Not sure if anyone here can help but I'm clueless as to what is causing this.

Our 58 Plate GP has what can only be described as a monumental intermittent rattle behind the dash. It is hard to describe the noise but it kind of sounds like a hard plastic box full of large metal ball bearings has been taped under the dash.

Sometimes it won't make a sound, other times it will rattle like crazy for mile after mile. Rough roads tend to set it off and it is worse when the rough road is combined with a gradient (up or down) or braking/accelerating.

I have got it booked in with the dealer but they couldn't replicate it last time, although I did have it booked in for a fault with the radio also and when I started the car to bring it home the radio was so loud you wouldn't know if one of the wheels had fell off.

Just thought I'd see if anyone else has had the same issues as I can see them coming back to me and simply saying that rattles aren't covered in the third year of warranty. Hoping that isn't the case as I've got it booked into the more friendly of our local dealers!

EDIT- Forgot to say that it seems to come from the area between behind the centre right air vent to behind the speedo but it is difficult to track down fully when driving.

I suspect its the ventilation trim on top of the dashboard near the windscreen.

Its a known problem. I am on my third a replacement and its rattling again particularly on rough road surfaces.

Most dealers should be well aware of this problem, I am sure there is a well worn path to the service desk with this problem.

I do not think think they are too expensive from what I can remember - less than £20!

See the thread below for the tales of woe

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/205827-dash-vent-trim-again.html

lordrobs said:

...I can see them coming back to me and simply saying that rattles aren't covered in the third year of warranty.

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They aren't. Obviously if it's traced to a failure of a mechanical component it'll be covered, but the diagnostic time won't be (or if it's a piece of trim).

Best course of action is to take the time to go out with the DET/Tech doing the work and demonstrate the noise, or how you usually get it.

You didn't say what model it is- 1.2/1.4/etc?

If it's a 1.2/1.4 8v I'd be checking the air filter intake pipe grommet/bracket.

D4nny8oy said:

If it's a 1.2/1.4 8v I'd be checking the air filter intake pipe grommet/bracket.

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this part


https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86661&d=1297199879

supposed to sit like this:


https://www.fiatforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=86660&d=1297199879

I have one to same thing. I spent ages lubricating with a can of spray most of the dash inside/outside/back of. How ever I clocked it stopped when it rained so its not the dash. Im now thinking it could be suspension related? Drop links?

Thanks for the info, I will definitely check out the ventilation trim.

Sorry forgot to say that it is a 1.4 16v Eleganza.

D4nny8oy said:

They aren't. Obviously if it's traced to a failure of a mechanical component it'll be covered, but the diagnostic time won't be (or if it's a piece of trim).

Best course of action is to take the time to go out with the DET/Tech doing the work and demonstrate the noise, or how you usually get it.

You didn't say what model it is- 1.2/1.4/etc?

If it's a 1.2/1.4 8v I'd be checking the air filter intake pipe grommet/bracket.

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I appreciate that rattles aren't covered but as I said to the dealer, this isn't a "normal" rattle (the car has plenty of them!) and is actually quite distracting when driving due to the nature of the sound.

Also unless the technician is there ready to go out straight away me going out with them isn't an option as I'll be pushing it to get to work on time as it is, especially if the courtesy car has no fuel in it!

JimbbobW1977 said:

I have one to same thing. I spent ages lubricating with a can of spray most of the dash inside/outside/back of. How ever I clocked it stopped when it rained so its not the dash. Im now thinking it could be suspension related? Drop links?

Click to expand...

i'd check the rear suspension spring rubbers

when its dry make sure its doing it the blast the bottom of the suspension springs with water

then drive and see what happens

if it is the rubbers

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/182134-how-replace-stock-springs-front-back-gars2.html

remove spring as in guide clean and apply silicone grease to the mating surfaces and put back together

lordrobs said:

Also unless the technician is there ready to go out straight away me going out with them isn't an option as I'll be pushing it to get to work on time as it is, especially if the courtesy car has no fuel in it!

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Ok, but don't kick off when they can't replicate/trace the fault. You'd be surprised at how many rattles/knocks that only occur under specific driving styles or specific road surfaces (which may not be on the usual roadtest route).

D4nny8oy said:

Ok, but don't kick off when they can't replicate/trace the fault. You'd be surprised at how many rattles/knocks that only occur under specific driving styles or specific road surfaces (which may not be on the usual roadtest route).

