PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

So, after having had Acura do the TSB for the four possible causes of the rear deck rattle... I still had this metallic "clunk-clunk-clunk" in the right rear (passenger side) region of the rear deck and the C-pillar when i hit rough pavement or hit a pothole. I had my brother drive me around while my rear deck was ripped apart (see pics below) and finally discovered the source:

** the SRS side airbag curtain inflation cannister **





I have an appt. w/ Acura tomorrow, and I'll make the tech drive it to reproduce the rattle. Sometimes, you have to take things into your own hands.

It's very possible that if the right one is making noise in some people's cars, that the left one can also be defective (in terms of rattling) .. so it might be worth taking both C-pillar covers off (very easy to do -- and you do not have to dismantle the entire rear deck to do this) to evaluate the source of the rattle.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

The very last pic is that of the right rear/passenger seat belt tensioner .. which does not make any appreciable noise/rattle over bumps.

rets

What the shots and efforts you've done over here!!

I was wondering if I could do the same thing and take my car apart and kill those rattles...


Please keep us updated. Thanks.

vp911

good job, i'm sure this will help many!

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I'll let you know what the dealer says tomorrow...

many people think this rattle may be coming from a suspension component, or the seat belt tensioner... (and those rattles could very well exist also) ...but this one shouldn't be overlooked... b/c it may have implications on the effectiveness of the SRS airbag curtain system.

I'll keep you guys updated... can't wait to hear what the service manager says.

J RIDE 81

How did you take that apart? Any directions?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

edit by mod Ron A: See the next post for the link to the instructions.

A few pages into the instructions, it'll show you how to remove the C-pillar cover. You do NOT have to remove the whole rear deck to do this.

1) remove rear headrest (either side, depending on which one you're doing)
2) Remove "SRS Airbag" pin (it's a square pin .. use a wide flat head screwdriver to pry it out, and be careful not to scratch the cloth that is applied to this pin or the cloth of the C-pillar for that matter)
3) gently tug at the c-pillar to remove the it from the metal frame -- VERY EASY .. very little effort is required. Once you have one edge off, pry a little harder to remove the rest.
4) this will expose that airbag inflation device/cannister -- and now you can go for a test drive sitting in the back -- listen for this rattle.

Ron A

So .. the directions from the Acura manual are here:

http:
//h o n d a c u r a w o r l d.hostasaurus.com/Merchant2/instructions/tl/2004sportsuspension.pdf

Ron A

Here is the link for the Sports Suspension PDF. This link will expire in 7 days, so download it while you can.

http://s10.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...K0LFUIGMI1T4SR

GunnmeTaLCURA04

Hey you mentioned that you had the dealer do some fixes for rear deck rattle. TSB's... meaning its a must that they do this? all dealers should have discriptions of these TSB's? mind telling me the #'s or codes?

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

I don't mind at all, please refer to the following link... scroll down, and you'll find images of the actual TSB> Take that TSB to your dealer and tell them to fix everything necessary.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113812

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

TSB's mean they MUST do it IF it applies to the vehicle -- meaning -- they still must take a test drive first and reproduce the problem. They cannot just do the TSB if they don't hear the rattle.. and that's the biggest problem with rattles in general -- they are hard to replicate when you need to hear them the most (at the dealer!)

Best of luck to everyone -- PM me or post here for further instructions.

crazymjb

The rear seatbelts have tensioners too, I thought they only locked. Cool.

Repecat

I don't have that rattle....YET. But Peter, that was a great job and pics. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us.

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

No problem Repecat .. if it does come up .. remember this thread.

Oh, and the rear seat belts do NOT have tensioners.. let me correct myself: They have standard spring loaded retractors w/ locks... I used the wrong terminology.

NFLblitze1

i took this same problem to my dealer....the assholes said it was a "trunk alignment" and i drove the car around and the rattle went away. but then i noticed the only thing they did was turn the bass down on the audio screen which pissed me off more than anything....so i turned it back up...and there was my beautiful ratttle

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

If your rattle is clearly caused by increasing the bass on your headunit ... then you need to remove the rear deck yourself (very do-able) and install dynomat or any type of insulating foam. The rear deck already has insulation installed on its undersurface (I wish I snapped a pic of my rear deck to prove this to you), but you have PLENTY of room to install more insulation. Adding insulation will not cause any sort of heating/cooling issue b/c the rear deck is well ventilated through the trunk (vents closest to the rear windshield).

