Loud rattle behind instrument cluster

[Jimny]

My Mk7 GTI has developed a loud rattle behind the instrument gauges over the past 18 months that occurs when going over even the slightest of uneven road surfaces. The rattle is intermittent but is linked to heat in the dash area, so on hot days in summer or when I've had the heater running for 30 minutes + in winter. Initially I was hearing the sound once every couple of weeks but this has become progressively worse and last summer I was having to put up with what sounds like a marble in a film canister almost every day on my drive home from work - even with all windows down and the radio blasting it was clearly audible.

VW have looked at the car a couple of times and added anti-rattle strips + foam in the area, which has removed minor creaks, but has not had any affect on the rattle. Due to the sound being intermittent VW have never been able to be sure that the problem is fixed when they've had the car, which is understandable, but they're now saying there is nothing else they can do as the car is past the 6 month rattle warranty (I hadn't heard about this..) and will have to charge me for any further diagnostic testing.

This is the 6th mechanical issue I've had with the car, so I'm disappointed with the build quality to say the least, particularly when I thought I was "upgrading" from a Japanese car that cost half the price and had no such issues.

If anyone has had a similar problem and could help me find the source of the sound it'd be much appreciated. Note the problem is not the soundaktor - this was one of the 5 previous faults and has already been replaced.

Uploaded a clip but the sound hasn't converted over to youtube very well, really bassy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcAYj6AX8cY&feature=youtu.be

Cheers

[agentthumb]

I have a rattle from the headliner next to the sunglasses holder on the driver side, only happens on the really rough stuff on rural roads. Pushing up against the sunglasses holder stops the rattling. Took me a while to pinpoint the sound as it bounces around the car.

Have never experienced, or heard of people complaining of rattle from behind the dash, only wastegate rattle, which is probably not what you are hearing if it only appears for you due to road imperfections.

[Jimny]

I have a rattle from the headliner next to the sunglasses holder on the driver side, only happens on the really rough stuff on rural roads. Pushing up against the sunglasses holder stops the rattling. Took me a while to pinpoint the sound as it bounces around the car.

Have never experienced, or heard of people complaining of rattle from behind the dash, only wastegate rattle, which is probably not what you are hearing if it only appears for you due to road imperfections.

Thanks, any suggestions appreciated as I've pretty much exhausted the online forum searches.

[Kiaorana]

Mate, Ive had one of those for months and think I figured it out (at least in my case). Theres a metal bar right above the break pedal, towards you. When I pull on it, the rattle stops. My car is at VW as we speak to have it fixed

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[SevenR]

6 month rattle warranty!
which dealer is this Jimny?

[Jimny]

Mate, Ive had one of those for months and think I figured it out (at least in my case). Theres a metal bar right above the break pedal, towards you. When I pull on it, the rattle stops. My car is at VW as we speak to have it fixed

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great stuff! I'll definitely have a look - hard to tell if it's metallic of a heavy plastic. thanks

[Jimny]

6 month rattle warranty!
which dealer is this Jimny?

The "6 month rattle warranty" came direct from VW headoffice. The VW service centre has been very quick to fix the other warranty issues so I won't mention them in this post but basically VW headoffice won't release any more funds for the service centre to look at the issue any further, even though they have acknowledged that the sound is there and is not normal.

I was also told by headoffice that if I pay for the service centre to attempt to diagnose the problem and they do find that it is a mechanical warranty issue, the parts/labour would be covered under warranty but I wouldn't be reimbursed for the initial diagnosis costs. Can't win.

[agentthumb]

The "6 month rattle warranty" came direct from VW headoffice. The VW service centre has been very quick to fix the other warranty issues so I won't mention them in this post but basically VW headoffice won't release any more funds for the service centre to look at the issue any further, even though they have acknowledged that the sound is there and is not normal.

I was also told by headoffice that if I pay for the service centre to attempt to diagnose the problem and they do find that it is a mechanical warranty issue, the parts/labour would be covered under warranty but I wouldn't be reimbursed for the initial diagnosis costs. Can't win.

Standard Warranty here: Three Year Warranty < Volkswagen Technology & Service | VW Australia

Nowhere does it say anything about rattle etc for 6 months. Can you ask for it in writing next time? Or do you already have it in writing from them?

[Jimny]

Standard Warranty here: Three Year Warranty < Volkswagen Technology & Service | VW Australia

Nowhere does it say anything about rattle etc for 6 months. Can you ask for it in writing next time? Or do you already have it in writing from them?

It was all verbal but I just found this on the VW UK site. I'm guessing this is what they're referring to.

"Items where the lifetime of the component is or can be influenced by driving style and external factors will only be considered under the terms of the warranty for a period of six months or 6,500 miles (whichever is soonest). "
I understand they probably need this sort of safeguard to prevent people claiming under warranty for the faintest of sounds, but it's disappointing knowing that they've heard how loud the rattle is and won't do anything more about it.

[agentthumb]

Stand your ground, I think they are just trying to palm you off.


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[SevenR]

can you get a video/sound recording done of it while driving?

[Splashalot]

I think the 6-month thing is a standard clause in the owner's manual or service/warranty booklet, from memory. Have you checked the warranty conditions in the booklet?

[Jimny]

can you get a video/sound recording done of it while driving?

I've got a couple I'm trying to upload but what sounds really clear on my iphone gets drowned out by the base of the road noise when processed by youtube. Any ideas?

[Jimny]

Here's one. Please let me know if it's not very clear, this was the best quality I could manage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcAYj6AX8cY&feature=youtu.be

[Kiaorana]

Jimny, it sounds very much like mine. I picking up my car from VW tomorrow, if it's fixed, I'll ask them what they did. But they did agree that it was very likely that it came from that metal bar like I thought.

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