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Err... OK. To be honest I'm not the sort to kick off without reason. I will however make a note of the mileage and if they say they couldn't replicate the fault and I can see it has only gone 1/2 a mile I might ask them to try a bit harder.

It isn't really something I can bring on anyway. It either does it or it doesn't, sometimes I drive over a really rough bit of road and it doesn't make a peep then a few mile later just a slightly coarse road surface sets it off. The next day the opposite might be true.

Well the car is in with the dealer. This morning was the first time I've driven the car for a while (it is my girlfriends) and since the dash vent trim was mentioned I'm more confident that is where the sound is coming from.

The thing is, my one hasn't lifted. It doesn't look 100% flat, there is a little bit of distortion but hasn't separated from the dash as such. Could this still be the likely cause?

TBH, I've never known one to rattle. If the trim breaks, it leaves what's left still in the clips, so they don't move around.

D4nny8oy said:

TBH, I've never known one to rattle. If the trim breaks, it leaves what's left still in the clips, so they don't move around.

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Ah Ok, thanks

Well... I went from to this morning.

Yesterday the car was in and the technician was able to replicate the sound

I authorised a diagnosis at £42 and a faulty instrument cluster was deemed to be the issue (although I was dubious as the sound appeared to be deeper in the dash).

They re-sealed the glass on the front and said that they also adjusted all four door locks to stop those much more minor rattles. I was chuffed. They had to keep the car overnight for the silicone to set and I picked it up this morning. After driving the C2 courtesy car the GP felt like a limousine... for 5 miles. Then the door locks started rattling again and straight after the first tell tale noise from the dash again. After 7 miles it was back to its old rattling ways. I was gutted

It has to go back for some other issues that they authorised for repair and ordered parts for so I guess I'll mention it again then and see what happens. No issue with the dealer TBH they are doing their best to sort an awkward to diagnose problem.

Combined with all the other issues we've had, extra ones that have been picked up without us even knowing about them and now what I consider to be high oil usage (apparently all modern engines drink oil...) I think if we ever get the car to a saleable state (no one would buy it with the rattling dash as it is) we should probably get rid, take the financial hit on the chin and move on.

One of the possible causes could be the carrier of air conditioning pipes inside of engine compartment. It is located near the place where those pipes enters the air conditioning casing. Problem is that, in some particular conditions (rpm, suspension oscillation frequency) pipes start to vibrate inside of carrier causing the noise which is than dramatically amplified inside of air conditioning casing.
BE AWARE: Do not put your hands near the engine running.
I had the same issue

Foki said:

One of the possible causes could be the carrier of air conditioning pipes inside of engine compartment. It is located near the place where those pipes enters the air conditioning casing. Problem is that, in some particular conditions (rpm, suspension oscillation frequency) pipes start to vibrate inside of carrier causing the noise which is than dramatically amplified inside of air conditioning casing.
BE AWARE: Do not put your hands near the engine running.
I had the same issue

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I did wonder if it was something at the back of the engine bay which sounded like it was deep inside the dash. Well worth a look so thanks for the heads up! Do you know how it was resolved in the end?

Yes, I applied double-adhesive tape on the pipe in the place of carrier.

Foki said:

Yes, I applied double-adhesive tape on the pipe in the place of carrier.

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Well I had a look and I did spot a pipe that was resting against a metal bracket at the back of the engine bay. Their were signs of vibration on both the pipe and bracket so I have adjusted the bracket and wrapped some fabric round it for good measure.

Whether or not this will sort the noise I don't know but it probably has saved future damage to the pipe.

Thanks again Foki

You're welcome. I hope that the issue is resolved.

Foki said:

You're welcome. I hope that the issue is resolved.

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No such luck, it is still rattling. Oh well, at least it saved that pipe from getting damaged.

OK so since my last post the dealer has re sealed the front glass onto the instrument cluster which did nothing to resolve the problem (I didn't think it would as the sound is much deeper in the dash) they also "fixed the rattling door locks... which lasted 6 miles before rattling again :bang:

Since then I've had the instrument cluster out myself and it can't be anything to do with that as the sound is coming from behind where the curved metal section is. I assume that is what Foki was referring to but I can't see how you would get in there, it looks like it is welded up.

The reason I'm attempting to fix this again is that my GF admitted yesterday that she is really disappointed driving a car that sounds like a bag of nails and almost regrets getting rid of her old car because of it. Not what you'd expect when going from a 14 year old Polo to a GP that hadn't even hit 2 years old when we got it.

Basically I'm wondering if anyone has any further thoughts or advice they can give before I lose a wad of money by trading it in against something better built?