MK6 GTI - Rattle upon acceleration - Resolved via TPI: 2021062/7

[hooba]

So the "fix" is a louder exhaust? I like it!

[JonathanDLane]

Hey Murphy,

Yeah from reading this whole thread, I gathered that the exhaust and Ai change only masked the rattle, and I'm actually not really sure I want an exhaust that rattles windows and begs for attention... But I will speak to Quattro in the coming days about options.

I would be interested in seeing if my rattle is on the same scale as yours, if it's not, it may tell us that VW are attempting to resolve/refine the rattle. If it's the same, perhaps they really just don't deem it to be an issue or haven't started any actual on car fix yet.

Also did the online petition ever go ahead? And are you still looking for ppl to chip in and gain the services of an engineer to do some in depth investigation on the rattle? If it hasn't been done yet, I will be happy to contribute.

Cheers, J

[reaction]

VW didn't do anything to "fix" the problem and any reports that they did is bogus. VW believes there is no issue with the car and that the rattle is considered a "characteristic" of the car. Because its not causing any damage to the operation of the car according to VW its not something they need to care about.

There a couple of things you can do to make them aware of the problem but until we actually get everyone involved and willing to do something about it VW will not look at it.

Complain to your dealer. Then write a letter to VWoA and last but not least a complaint with the Consumer Protection at the Department of Commerce. They will contact VWoA and your dealer to resolve the issue but as before VWoA will not do anything (This is actually a very quick and painless process)

You can then take it to court but unless you can prove it damaging the car you have little to no chance of getting anywhere. The only something will happen is if we all stand together and deal with it.

[Corey_R]

Complain to your dealer. Then write a letter to VWoA and last but not least a complaint with the Consumer Protection at the Department of Commerce. They will contact VWoA and your dealer to resolve the issue but as before VWoA will not do anything (This is actually a very quick and painless process)

Rather than writing to VWoA, why not write to VGA?
I'm not sure why VW of America would give a toss about Australian customers if you haven't yet contacted Volkswagen Group Australia.

[brisgtimkv]

wow, that sucks. I was hoping what I read about the issue being fixed in MY11 models was true. Mine will be a 2011 build, but now I'll be expecting the rattle and if I hear it I'll be bringing it up at delivery.

I still haven't seen a video demonstrating the rattle, only a vid from a Diesel Golf, if it's anything like that I'll leave the car at the dealership.

1500km on my my11, picked up right before xmas, and the 'problem' is pretty much non-existent. go test drive one and save yourself the strife of listening to all the carrying on. it clearly does not exist in all units for all people and no one experiencing the 'problem' has even bothered to record the noise so you'd know what to look for anyway.

you could make the same arguments about not liking the low rpm rasp of a porsche flat 6 and claim it's a 'defect' that doesn't actually affect the car. of course porsche would have the good sense to laugh you out the door.

if you test drive one, you will almost certainly like it. if you buy one, it's a car aimed at upwardly mobile people. this means that threads like, 'i took apart my exhaust and i have one less cell in my catalytic converter than i should. should i sue?' and 'does anyone know the thread count of the tartan seats?' will be come part of reading this forum for you.

[mfl]

you could make the same arguments about not liking the low rpm rasp of a porsche flat 6 and claim it's a 'defect' that doesn't actually affect the car. of course porsche would have the good sense to laugh you out the door.

not quite in the same league, a tinny rattle and the low rpm rasp of a Porsche are not of the same nature, you are not comparing apples with apples. I would more than happy if the GTI had a more distinctive engine note.

sorry I don't have the equipment to record the rattle, but it was identified by the VW tech, so it obviously exists and whether or not you hear also depends on your driving style and road/traffic conditions.

but sorry I don't consider it a 'characteristic' just a minor annoyance, which occurs every now and again.

[hooba]

I must be that the problem is of a greater magnitude (i.e. louder) for different people, as I consider myself pretty demanding (my dealer would undoubtedly agree with this assessment) and I would describe the noise in my car exactly as a:

a tinny rattle and the low rpm rasp

[Escell]

I had the dreaded rattle but with no easy fix I have been ignoring it.

I got the APR stage 1 tune done and I can barely hear it anymore. It really used to bug me, and now the note of the exhaust has changed enough to drown it out almost entirely. (not louder, but sweeter). The tune changes a number of settings and may have altered the volume of air flow during the worst RPMs to reduce the rattle.

So, from a long time sufferer, your best option might be to get APR 1 done. Not to mention that my GTI now feels like an beast pulling at the reins as opposed to a refined understated drive.

[Corey_R]

That's great that it worked for you Escell.

Having said that, I'm pretty sure MurphyTheElf also got the Stage I tune and had the opposite result where it just made the rattle louder.

[Escell]

Ahhh bad luck. Guess we're back to no guaranteed fix.

[MurphyTheElf]

On my car, the trial tune simply changed the rev range in which the rattle was noticeable. I considered it slightly more annoying so I didn't go ahead with the purchase.

[Pascal]

Hi all,

Well, just picked up my new GTI 3 weeks ago and have to say that the rattle is very noticeable in my car.

I have already taken it back to the dealer as it sounded so unusual (like the engine was pinging) that I thought something was definitely wrong with the car. Went for a road test with a mechanic who was very accomodating but was told that it was normal and was related to the turbo wastegate. He also said that chipping would improve the rattle as it would keep the wastegate shut for max boost at these lower revs (at least I think that's what he said - if I had read this thread beforehand I would been better prepared and paid closer attention!).

Anyway, it was only after being told this that I thought I would check vwwatercooled and after reading all 59 pages of this thread, realise I am not alone and it's not my imagination.

Like a lot of people here, I never noticed it during my test drives and strangely only started to notice it after filling my fuel tank for the first time (with Shell V-Power). I will try 95 RON to see if this makes any difference and give it a few months to see if it improves. But I will keep raising this with my dealer and future services. Happy to join any petition but will be taking this further with my dealer and VWA.

[thirdwill]

Paranoid about this rattle after reading all 59 pages.
I'm not sure if I have it as I've been busy running-in the sound system. I'll listen out for it this afternoon.

Is the rattling persistent from day 1 or does the car develop it over time?

[MurphyTheElf]

If you don't hear it now and you're enjoying the car, then don't try. I've had it from day 1 and I hear it every damn day.

[thirdwill]

Drove for 40 minutes with windows down and radio off. Thankfully no rattles.
Just the leaky rear washer thats preventing the car from being being perfect.