General Annoying SQUEAK...!!!!!

[Punto669]

Hello,

My 1.4 3dr 2006 GP with 86k miles on the clock developed an annoying random squeaking sound a while ago which is really annoying me on the 2-3 days a week I use the car.

I am fairly sure it is somewhere on the exterior despite being still audible at a lesser intensity with all the windows up.

I notice it most when driving in a straight line - that's not to say it isn't happening all the time.
It occurs on nice flat roads as well as not so nice roads.
It doesn't occur going over all bumps - earlier I felt three small bumps and 3 squeaks then nothing for the next 2 bumps.
Same with speed bumps; it varies going over speedbumps - there is usually a squeak at some or multiple points of the 'going-over-a-speedbump' experience but it seems to be random.
There doesn't seem to be any relationship with speed that I have noticed - I don't hear it on the motorway but that is probably due to road noise.

I do have the occasional knock on the front left and clunking on lock with a passenger in the vehicle - that'll be the top mount which I'm trying to ignore for as long as possible.

I have checked the vertical links which seemed fine at the time without any play - if I remember correctly the one on the left was nice & shiny so possibly replaced before I bought the car.
I haven't found any mouse (or other animal) droppings in the car yet.


Ideas & tips for locating my squeak welcome

Thanks,

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi again

Just to rule it out / change your perception..

Lay the seat back down..
2 of my 4 x 199 punto have squeaked at the locks for the seat back .

Of course a rear end squeak should now sound louder

Do let us know what you discover.

 

[Punto669]

Hi again

Just to rule it out / change your perception..

Lay the seat back down..
2 of my 4 x 199 punto have squeaked at the locks for the seat back .

Of course a rear end squeak should now sound louder

Do let us know what you discover.

OK so yesterday I lay the back seat down and the annoying squeak was still there as before but it sounded a bit louder. So maybe it is coming from somewhere inside the car.

Now this morning I had the rear seat locked back up into position and the annoying squeak was only happening about 20% of the time compared to yesterday - so much less. But there was a new sound also but just occasionally - sounded metallic - like someone rubbing a small file on a nail

How did you resolve your seat lock noise issue?

 

[varesecrazy]

If its louder with the seat down

It's unlikely to be the seat latches..

Empty out spare wheel and tools

Drop seat and drive

Possibly exhaust clouting bodywork.. Put a cable tie around the rubber mount.. that will control age related slackness

 

[Punto669]

If its louder with the seat down

It's unlikely to be the seat latches..

Empty out spare wheel and tools

Drop seat and drive

Possibly exhaust clouting bodywork.. Put a cable tie around the rubber mount.. that will control age related slackness

lol,.. I should have said the boot is empty - spare wheel, tools & carpet/noise dampening taken out. Just few cloths & newspapers (to catch water leak) lying in wheel well.
It was my MOT trip yesterday which it passed with no advisories.

I'll prop it up and give the exhaust a good rattle later. But from my experience it definitely isn't the sound an exhaust (or other weighty component) would make when making contact with the chassis/body. A small 'wearing-out' metal fitting rubbing on another/its mounting point much more likely.
I'll try recording it...