Well I was washing the ext and int of the TL Sunday and stumbled upon my worst rattle. I have had an annoying buzz/rattle coming from the far left dash as if coming from the ac vent area. It would go away if I put pressure on the vent etc. While wiping the dash with the drivers door open I bumped the side of the dash, flat side that meets up with the door, and noticed it rattled. Turns out it was the upper black portion of the dash, flat side area, lightly tapping the metal structure underneath. The lower parchment (in my case) colored portion just pulls straight out (towards driver seat) allowing you to gain access to the area. I easily installed some sealer between the black upper dash piece and frame then snapped the lower section back in. Easiest rattle fix to date.

Not sure if others are experiencing the same issue but if so it's an easy fix. I would have sworn the noise was coming from deeper in the dash but not the case. My last two minor rattles are the drivers shoulder/ seatbelt area and center/forward headliner area (not sunroof)..

Just thought I would share my find...

 

I have same rattles on both sides. Did you say it was not ac vent but something in the dash??

 

Mine was not coming from the ac vent rather the flat side of the dash that meets flush with the door when closed. Well, almost flush

The map pockets in both front doors have been the rattle source for many of us. If in question, pull the pocket doors out to their first position/detent and see if the noise stops. These were the first two rattles I easily fixed.

 

today i was driving and noticed a similar rattling sound. i have not had a problem up until this point. do you have pictures that might provide more help? thanks.

 

Thanks, I'll check this out!!

 

I'm lucky. I don't have that rattle YET, but have a rattle/squeak in Glove Box. This has been bothering me since Dec. After four tries in my stupid dealer, I finally fix it by my own...

I follow the instruction I obtained here a few months and removed it and reassembled it.

KJSmitty I'll keep your instruntion for my future reference. Thanks.



Hope this coming week's HOT topic could be changed from TIRES to RATTLE...

 

I too have the noise in the center headliner area since the weather warmed up (in addition to the metalic sounds from the airbag clips at each corner of the headliner near A-pillar).

Pulling down slightly on the edge of the headliner above the visors will result in a crinkly noise.

Anyone have a fix or know how to remove the headliner running between windshield & sunroof opening, around the overhead console?

 

Rattles, you could say I have a few......

 

KJSMITTY, could you describe what you used as "sealer" undeneath the dash portion that was rattling??

Also, is this rattle/vibration the same one that some of us thought was coming from the steering column, gauge cluster or left front speaker? OR is this an entirely new one?

 

It seems like I get a new ratTLe every week. As soon as I can track one down, a new one appears. I have a new subtle one that sounds like it is deep in the center of the dash, sounds like it originates behind the Nav screen. It is driving me nuts. It comes and goes at idle when the RPMs are just right and is always there on rough road surfaces. Time for a dealer vist. Interior build quality is disappointing on this car.

 

The "sealer" I use is better known as "Windshield Ribbon Sealer" In older vehicles prior to polyurethane you applied this black sealer (literally comes in a role like "ribbon" - its about 3/8 inches in diameter and the consistency of play-doh..) around the window frame then installed the windshield over the top. The stuff is very tacky and never gets hard or runny... Anyway, when it comes to two items "tapping" or rubbing together causing rattles, this stuff is great. I just took a small chunk, like a piece of bubblegum, and worked it in between my rattle.

As for your second question,, I really couldn't say. It's true this first year of TL has many rattles, though not all,, some common among all of us, others sound unique to not so lucky owners... As Tesla described, you fix or have fixed one or two rattles and more crop up later. I too have a very minor rattle within the center dash area that I don't even want Acura/dealer to dig in to.

Best of luck

 

I agree - I have one or two that are very faint, but I do not want some knucklehead who drives a POS so who does not care about my car, fixing a rattle for me.
I think my Dad used to refer to that stuff you are talking about as
'dum-dum'. To this day I have no idea why or where he got the name from, but I remember using it alot on my old car - great stuff. (gosh, having written that - I will have to ask if he was calling me that or the stuff)

 

TBone, you are exactly correct!! Your dad must have been in the business or something. I was a mechanic for 8 years in a large GM/Nissan dealership back in the 80's/90's. Dum-dum or Dum-Gum is exactly what we called it. I do believe 90% of our "Dum-Dum" stock was used for darn near everything but installing windshields! I can't tell you how many superb repairs/uses I have made with it over the years. I currently have approx 12 inches left of a role I purchased back in 1995... I only pray that I can find more in the future.

Toooo funny

Take care

 

If you can't find DumDum, try plumber's putty. It isn't too tacky, but you can mold it and work it into cracks, etc. and it will stay pliable.

 

the only rattle i'm getting are coming from the windows. front driver side and front passenger side. everything else is fine.

 

While driving, I tested the location of the rattles coming in 05 AT TL, and noticed, that most are from the door panels. I'm also aware of one coming from the driver side upper plastic molding.

During the past week or so, i began noticing rattles from the glovebox; you apply pressure on it, rattle goes away.

Is there a quick fix for what seems common problems to our TL's?