Help me locate this dash rattle in my Golf R. $100 prize for correct diagnosis

[Lucas_R]

EDIT - rattle solved. Turned out to be related to my P3 gauge, in particular to the cable that plugs into the OBD port and goes to the control box of the P3 gauge. I had removed the airvent+P3 display+control box previously trying to track down the rattle, but had never removed the cable from the control box to the OBD port. Once this cable was removed the rattle went away - so im assuming it was perhaps the connection pins in the cable plug?


Ok this rattle in my Golf R has been doing my head in for months and months - and i cant seem to find it. I have posted previously about this here. I've done all the simple things as well as simply ridiculous stuff like removing the steering wheel, centre console, radio and center vents, door trims, A pillars etc etc. I've also been under the car and checked heat shields and plastic under trays etc etc. I've found so many other rattles, BUT NOT THIS RATTLE !!! This past week, i even took my front bumper off to double check all my work from my intercooler install just in case i had left a bolt loose or something. Still no luck. I also removed my dog bone mount (the aftermarket insert bit) incase the vibrations were causing the rattle - still no luck.

The only thing i haven't been able to check is the VIN plate behind the windscreen, which is a possible suspect - but also a huge job to get to it (dash removal).

So this rattle first appeared about 2 years ago, from no where. It starts at about 2,500rpm and continues up to 3,000rpm or so - so basically you hear it every time your drive and often. Below are a couple of sound clips i took with my phone last weekend. I placed my phone in the little cubby just to the right of the steering wheel. The rattle sounds close to this area.

Hopefully some of the VW tech's we have on here might be able to chime in with their idea's.

The car is a 2011 Golf R and i've never fiddled with any of the wiring or other components in the dash area. $100 prize if you correctly diagnose this rattle for me.

In this first sound clip, you hear the rattle come and go as i am accelerating.

In this second clip, the rattle is more constant because i am on the freeway and able to keep the rpm's within the 2,500-3,000rpm range where the rattle is very noticeable.

[anthony]

Rattles in a 2007 Jetta turned me off the brand,I have since had Toyota,Mazda,and Honda products,zero rattles,and I therefore believe their build quality is superior.
This was my 4th new VW,but literally did my head in.

[Ryan_R]

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[SilvrFoxX]

Are you sure it is the dash.. I have found that sometimes my doors develop vibration which mimics a rattle in the dash

[Fixxxer]

I cant hear the sound for some reason. Anyway...
My rattle was from a little white plastic pipe on the drivers side at back of motor coming out of its clip/holder. Near brake booster. Sounded like a dash rattle.

I also had a rattle from the passenger side centre console footwell area, where the plastic mid section meets the footwell area. That one came along when the 034 motorsport motor/trans mounts were changed.
Fixxxer

[Guest001]

Does the Golf dash have removable trim around the binnacles like the Passat.

I pulled half the dash to bits and then fixed it with thick foam tape in behind there.

[Lucas_R]

Are you sure it is the dash.. I have found that sometimes my doors develop vibration which mimics a rattle in the dash

Pretty sure - but it could always be somewhere else and echoing i guess. But if you listed to my newly uploaded sound files it sounds very close to where i had my phone mounted.

I cant hear the sound for some reason. Anyway...
My rattle was from a little white plastic pipe on the drivers side at back of motor coming out of its clip/holder. Near brake booster. Sounded like a dash rattle.

Ive secured the fuel line under the car that is known to rattle, and i also found that my A/C pipes were rattling so i adjusted the rubber mounts on those to stop that happening.

Does the Golf dash have removable trim around the binnacles like the Passat.

I pulled half the dash to bits and then fixed it with thick foam tape in behind there.

yes it does - ive removed that and driven with it removed but the sound is still there. It sounds like its deeper in the dash.

[wai]

Sounds like something has ended up in a ventilation duct. Very easy to get in via the windscreen demisting vents.

To eliminate anything magnetic, see if you can find a magnet on a flexible strip and feed it down the vents and see if it picks anything up.

If not, then it might have to be a case of getting key parts of the ducting out.

As a matter of interest, I have a Caddy where the high level brake light is designed to crack. When that happens, the tailgate ends up with a lot of the cracked plastic in the cavity and it can rattle like this at times.

Also look for things like cables and wiring that might have come loose. I used a couple of add-a-circuits to get power to my cigarette lighter from the ignition on side of the fuse under the steering column. When the panel lid is closed, the cable would start rattling. I had to put some bends in the cable to stop it.

[Wolfgang]

I'll throw the plastic rain tray into the ring.

I had what I thought was a (another) dash rattle in my MkV Golf until I realised that the rubber seal holding the rain tray in place had slipped off allowing it to move around. Pushed the seal back on, fixed.

[Lucas_R]

Now...this is possible and something i haven't really looked into much. A few weeks ago i stuck a flexible thin piece of plastic through the drivers side vent with a piece of double sided tape on it. Might be a good idea to try a similar thing again through the centre vents. Thanks for the idea....ill run out to the garage to try this.

Sounds like something has ended up in a ventilation duct. Very easy to get in via the windscreen demisting vents.

To eliminate anything magnetic, see if you can find a magnet on a flexible strip and feed it down the vents and see if it picks anything up.

If not, then it might have to be a case of getting key parts of the ducting out.

As a matter of interest, I have a Caddy where the high level brake light is designed to crack. When that happens, the tailgate ends up with a lot of the cracked plastic in the cavity and it can rattle like this at times.

Also look for things like cables and wiring that might have come loose. I used a couple of add-a-circuits to get power to my cigarette lighter from the ignition on side of the fuse under the steering column. When the panel lid is closed, the cable would start rattling. I had to put some bends in the cable to stop it.

Ive played around with the rain tray too and even added some 3mm foam tape in areas to stop noises. No difference unfortunately. The rubber support is fitted correctly too.

I'll throw the plastic rain tray into the ring.

I had what I thought was a (another) dash rattle in my MkV Golf until I realised that the rubber seal holding the rain tray in place had slipped off allowing it to move around. Pushed the seal back on, fixed.

[buzuki]

where is the recorder positioned in the car?

Have you checked roof console and mirror?

[Lucas_R]

where is the recorder positioned in the car?

Have you checked roof console and mirror?

I placed my phone in the little cubby just to the right of the steering wheel. The rattle sounds close to this area.

Yes i have removed the roof console piece where the sunroof knob/interior lights/bluetooth microphone is as well as the vanity mirrors and lights.

[Melts75]

Rattles in a 2007 Jetta turned me off the brand,I have since had Toyota,Mazda,and Honda products,zero rattles,and I therefore believe their build quality is superior.
This was my 4th new VW,but literally did my head in.

That's so helpful Anthony. I'm sure Lucas R will be sure to go and trade his 4 motion Turbo Golf R in on a Corolla, Mazda 3 or Civic tomorrow!! That will sort the rattle

[Melts75]

Is the rattle only when driving? Or is it also evident at 2500-3000 standing still. I know, stupid question, you've prob checked this

[Lucas_R]

That's so helpful Anthony. I'm sure Lucas R will be sure to go and trade his 4 motion Turbo Golf R in on a Corolla, Mazda 3 or Civic tomorrow!! That will sort the rattle

Haha - funnily enough we sold our 2011 Mazda 3 earlier in the year to buy a Mk6 GTI. The road noise in the Mazda was so bad that you wouldn't have even been able to hear any rattles.

Is the rattle only when driving? Or is it also evident at 2500-3000 standing still. I know, stupid question, you've prob checked this

It does still rattle/buzz if i rev it in neutral while parked in the driveway, but it seems to rattle more loudly when actually driving.