Rattle from lower driver's side door

[selar]

So my week-old A3 has developed a rattle As soon as I reach 2100 - 2200 rpm I hit the resonant frequency of something in the lower half of the driver's side door. It sounds like a pen's sitting in the storage compartment but it's completely empty. I've got it booked in at Glasgow Audi for Tuesday morning.

I don't expect anyone to be able to help - just wanted to share my (slight!) misery at having to be parted from it so soon!

 

[XXXCorps]

The A1 I used to have had a rattle upon collection from the inside door handle. When I took it out to demonstrate this, the tech was looking all over the interior asking where I'd hidden the sunglasses!! In the event the entire door handle and fittings needed to be replaced so know what you're going through...

 

[selar]

Hmm. I got the extended mono.pur interior so I hope that won't hold things right up...

 

[hittchy]

Hmm. I got the extended mono.pur interior so I hope that won't hold things right up...

Normally their first course of action is to smother everything in anti-rattle foam and tape. There are unlikely to be any TSBs for rattles yet, so I think it'll be a bit of trial an error unless there's a fault screaming out at them.

Have you got anyone pretty good at isolating where it comes from? If so, take them out for a spin so you can direct the technician to the exact location. You'll have far more chance of them solving it first time then.

 

[Vertigo1]

At least with Audi they don't quibble at all and understand that rattles and noises are unacceptable. On one of my previous A3s I had an annoying rattle from the central console somewhere so they dismantled the entire dash and put it all back together again to fix it.

 

[hittchy]

At least with Audi they don't quibble at all and understand that rattles and noises are unacceptable. On one of my previous A3s I had an annoying rattle from the central console somewhere so they dismantled the entire dash and put it all back together again to fix it.

True, but some technicians are better with rattles than others. I'd be really worried about them stripping the whole dash out!

They took the top part of the dash off my A4 because a TSB said the rattle would be there. It came back and did the same within weeks. Turned out it was the OBD port rattling. I gave up taking it back again and stuck some cardboard and insulating tape over it! Hasn't rattled since.

I wish I'd listened to my own advice and discovered the exact location before taking it in. Rattles are notoriously difficult to pinpoint for techies unless they're loud and clear.

 

[selar]

TSB?

 

[Sootchucker]

Technical service bulletin

 

[hittchy]

Sorry.

As sootchucker said above.

 

[selar]

Ah it seems to be from the lower trim around the B&O speaker. There's a bit of give in the plastic / rubber border and the noise changes tone when I put my finger on it. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Jax]

Developed one too. Three week old... Thousand mile in. Also seems really hard on suspension all of a sudden. Hoping just needing a bit wind in tyres

 

[Jassyo06]

My driver's door has something loose inside,it rattles constantly on any type of road surface, barring smooth motorway,its doing my head in, the passengers side, l have a high pitched buzzing noise resonating from the door,but its going in next week.....to get the door cards prised open,seen that done by a window tint company,not a pretty site.

Rather annoyed,would rather it be mechanical problem, than the car's interior

 

[Don76]

I have the exact same problem as described by the OP. Only it's the passenger door and between 1800-2000 RPM.

 

[Symon]

My old ford had THE WORST rattle ever. It was an '08 plate focus. The passenger seat rattled loudly. When I put my hand on it & applied some pressure it would stop so when I had passengers they never got to hear it. Basically I took it to Ford who said it was an issue with the seat rail not the seat.

Their expert assessment was that it couldn't be fixed. When I told them it was unacceptable on a new vehicle they said: " it's a ford mate, not a rolls Royce".

It never got fixed.

 

[bexman]

So my week-old A3 has developed a rattle As soon as I reach 2100 - 2200 rpm I hit the resonant frequency of something in the lower half of the driver's side door. It sounds like a pen's sitting in the storage compartment but it's completely empty. I've got it booked in at Glasgow Audi for Tuesday morning.

I don't expect anyone to be able to help - just wanted to share my (slight!) misery at having to be parted from it so soon!

Did you get this fixed afterwards? I've got a similar issue with a new A3

 

[Jassyo06]

Did you get this fixed afterwards? I've got a similar issue with a new A3

I have this aswell since day one but not had the time to get it looked at by Audi but they can look at the rusty rear wheel hubs at the same time when l get the chance

 

[froggy]

I think I must have the most bizarre door rattle ever.3 door s3 with B&O,every 2 to 3 week bad rattle mid door,lasts 30 mins then dissappears!

 

[jbs2472]

I have had the same rattle since new but only happens in really cold temps,I originally thought it was in the door and even said to Audi that it sounded like a pen rattling around. I recorded the noise in the end over a daily period and emailed this to Audi, the car has been in and out of Audi and they have now replaced all the area underneath the steering column and will not know if it has worked until we have sub zero temps.

 

[Rob2k68]

Coming from a Leon the SEAT forum is literally plastered with posts on rattles so rest assured that the ones on here are few and far between and that Audi seem to be pro-active about getting them sorted out. On the Leon the fix was anti-rattle pads on the A pillar trims and a new design door trim pads - I'm not aware of any service bulletins for the 8V to correct rattles so I guess each one will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

 

[bexman]

Just in case anybody is still interested in this. The annoying rattle was coming from the passenger seat height adjustment lever. Audi are replacing the whole height adjustment mech as there was too much play in it!

 

[Rob2k68]

Just in case anybody is still interested in this. The annoying rattle was coming from the passenger seat height adjustment lever. Audi are replacing the whole height adjustment mech as there was too much play in it!

Thanks for posting the source of the rattle. Sounds like an easy fix and no need to pull the door apart - result !!

 

[cam87]

just to add to this i had the passenger height adjuster adjusted on mine a few weeks back

 

[ACWKGYTO]

I shut my passenger door firmly and it went away.....god I hate rattles....Audis seem pretty bad for them....Im learning to become immune its like some kind of Zen thing that I must overcome.....I wonder if the Dalai Lama drives an Audi !

 

[ACWKGYTO]

Developed one too. Three week old... Thousand mile in. Also seems really hard on suspension all of a sudden. Hoping just needing a bit wind in tyres

Less wind (air) might give less rattle ?