(Electric) Tailgate rattle B8 Avant

[Stuhil]

Hi Folks,

Collected my B8 S-Line Avant on 3rd September. Only covered 100miles or so in September, however put on some 1500 in October. During October I became aware of a rattle from the boot area which has increased in frequencey and volume over the past two weeks. I've emptied the boot of everything (blinds/boot cover/wheel/toolkit/false panels etc etc) and still it persists. I note that the pin located on the boot lip which the boot lock secures itself around is loose and makes a slight rattle sound and so can only assume this is the cause. Anyone else suffered this problem? Could someone with a B8 Avant check the brass/gold pin on their hatch to see if it has any movement and report back? I know this is a problem I should pass to the dealer however I'm keen to establish the route cause of the problem before I give it to the dealer as no doubt I'll get the usual "We can't hear anything" or "Thats the noise it makes" response after they've spent two days stripping down the boot and scratched all the bumper and trim in the process...anybody able to help/comment?

Many thanks in anticipation...
PS The boot hatch opens/closes electrically if that makes a difference

 

[Scotty]

Hmmmm I too have the electric tailgate and I don't recall any gold/brass pins. I'll check later once I'm finished with the fireworks

 

[Scotty]

I just re-read your post. I mis-read it before.

Yup the lock pin (under the flap) moves left/right and up/down on mine. I'd say there's probably 2 or 3mm in each direction. I guess that means it's normal.

 

[Stuhil]

Thanks for taking the time to check this for me scoTTy. I assume that all is well with your vehicle and there are no such rattling sounds from your boot area?

 

[Scotty]

I have the odd rattle but I'm pretty sure it's the pushchair or other kiddy paraphernalia. I'm pretty sure it's not the hatch.

 

[Stuhil]

Apologies, having re-looked at the tailgate in an effort to resolve this I note where the confusion has arisen...the pin I refer to and describe as brass/gold colour is in fact black in colour. The pin moves left/right by a couple of mm however it pushes down/away by 15/20mm.

 

[johnnythepie]

Apologies, having re-looked at the tailgate in an effort to resolve this I note where the confusion has arisen...the pin I refer to and describe as brass/gold colour is in fact black in colour. The pin moves left/right by a couple of mm however it pushes down/away by 15/20mm.

Mines the same.Have you removed the warning triangle and tried that?

 

[Stuhil]

Hi Johnny,

When you say yours is the same, do you mean the amount of travel in the black securing pin or that yours makes a rattle sound too?

I have removed everything from the boot area including the plastic threaded bolt onto which the spare wheel securing nut screws on to as this was also a 'rattle culprit'

 

[johnnythepie]

Im saying that my pin and movement are the same.It must be driving you ****** mental.Sometimes the location of the rattle can be decieving when youre sitting up front.In the past i had a squeak that ended up being in the front door but is swear it was in the rear.Put the back seats down, lie down towards the tailgate and get someone to drive you around for an hour or two.Whilst doing that push and pull on every panel etc you can, and youll get there.

 

[Stuhil]

Well I have given up...I still haven't resolved the metallic sounding rattle from the boot area, so this morning I held my breath and ventured to my local dealer (whom incidentally is yet to contact me to find out how I got on with a 24hr test drive of an A6 back in May!!!!). The mechanic climbed in to the boot and, thankfully for my sanity, was able to confirm there indeed was an unnecessary rattle coming from the area of what he believed was the hatch door its self. Booked in for Tues 16/11/10 where he intends to strip the boot, panel by panel, whilst test driving in between the removal of each panel, in an effort to establish the cause.

I'll keep the thread updated...for those who are interested...

 

[Stuhil]

Vehicle dropped of at local dealer on Tuesday 16/11/10. I was then called 3hrs later to say it was ready for collection. Mechanics report stated that the tailgate lock was 'chattering' due to having become misaligned. It was realigned thus resolving the problem.

I suggested to the Service Manager that it must be down to poor build quality, however he disagreed despite not being able to offer any other explanation. He did state that boot locks did move, that was how a lock operated. I highlighted that I was familiar with the workings of a lock and although the working parts are required to move the whole unit should not. Bizarrely he didnt agree...he obviously didn't want to agree with my suggestion it was poor build/installation but wasn't smart enough to fabricate a plausable cause.

Oh well, I'll just have to keep my ears open...can't help but continually listen out for the noise returning, which is driving me just as daft as the initial rattle was...doh!