the source of the rattle, but he couldn't shake it out.

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[Nickp47]

You’re not far from me so if you happen to be over Maidenhead/Cookham way I could have a listen on the off chance I can help narrow it down.

[hachiroku]

I searched high and low when my car had a similar rattle, turned out to be a broken rear suspension spring, sounded like it was something around the area of the back window, it was only when I took the car for a service at Rotary Revs that they found the top ring on the rear spring had broken

[Lucky7]

Yes maybe it could be something in the cat back, it doesn't sound like it is there but could be. I really hope it's not a spring, it was converted to new PZ suspension about 18 months back. Nickp47, I'm not far, Beaconsfield, I'll send a pm and welcome a second pair of ears. Many thanks.

[Lucky7]

Update (and call for help/advice): Unfortunately the noise from somewhere in the rear of my car persists. It's like a tapping sound but not consistent. Nickp47 last year took a ride in my car last year and whilst very faint, he could at least hear it which confirms I am not mad. When TPS saw the car in 2021 prior to that, they could not hear it and their fix of putting padding around the rear shelf failed. I've had another garage look at it since, but whilst they could hear something, they couldn't see anything obvious and gave up. I've contacted another rotary specialist long story short they didn't appear too keen on noise hunting. More recently the noise seems more persistent, which is maybe a good thing in terms of locating it. Either that or I am just getting more sensitive to the noise.

So, a call for help - would any forum members know anyone (garage or otherwise) prepared to spend time hunting the noise on my car? I'm in South Bucks. I'm not asking for freebies, if it costs then it costs.
Many thanks!

[Nillbymouth]

Ive got the same. its the parcel shelf. If its been out then the clips can break when clipping it back in meaning it bounces against the glass.

Same here although I've no idea if the parcel shelf has ever been removed. However, there was no rattle for the first few years of ownership and then it just started. See picture - I pushed a small plastic bag (the nearest thing to hand) between the glass and the parcel shelf and that cured it. I haven't tried to hide it in case the rattle started again!

RX8 rear window.jpg

[Lucky7]

Thanks, that's what it sounds like but I've tried stuffing cloth in that gap and TPS put more visibly friendly black padding and neither made a difference. When trying to eliminate the issue I think the shelf would need to be taken out, not sure how to do myself.

[Lucky7]

Ok, another try. Strategically stuffed rag and no noise today. Maybe it's worked, or maybe it's doing its trick of going away of its own accord again. I'll replace it at some point with something more aesthetically pleasing!

[nightfire10]

Nodding dog?

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[Zxninja]

Nodding dog?

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Or aeroplane