Fellow TL admirers,

I've noticed that there were some posts on this, but I couldn't find specific answers to my problems...

I've noticed some rattling noise from the passenger side (storage area?) and I mentioned it to the Service Dept. A customer there said that it was probably the sunglass holder that is causing it. So, I removed it and was noise-free. But, since I lack the space to put this sunglass carrier and think it should be where it belongs, what should I do? Also, I don't know if I'm hearing things, but I feel like more rattling noise is also coming from the Driver window area... Any recommendations or suggestions? Your insights will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

If you get a chance, I would drive for a spell and have another passenger with you to isolate where the rattles are coming from and applying pressure on any areas that they think the noise is coming from. Only after the rattles are isolated to a specific area will you know how to correct them.

Perhaps even take your car to a dealer with a quality service shop and have a tech ride with you to isolate the noise.

 

What sunglass holder? I have just had my car a few days, I didn't know it had one. I'll have to go out to the garage and look for it.

 

Trust me, you don't want to just put your sunglasses without a case in the sunglass holder. Look at the front part of the compartment in the door. You'll see it.

 

Yeah, I hear a lot of things in the driver window area too. Some people mentioned using felt tape on the inside of the hard plastic trim to quiet it down, but it didn't make a difference on mine. I think it's the way the glass is pushing against the hard trim and rattling.

 

Douglas Colt posts:

I just purchased my 2004 SSM/5AT/Non-navi about two weeks ago. So far pretty tight in the cabin, but just a couple of minor rattles here and there. The most annoying one appeared to be coming from the passenger door but I was able to pinpoint it to the passenger's seat-belt assembly. Specifically, the rattle disappeared when I put a little tension on the belt, such as buckling it. After futzing around with the belt for a while, the rattle disappeared. I'd try that as an easy potential fix but otherwise I would agree that it's best to put someone in the passenger's seat and ride around so that you can isolate. Best of luck.

 

Especially for the seatbelt, you could simple move that buckle high and let it stop right there, this could make rattle-free for this issue.

 

Even if I move the buckle to the top position, I still hear rattles from that area. I have go wiggle it sometimes and then it quiets down... but there's definitely some springy action going on there!

 

True... I heard that, too. This car is amazingly undetectable...

 

Amen to that! I would not put $2.99 specials in there, let alone my trusty Ray Bans, which are Rx'd to boot. Anything not secured is a danger in a crash, and will move around, make noise, distract, you etc. the stuff in my center console has a small wash cloth under and above it, just to keep things quiet.

Alternative: crank up the XM and the rattles disappear!!!
Actually, my car has been pretty quiet - I did lube all the door seals with Meguiar's #39, or you can use silicone grease (much cheaper than the Shin-Etsu grease Honda sells) at NAPA for a few bucks, and it is much hardier than spray silicone or 303. If you like the convenience of silicone, go with a quality brand like 3M - it has much higher levels of silicone ratyher than just the carrier solvent. I buy 6 cans at a time from www.mcmaster.com, which has all sorts of goodies, including the stainless steel, 6mm, button head screws that fit our license plate retainers - look great, never rust, and are very hard to remove without the necessary 4mm Allen key (hex key)> Makes plate theft very unlikely, as mostr thieves do not carr a 4mm hex key, and would just use a wrench or screwdriver on the next sucker. I think the length you want is 25-30mm. If you live near me, I got lots of them free.

 

I removed the sungalss holders and put them in my basement.

With the decrease in weight, I've noticed faster acceleration times

 

I took out the "sunglass holders" and they won't be going back. They are worthless.

 

Road Rage,
How does applying silicone grease on the door seals help?

 

I gotta ask this...what were they thinking with these "sunglasses holders"?!?! They are worthless...on my 2002 TL the holder I had (upper center console) worked great. I guess with the moon roof controls, they no longer had room??

-X-

 

I left mine in just because I know one day, when I really, really, REALLY need them to store some treasure I found on the beach or to put something important, they won't be there and I'll have to stash it either in the glove compartment where it'll cause a rattle or the cup holders where it'll also cause a rattle.

Predicaments!

 

Think of it like valseline for your car. It should lube it and help it from cracking and rubbing against your windows.

I still haven't bought any yet, but I will be soon. The cracking and rubbing that I get with the window seals area is insane.

By the way, is it safe to use silicone grease on ALL of the door seals near the window? No risk of water leakage?

 

Lore,
How and where would you apply it around your windows?

 

Roll your windows all the way down. Take the grease and smear it underneath that area where the window contacts the frame (You'd see it if you were standing on the outside looking into the car. Then put some grease around the seal on the otherside of the door.

I still haven't isolated the rubber creaking/rubbing sounds so this is just a best guess.

 

Lore,
The sound I have is strange. It sounds like a muffled creaking, like someone walking up noisy stairs. Like I said it's muffled and it only happens when I back down my driveway or take a quick turn. I'm thinking it might be eminating from the back windows because it seems to be quieted when they are opened a bit.
I'm getting the rear deck rattle too.....heavy bass in music and occasionally when no music is playing. I think the dealers have had some success with that issue.
This car is an enigma......it can be as quiet as a tomb on smooth roads and then the slightest chop in the road turns it into a pocket full of loose change.

 

my door only makes that noise at 20-30mph, and with the windows down. will remove the sun glass holder tonight.

ps. never knew there's a sun glass holder, and it's removable. thanks

 

My sound is a muffled creaking too - but it happens on a lot of roads, whether they're smooth or not. It's just the body and the glass creaking and rubbing against each other, I think. And yes, it only happens when the window is closed all the way. Once opened - even if just half a centimeter, it's quiet!

I've tried putting felt in the hard plastic trim, spraying with silicone lubricant... but nothing seems to make it permanently quiet.

 

I just noticed today that I have the same rattling noise in the passenger side as well. I found that if you just open the sunglasses holder door down to the first position away from the door, the rattling stops. Also, it doesn't stick out that far either so as long as you can stand it being slightly open, you won't be bothered by the rattles.

Another rattle I have noticed is in the center console area. When I am traveling at relatively slower speeds x < 20 MPH, the little door directly below the NAVI will rattle. Again, if you just open the door, it doesn't rattle anymore (at least in my TL).

You may want to give these little tricks a shot prior to removing stuff. Hope it helps. Just to let you know, I do plan on having the dealer look at these items when I go in for my first service.

A

 

i have noticed rattlings goes away when it rains..so somthing is dry and rattling..grease might be the answer