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

[Lucas_R]

About 2yrs ago it started rattling - as you can imagine i have been trying to find it the whole time and am starting to go a little bonkers.

Found a semi-loose bolt on the drivers side dash area this afternoon, right up where you cant see and have to be a contortionist to access it....tightened the hell out of it.....

Lucas when did it start to rattle? Maybe a clue.... and then again maybe not.

Yes my wife tries to help, we both think its drivers side dash /air vent area but honestly ive pulled EVERYTHING to pieces and it still rattles.

Have you had anyone else listening for this rattle in your car? Ideal situation is to have one person driving/creating the rattle and someone else looking for the source of the rattle, preferably someone with perfect hearing.

[Melts75]

You could put it on a dyno, get it at its noisiest and then crawl over the car with a pipe to your ear or something.
If your really brave, can this be done on stands, good ones!


2011 B7 Passat TDI highline wagon. I tinted the windows [emoji106][emoji106]

[heorot]

Dear Lucas,
I have only just joined this forum and have only owned this current golf R but have many years experience with old British cars.
Listening to your recording, this rattle sounds very much like a specific harmonic and quite predictable in the rev range. I think you need to exclude drive train and exhaust system as the source e.g.- baffles getting loose, that diverter plate in rear exhaust box,
loose spring or part of clutch assembly in gearbox. This will be tricky to find- try using a stethescope directly on various bits with someone else driving or revving it. Could also use long screw driver against the ear and placed on various bit like the real old guys used to do.
Best of luck

[Pilot]

The fuse box.... Check the god damn fuse box.... In the side of the dash... Mine started today and it **** me.... Also my P3 rattled too both fixed with a bit of tape

[Jmac]

The waste gate noise does apply , albeit it does have a clip and the Mk6 doesn't. Ive fixed a MK5 by adjusting the actuator rod, and this car had been to a shop and had a new downpipe and was diagnosed as needing another dowpipe. Had chassis ear on this car, and fixed it. This fault had been chased for a while. And it didn't sound as bad as the 6s , because they don't have a clip at all.

[heorot]

Lucas,
when you get your stethoscope, low frequency noises such as your rattle are best heard with the bell on the stethoscope rather than the diaphragm. If yours doesn't have the option, let me know and I can arrange to send you one. The bell should also have a rubber ring to eliminate extraneous vibration as well.
Cheers and best of luck

[Lucas_R]

It would seem the rattle is gone..... ahhhh the joys of being able to drive my car without that damn rattle.

I removed my P3 gauge (which i had done several times before trying to locate the rattle - to no avail) but this time i also removed the plug that goes from the OBD-II port to the P3 gauge control box (which i had never removed before) and voila. The rattle must have been inside this plug?!?! Either way, it's gone!!!!

[tigger73]

That must be a BIG relief!!!!

I'm guessing the P3 gauge is staying out?

[Guest001]

Pay yourself the $100 and go to the pub LOL

[Lucas_R]

That must be a BIG relief!!!!

I'm guessing the P3 gauge is staying out?

I never looked at the P3 gauge anymore so i made the decision to remove it and sell it. Once it was removed i noticed the rattle had gone. To say that i am relieved is an understatement!!

Pay yourself the $100 and go to the pub LOL

Haha cheers mate.

[Jimi]

Have you tried pressing on the knee air bag when driving? I had a rattle from the knee air bag under the dash which I fixed by wedging a piece a cardboard between the air bag and the dashboard. It took me years to find the source as I was convinced the noise was from the instrument cluster or steering column.

You are my hero. Seriously. I have had the exact same thing in my MK7 GTI and it's taken me nearly a year to work out that it's the knee airbag. I stumbled upon it by chance as we had a long rough road in Mudgee last weekend which meant I could replicate the rattle consistently and i happened to get it to stop when I pressed on the front-right corner of the knee airbag (I was pressing and tapping everywhere). I've been convinced it was behind the instrument cluster for a year. In that time it has been looked at by the dealer three times.

The 12 month service will now have another purpose