Well, I might have fixed the infamous "driver side rattle"!!

I found there are actually multiple rattles and squeaks around the area. These are in the order of when/how I fixed them.

1. driver vent squeak (press your fingers against the plastic vent and it squeaks against the vinyl dashboard.)

fix: use hockey tape (or called friction tape, from sporting good store) and apply tape over wherever the vent touches the dashboard.

2. driver door pocket (slight rattle over rough surfaces - press your fingers against the lid and rattle stops.)

fix: cut 2 strips of ahesive backed foam and apply them to the inside along the hinges.

3. driver side tweeter (metallic rattle over rough surfaces - you can replicate the rattle by tapping/hitting the surrounding area.

fix: take out the tweeter and remove the tweeter from the grill assembly. Apply a layer of friction tape around the tweeter so the grill does not come into direct contact with the tweeter.

4. driver door sash (the black plastic triangle piece that covers the entire window frame - plastic sounding squeak)

fix: remove door panel, gently remove the clip that secures the rubber strip to the sash. Remove the sash. I found pieces of felt within the sash, indicating Acura knows about the rattle and try to fix it. However, they did not put close to enough felt to silence the rattle.

I cut ahesive-backed foam sheet into a bunch of strips and I applied them all along the inside of the sash. Reinstall.

and last and I think the primary source of the squeak.

5. Area where the door handle, the upper and the lower door trim meet. (plastic/leather souding squeak, occurs during left turns and rough surfaces, press your fingers on the door handle toward the front to stop it.)

fix: look at the pic below...


Remove the door panel, then remove the door handle off the panel. Since the upper door panel is fused to the lower panel. You must gently bend the whole thing just a little to sqeeze the nozzle of the silicone sealant between them. Try to get a good amount betwen these 2 panels. Use you finger to even and wipe the excess sealant off.

Apply generous amount of silicone sealant between the handle and panel. Make sure you cover not just the base but the sides as well.

Reinstall handle back onto the panel, reinstall panel.

I know it does not look very good. But it did completely rid of the squeak.

This might be a little more than what people would go through to get rid of a rattle. I am really obsessive when it comes to rattles.

 

If anyone is going to try this, see this thread on how to remove door panels.

Nice pictures and good write up, by the way.

 

Thanks!! So far no more rattles... for now!

 

Well, unfortunately what I did above did not completely get rid of the rattle. When the car is turning on rough surfaces the rattle is still there!

I did something drastic - I used the silicone sealant and glued movable lid to the door. That solved the issue.

Couple of good things about silicone sealant, 1. is that it stays flexible after curing and 2. one can remove it completely on certain surfaces.

I guess most people now know that I am very sensitive to rattles and squeaks by now. Glueing the lid shut is definitely worth it for the silence it brings.

 

movable lid? what are you referring to?

 

I think he's talking about the door pocket. #2 in his write-up above.