Topic: 07 City Golf rattles inside the dash: help!

[schaste]

I have a 2007 VW City Golf, with now almost 24K on it. Since the day I bought it a year ago, there have been rattles and/or squeaks, some of which the dealer fixed (tightening the right door latches got rid of some noises). And since I had the windshield replaced because of a stone-induced crack in the spring, there has sometimes been a rattle over sharp bumps, which must be coming from inside the dash, above or behind the glove box (unless the windshield is loose!). It sounds like a loose wiring harness or a piece of plastic which has come loose, and the rattle (usually) only happens over really bad bumps. But in Montreal, there are a lot of bumps everywhere.... And it's getting worse - louder, and more often, in the last few weeks. I have tried almost everything to find the cause (pushing on the dash doesn't make it go away; it's nothing inside the glove box; I even applied silicon sealant around the tweeter grill since it was loose; luckily it'll be easy to remove the silicone since that wasn't the source of the noise).

I know the warranty for '07 VWs is 4 years for any non wear-and-tear item, but I have to wonder: would the dealership be willing to go to the trouble of actually isolating and fixing this? The noise is frankly starting to drive me nuts, not to mention that it's unacceptable in my opinion that a new vehicle would rattle like this. And the dealership's excuses of "well, you know there's less sound insulation in the City than the '06" doesn't cut it.

The alternative, if the dealer doesn't consider this to be a warranty issue, is for me to try removing the glove-box and see if I can get at whatever is in there for myself... but there's also an airbag just above it, so I don't know if I want to take the chance. I've ridden in some other rattly-dash VWs, like the dealer's '06 Jetta diesel wagon they use to drive customers to work where the dash rattles like a son of a....  but that one had 90-100K on it.

So... what would you do?

[mmret]

I feel your pain. The TSX has a plethora of rattles, ever since the 3rd day I had the car.

In my experience it has been very difficult to get any dealer cooperation. I've ended up just trying to do whatever I can myself, turning up the radio, and doing a 100k countdown (see sig) to freedom.

Best of luck.

[dr_spock]

I would buy a copy of the Bentley manual for your VW.  You can find diagrams on how to take apart your dash.   Or alternatively turn the volume on the radio up. 

I used to live in Montreal.  There is enough bumps and potholes in that city to jar anything lose.  It did a number on my Sentra's suspension. 

[PJungnitsch]

Agree, the Brazilian golf is old gen so there must be a Haynes manual (or info on the web) that lets you know how to open up the dash without disturbing the air bag. If there is a pick-a-part nearby you could see if there is one there with an opened up dash so you can check the construction.

It might take getting someone else to take it for a drive on a rough road while you rummage around in the dash and listen for noise changes/feel for vibrations.

[B2]

I have the exact same rattle noise in my Mazdaspeed3 as the original poster described.  It's been there since day 1 and has gotten a little worse.  I don't even need to hit bumps to hear the sound.  In my case it's like a 'creaking' sound.  The best way I could describe how it sounds is that the chassis is flexing as the suspension moves, and therefore the plastic dashboard that's bolted to the firewall is moving at a different rate.  When I drive around I pretty much hear it all the time, except over super-smooth pavement.  But here's the wierd thing:  you ready?  It doesn't make any noise when it's raining outside.  Or basically when the car is wet.  So if it stops raining (like it suddenly does in the rainforest area of southwestern BC) the dash creak is not there.  The car needs to dry up for the sound to return, which is usually the next day.  I've also noticed that in colder weather the creak is louder, more pronounced.  When the car is fully warm, the creak minimized just a little.

So I figure that the water gets down in the firewall gutter where it purposely drains out, but the water down there is lubricating something to reduce the creaking noise.

Ultimately, this has been a big disappointment with this car.  This is unacceptable for a new car IMO.  I love the car, but c'mon it sounds like my dash is gonna fall off.  Japanese quality (made in Japan) is not bulletproof.  However, my other Mazda3 sedan I had was flawless for 3 years.

I haven't gone to the dealer yet to explain this problem.  I haven't had time.  But I'm going for an oil change next week and I will see what the dealership will do.  I'm not expecting much though.

[Minou]

Could be your windshield.  I had an annoying rattle like B2 described with my Sonata since day 1.  Like a tic, tic, tic all the time except on super smooth pavement.  Like if I would hit a window with a coin.  I did everything I could to trace it thinking that it was the rear parcel shelf or in that area. 

I finally gave up and went to the dealer after reading stories of rattles in '06 Sonatas caused by incorrectly installed windshield or rear window.  Twice, employees rode with me and the rattle was present, even with the rear parcel shelf removed the second time around.  The rear window was then removed and reinstalled and the rattle went away. 

I now have a much smaller rattle coming from the same area.  I had my brother ride in the back seat recently and it seems to be coming and amplified by the window so it's tricky to spot the exact location it's coming from.  I may have to live with this one though.

These rattles tend to go away in warm weather or if the car sits in the sun for a while because of the warmer urethane not inducing the noise. So it's obviously worse at this time of the year.

[schaste]

Thanks all,

When I go for the 24K maintenance, I will definitely ask about the windshield. Since it was replaced by an auto glass place, it would be up to them to do it right if that's the problem, and a note from the dealer would really help my case.

Steve

[schaste]

Ah, and one thing I just thought of: the windshield was replaced in February, on the day of a MAJOR snowstorm, and once the auto glass place replaced the windshield and supposedly let it cure, they moved the car back outside, where I found it under a foot of snow.

And the very rattle started the next day, but went away in the spring...

[Minou]

Ah, and one thing I just thought of: the windshield was replaced in February, on the day of a MAJOR snowstorm, and once the auto glass place replaced the windshield and supposedly let it cure, they moved the car back outside, where I found it under a foot of snow.

And the very rattle started the next day, but went away in the spring...

I think you've answered your question.

But snow is a good insulator...

[carburator]

***edit***
sometimes been a rattle over sharp bumps, which must be coming from inside the dash, above or behind the glove box (unless the windshield is loose!). It sounds like a loose wiring harness or a piece of plastic which has come loose,
***edit***

So... what would you do?

i have this sound from my glove box too. It happens in the winter , colder months ,not in summer. Sounds like a buzz and I can reproduce it if I tap on the glove box. Bzzzz bzzzz, damn annoying. The dealer just put lubricant on the glove box hinge.  I went back again because the problem was not fixed and they put more lube on the glove box hinge.   Warranty is 2 years old (out of three). Can I make them take off the glove box and tape the wiring that must be loose behind it???

If the warranty was over, i am sure they would be taking the car apart to find out what the problem was