mega-annoying rattle located, not yet eliminated

[Markus]

After listening to a metallic-plastic hollow rattle-clank-boink from the boot of my Brava for a few months (and trying to find the cause) I think I finally located the problem.

The inside of the boot, on the sides below the speaker mounts, is covered with some kind of semi-rigid carpet. On the right side, this carpet fits snugly against the body of the car, but on the left side, from where the noise is coming, there's a hollow space about 5cm deep behind a relatively big area of the carpet. When I tapped on the carpet (which is really quite rigid on the left side) with my fingers I heard the same bl**dy sound that has been annoying me for weeks.

Now, I'm looking for creative ideas on how to fix the carpet. I'm thinking of cutting a clean slit in it and stuffing the empty space with black rubber foam or something similar, then worry about sealing the slit later. I can't stuff it from above, as there isn't enough room to cram stuff all the way into the hollow. Perhaps take the carpet off altogether, but who knows how that would look (anyone done it? and put it back?)...

All smart ideas welcome

 

[andy]

Rattle

Hi try putting some insulating tape on the near side rear seat latch hoop the part fixed to the body.
I had this problem & it was sending me potty but that fixed it.
Hope this helps.
Andy

 

[Markus]

rattle

Thanks andy, but I'm pretty sure the hollow behind the carpet is causing the sound.

I've already tried:

-taping the rear seats (well, the latch..
-removing the parcel shelf
-removing the rubber retainers on the plastic cover on the inside of the tailgate (to see if it was the shelf banging down on the cover)
-removing the spare wheel & tools
-removing the plastic cover on the tailgate
-removing the plastic covers that give access to the rear lights
-removing the carpet that covers the spare wheel
-turning the stereo on insanely loud to drown out the rattle

I'm not giving up until I have a quiet car. After that I'll invest in an amp and a subwoofer. Hehe

 

[graham]

Re: rattle

i had an occasional rattle on the near side front. it did'nt happen when i was by myself. it turned out to be the wife. ha ha