I've had a rattle I haven't been able to pinpoint, sounds like it comes from the center console or behind the audio unit, this is the latest thread to mention it: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29109. I tried curls' fix and it didn't work for me, so, after taking most of the console apart and still not being able to locate the rattle, I took the audio/HVAC unit out to see what I could see.

the cavity:


On taking the unit out, I noticed that the manner in which the metal mounting bracket on the driver's side attaches to the heat sink of the audio unit allows it to flex just a bit. The passenger's side bracket does not have any play whatsoever. I could produce a metal on metal clink by gently twisting the bracket against the cd player. The bottom of the audio unit does not sit flat against the driver's side bracket as it does on the passenger's side. Kinda hard to tell from the pics, but there is a slight gap.

the gap:




Interestingly, padding exists at the other two points where the bracket could flex and hit the cd player, just not at the bottom corner.

existing padding:


So, I just lined the gap area with some wool felt material I got from McMaster-Carr (part#8770K3), which I've used before to kill a couple of squeaks and rattles.

felt:


Three days now and rattle free, and that's the longest stretch of time without the rattle as far as I can really remember. I've deliberately gone over rough road (where it would most commonly occur) at varying speeds to try and get it to rattle, and so far no. I can't rule out however, that maybe dissembling and reassembling the console did the trick somehow and the felt did nothing. Also, the rattle might come back. If it does, I'll post back in this thread so no one takes it apart for no reason. And if you have this rattle, try curls' fix first, if it works for you, it's a lot easier (although this was surprisingly not difficult at all). The metal bar curls is referring to is the bottom attachment point for both the left and right brackets of the audio/HVAC unit, I suspect it's the same rattle.

 

Very detailed and informative. Excellent info. Alas, I'm not sure this is the dreaded idle rattle that I have. I have the navi and I don't get any rattles when going over bumps or rough roads. I only get the dreaded rattle (which comes and goes) when idling in drive.....even the dealer is stumped.

 

Nice writeup. Thanks

 

let us know after a week or two. We may want to add this to the DIY area

 

Obviously, I have no way of knowing if we have the same rattle, or for that matter, why, if this is indeed the cause of my rattle, more people don't have it - not that I wish it upon them. As for navi vs. non-navi, according to the Helm's manual, they aren't all that different, slightly different bracket, but not the area that seems to have been causing the problem for me.

 

I should try this when I have free time.
Simply I don't have time to work on my car, so I end up paying to do works like this.
Dealers always blame on aftermarket parts and never even gets close to fixing rattles I complain about.

Most of my rattles in center console seems like its coming from Alpine IVA-D300. So I ordered BestBuy to uninstall the whole thing on Monday.
After spending so much on DVD install, now I'm taking it out realizing that I dont use 90% of time and it creates too much rattles.

 

One week and rattle free. Well, console/HVAC/stereo rattle free in any event...

 

excellent post, Spoon.

i think i too am experiencing this rattle/buzz...

 

so Spoon, has the rattling come back?

 

This rattle? No.

 

Does anyone have directions or a guide on how to remove this unit?

 

Very good write-up - thanks! For those of you who don't have this rattle, but have a similar odd rattle in the console, try this. I had a 'puttering' sort of rattle in the console area - comes and goes, but almost always at idle in Drive (at a stop light for example). Seems like I could make it go away or diminish it by putting slight pressure on the shift lever. Doesn't happen in Neutral or Park - odd.

Anyway - here's what was causing the rattle in my '04 AT. The transmission shift cable has a flexible plastic sleeve on it (accessible from under the car). The sleeve is not a tight fit, and under certain circumstances, would rattle slightly, transmitting the 'puttering' noise into the console area. I got under the car, and used three zip ties to firmly secure the sleeve to the cable housing - no more rattle! The sleeve is semi-soft plastic so the zip ties work great at compressing the sleeve so it fits tightly on the shift cable housing. A very simple fix - hardest part was jacking up the car an putting it on stands. Oh - while you're under there, make sure there is some clearance (1/4") between the heat shield and the floorpan (another source of rattles). Hope this helps somebody who might have the same problem.

As usual - no pics - sorry! My GF steals my camera whenever I seem to need it! Gotta talk to her about that (or buy her a camera of her own).

 

Can you give more details where the shift cable is located?

 

No problem - you have to jack up the car (be sure to put it on jack-stands, or use ramps)

From under the car, if you follow the exhaust pipe from the engine toward the rear of the car, you see it sticking out through the floor on the passenger side of the exhaust pipe. It's near the exhaust pipe flex-joint. Not hard to find once you're under there.

 

NJTSXman - take a look at my post above - sounds a lot like we had the same rattle. Hope it helps!

 

stupid rattle. since my last post, it's getting louder and happening more frequently...

i really need to schedule some time to (a) walkthrough curls' DIY, and if no go, (b) Spoon's DIY.