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

[Corey_R]

I have the stock Potenzas that come with the GTI Mk6.

They're 225/45 R17's.
If you change to 18" wheels, then you'd probably look at either a 225/40 R18 or 235/40 R18, depending on the manufacturer of the tyre.

It seems the best tyre in all the 'official' comparisons I've seen from magazines etc in the past few years have put the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric as the best tyre. They're not cheap, but then neither are the good Continentals or Michelin's etc.

If you are scared off by the price of good quality 18 or 19" tyres in Australia, then remember that you can import them at as low as half the price (even after shipping costs are factored in) from places like tirerack.com from the USA etc. You can get away with cheap wheels from places like Tempe tyres etc, but you should never skimp on the tyres.

I've got the standard Potenza's on it.
...
It's like a rattle from under the car when I accelerate hard and then back off...around 1800 - 2300rpm.....

I think i should call the VW dealer nad have them check it out....

Yeah - I think getting the service dept at your dealer to have a listen as you drive the car is probably the best way if you're concerned. It could be anything, even a lose number plate! I'm sure people could give you a heap of things it could be, but we'd all just be guessing without taking a ride in the car to hear it first hand (and even then most would be guessing! hehe)

[GTI2708]

They're 225/45 R17's.
If you change to 18" wheels, then you'd probably look at either a 225/40 R18 or 235/40 R18, depending on the manufacturer of the tyre.

It seems the best tyre in all the 'official' comparisons I've seen from magazines etc in the past few years have put the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric as the best tyre. They're not cheap, but then neither are the good Continentals or Michelin's etc.

If you are scared off by the price of good quality 18 or 19" tyres in Australia, then remember that you can import them at as low as half the price (even after shipping costs are factored in) from places like tirerack.com from the USA etc. You can get away with cheap wheels from places like Tempe tyres etc, but you should never skimp on the tyres.



Yeah - I think getting the service dept at your dealer to have a listen as you drive the car is probably the best way if you're concerned. It could be anything, even a lose number plate! I'm sure people could give you a heap of things it could be, but we'd all just be guessing without taking a ride in the car to hear it first hand (and even then most would be guessing! hehe)

Yeah thanks mate...those sites will help...i definatley dont want to skimp on tires...they make a real difference and i reckon going cheap ones will end up wearig quicker and i'll end up getting new ones costing me more. Thannks again for the tips.

[Hail]

I have the same rattle, and it seems to be as you said from the exhaust system similar to the E46 m3 sound..

I'll be taking my car past the service centre in the new year to check it out. Although as I've been running the car in the sound has been getting better and better.

[Tommy]

Hi There Folks

I had a loud rattle on acceleration too. Found out it was a problem with the exhaust. There's a bracket that attaches it to the engine manifold that came loose. Once it was tightened the rattle disappeared for a short time. The bracket would keep working itself loose after a few days.

I also had a very loud rattle from the heat flashing which had dropped down. VW said that this was a normal part of the design and wouldn't fix it.

Hope this helps.

[Corey_R]

I had a loud rattle on acceleration too. Found out it was a problem with the exhaust. There's a bracket that attaches it to the engine manifold that came loose. Once it was tightened the rattle disappeared for a short time. The bracket would keep working itself loose after a few days.

Could you put some 'plumbers tape' or thread lock on it to stop this from happening ?

[FredGTI]

I took it into VW and they advise they advised me it was something to do with the exhaust bending when the throttle is opened and that's making that rattle....
They said because these are new and a little different to the MK5, they couldn't fix it considering it was hurting the car...
They said it's under warranty if it breaks.....I told him thats the last thing I want back and fourth..fixing issues...
...
Will wait and see if anyone else has the issue....or can provide a fix...
..
It seems to sound lower and lower after a good beating....maybe heat related
..
Anyway it's still a joy to drive..and gets better everyday

[MurphyTheElf]

6000kms on, and I still have the same rattle. I've not been overly concerned. I figured it was a minor exhaust or cat rattle. Figured it would bed down as it got a few kms on it - but, alas...

My main worry was sounding like I drove a tin can instead of a tight euro hatch, but it's much more audible driving the car than listening to somebody else take off in it. It's most noticeable when giving the car a little bit of right foot from 1st/2nd gear when it's cold. As the car warms up over the course of a drive, I don't seem to notice it much.

I'll get it checked out soon myself when I have some time. And yes, it's done it from day 1.

[FredGTI]

Finally someone with the same problem....
.
Have you taken to VW dealer.....what did they say?
.
I bumped into another GTI owner and they haven't got the issue...

[MurphyTheElf]

Finally someone with the same problem....
.
Have you taken to VW dealer.....what did they say?

I haven't approached them yet. I've been meaning to, but haven't got around to it.

[mckens]

I've had my GTI VI for about one and a half weeks and it has had the rattle since day one. I thought it may just be that the car was new and components were still bedding in, but the rattle persists. The performance of the car is unaffected, but the sound is damn annoying. It only occurs when I am accelerating up through the gears, within certain rev ranges, most notably through 1st, 2nd and 3rd (I have the DSG model).

So, I have booked the car in with the dealer for them to take a 'test drive' with me to listen to the rattle. They said that the service department is currently booked out until the end of March, so if the car is "safe to drive" (which it is) then they will assess via the test drive and then book it in for any work to be performed when a slot becomes available.

I am loving the car, but the rattle is detracting from what would otherwise be a perfect driving experience.

[WhiteJames]

Another MKV GTI I spent some time in had a rattle at a certain rev range coming from the engine bay. The rattle was caused by a loose heat shield. An easy fix. Otherwise, sometime the fuel line unclippes itself & bangs against the firewall, creating an intermittent rattle. Another easy fix.

Cheers.
WJ

[Mk6 GTI]

So Im guessing i should be expecting to have a rattle when i get mine.. Thank you VW! lol

[mckens]

Another MKV GTI I spent some time in had a rattle at a certain rev range coming from the engine bay. The rattle was caused by a loose heat shield. An easy fix. Otherwise, sometime the fuel line unclippes itself & bangs against the firewall, creating an intermittent rattle. Another easy fix.

Cheers.
WJ

WhiteJames, how was this discovered? Was it something you found or was a visit to the VW Service Department required?

[mfl]

Mine has a rattle between 2500 - 3000rpm in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, not always, more noticeable in slow traffic (engine under load) , and sometimes not at all.

Is that the rattle we mean ?

If I take to the dealer, they wont be able to recreate it, like the rattles in both front doors.

[mckens]

Mine has a rattle between 2500 - 3000rpm in 1st, 2nd and 3rd, not always, more noticeable in slow traffic (engine under load) , and sometimes not at all.

Is that the rattle we mean ?

If I take to the dealer, they wont be able to recreate it, like the rattles in both front doors.

The rattle I have is exactly the same. I've got a 'test drive' with a Service Rep this Wednesday so that they can listen to the rattle. They haven't specified if they or I will be the driver, but I will definitely be in the car when it's driven either way, and I have no doubt that the rattle will be audible to both parties.

There seems to be a lot of threads on this issue when I Google and they all seem to point towards a loose heat shield. We shall see I suppose.

Interesting that you have the same issue but with a manual transmission.