Donte99TL

Good work.

DarkWraith33

Peter -

I do have the "clunk" I think... At least I have the exact same symptoms as you. When I go home tonight, I'll try and russle up a 2nd person and see if it sounds like that noise is coming from that area... (MAN, and I was damn near sure it was the swaybar! )

I for one cannot wait to hear what the dealer has to say about the issue!

I've learned to live with the sound, but if I can get rid of it, I'm game...

One question... When you grab/hold that airbag canister, is it loose??? I mean can you tell it's gonna be rattling, or does it seem to be in there good? Could you actually see where it was making metal to metal contact to cause the noise or did it seem like something internal to the unit?

Great work!!! I actually helped test and debug (and design one station)... The automation equipment that was used to fabricate and test some airbag inflators! Does it say OEA on it anywhere? That'd be funny...

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

DW:

Thanks, first of all! I'm just glad I finally found it. To answer your q's:
1) Not only did I make sure the two bolts were tightened down .. i removed the whole unit and applied insulating tape (soft, styrofoam tape) under all metal-metal interfaces. Still the rattle occurred.
2) Then, I removed the ENTIRE cannister (that black tube) and held it while my brother drove me down the same road (very rough... lots of potholes) that reproduced the rattles... RATTLE WAS GONE.. and when i held the unbolted cannister against the car while we REDROVE that same road... rattle came back.
3) When I get my car back today, I'll check for that OEA label .. didn't notice it while I was tinkering yesterday -- but then again, i wasn't looking for it.

I'll give you all a full report of what happens.

If for some reason they have to order a new part and they cannot fix it today .. when i get my car back, I'll record the rattle in mp3 format and post it. I have a feeling that many of us have this rattle

DarkWraith33

Pete



That's wild how it seemed tight to the car... And you foam taped it and it still made the rattles? HUH...

Can't wait to hear how they fix it...

That MP3 would be awesome... I too suspect alot of us have "the noise..."

I think some of us just noticed it after the RSB install because we were looking for noised after working on and near the suspension!

Great work...

Waiting for more...

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

DW -

the rattle is clearly INSIDE that inflation cannister. It's not an interface rattle. That why I mentioned that people may have the rattle on EITHER side of their TL's b/c there is an inflation cannister for both curtains

DarkWraith33

That's wild... The inflators that I'm familiar with (and have samples of at home) really have no moving/loose parts in them! Other than the explosive powder to set off the gas...

My sound/clunk sounds like more than something loose within that inflator... I mean I'm amazed that the inflator (something in it) that is make such a big CLUNK!

I just read that OEA has/had been bought by Autoliv... The world's leading airbag company... http://www.autoliv.com/

PeterUbers

iTrader: (1)

UPDATE:

Acura just called: "The rattle was the FM amplifier that was mounted in the trunk. It was loose, so we just tightened the bolts"

Now, I think he meant to say that it was the XM receiver in the trunk, and I would believe that this was loose b/c i had fiddled w/ this during my mp3 integration. However, I'm gunna go pick up the car now and re-test it over the same bumpy roads to make sure it's not this airbag cannister.

More to come.

ray85158

Thanks for the information. I have the same rattle on the right side at the deck lid. Now I know what to tell the dealer to fix.

dsc888

PeterUbers,

Excellent post with pix as always. Please let us know how things turn out. Hopefully, you get it resolved and they can add this post to the Garage section of this board.

dsc888

Ron A

Already there. rets doesn't waste any time getting the good ones added.

F-092: DIY: FIXED REAR DECK RATTLE -- Details AND PICS!! inside
https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/word-origin-110412/
https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/1st-legit-pic-anakin-episode-3-a-114465/

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

Any updates?

Guiltyox

I fixed my deck rattle by stuffing cloth in between the vents and the frame itself. You can access this port with your hands through the trunk. If you open your trunk, locate the trunk light and find the opening exactly to the right of it. If you push up, in there, you'll notice you feel the vents to your rear deck in there. Simple shove some cloth or something to wedge it in there and voila! Rattle solved!

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

i did that one alrdy. this is a diff rattle....more like a loud ticking

MEKO

iTrader: (1)

hahaha I hate you guys
I thought this was a new thread..
I started to read, I am like, who are these members, never saw em before, am I on 2G or something

Guiltyox

Ahhhh. Bummer for a second rattle! I'll keep this in mind if develop another rattle.