Another rattle thread...

[Works2shoot]

Hey folks -

Just had my windows re-tinted for the second time (new state, new laws), and upon getting the car back I noticed that under load on the highway (70-75mph), I'm getting a very fast rattle. It reminds me of the sound that a piece of paper makes when you blow on it on a flat surface.

Doesn't happen at lower highway speeds. It's driving me absolutely nuts.

Any ideas? It's coming from the front passenger door. Thanks!

[14S4GWM]

Get somebody to ride along and start pushing on the door in various places.

[Danny2323]

I had a very similar sound when I caught a nail in my tire. Then again, when I picked up a screw two months later.

[Works2shoot]

Get somebody to ride along and start pushing on the door in various places.

Tried that. The guy thought it was coming from the wheel well.

I had a very similar sound when I caught a nail in my tire. Then again, when I picked up a screw two months later.

Maybe this! Your car only made the sound under load at high speed?

[Works2shoot]

Update: Nothing in the tire.

[carlosvjr92]

There could be so many places it could be. Right now I have a rattle in my dash and somewhere in the back seat every time I go over a bump. It's a frustrating situation

[Works2shoot]

There could be so many places it could be. Right now I have a rattle in my dash and somewhere in the back seat every time I go over a bump. It's a frustrating situation

I agree. But only one thing has changed from when there was no rattle to now. Having my windows tinted.

Just took another ride with my wife - finder of the mysterious rattle that turned out to be a pair of wayfarers in the overhead storage.

She's convinced that it sounds like a piece of plastic rattling around inside the card. I'm thinking that when they loosened the door card, something broke.

I need to go have the B&O tweeter covers installed this week to replace the stock ones that I poked holes through. I'll have them snoop around.

[carlosvjr92]

I agree. But only one thing has changed from when there was no rattle to now. Having my windows tinted.

Just took another ride with my wife - finder of the mysterious rattle that turned out to be a pair of wayfarers in the overhead storage.

She's convinced that it sounds like a piece of plastic rattling around inside the card. I'm thinking that when they loosened the door card, something broke.

I need to go have the B&O tweeter covers installed this week to replace the stock ones that I poked holes through. I'll have them snoop around.

That's definitely what happened or something wasn't put back together properly

[meekmik]

Interested to find out what this is either. I also have a soft paper/plastic sound from the passenger side that I only hear at >70mph and not at any other time. I'm not sure if it's coincidence but I did hear it once below 70mph when the wind was really strong which made me think it was something outside the cabin.

[Commander]

Some doors have a plastic sheet on them behind the interior door panel. The flapping noise you described could be a piece of the sheeting loose and a light breeze making it flap in the door. Just a wild guess based on your descriptions. I don't even know for sure that the S4 has this plastic so take that for what it is worth.

[Works2shoot]

Interested to find out what this is either. I also have a soft paper/plastic sound from the passenger side that I only hear at >70mph and not at any other time. I'm not sure if it's coincidence but I did hear it once below 70mph when the wind was really strong which made me think it was something outside the cabin.

Have your door panels been removed for any reason?

[bberg22]

I get a similar sound to what OP described and I found it to be paperwork I had put in the door storage pocket. Do you keep anything in the door pocket? I know it is kind of a stupidly simple thing but I noticed only after storing things in the door pockets that at highway speed I got enough of a resonating vibration in the door that it caused the paperwork to make a flapping noise.

[Works2shoot]

I get a similar sound to what OP described and I found it to be paperwork I had put in the door storage pocket. Do you keep anything in the door pocket? I know it is kind of a stupidly simple thing but I noticed only after storing things in the door pockets that at highway speed I got enough of a resonating vibration in the door that it caused the paperwork to make a flapping noise.

Nothing in the door. I have an appointment for a week from Thursday to have it looked at while they remove the door cards to install my Tweeter covers.

[meekmik]

Have your door panels been removed for any reason?

I had my windows tinted when the car was fairly new, about 1.5 years ago. I honestly don't remember anymore when I started hearing it but it's been a while so not sure if related.

What's weird is that at least on mine it only happens >70mph and doesn't slowly build up. It's there at >70 mph then it's gone below it (except the one time it was windy). It's not the engine rpm or frequency as I coasted at neutral at >70mph and it was still there. I've learned to live with it but would be nice to figure it out.

[cjw]

My only major rattles seem to be a rear door creak over bumps. Any how to on removing the interior panels?

[tekmo]

I had rattles after i tinted my 15' A3 (door panels were taken down), it was never the same again.

I am really debating tinting my new A4 now. If i will, i will be looking for shop that does not take down the door panels.

[Works2shoot]

I had rattles after i tinted my 15' A3 (door panels were taken down), it was never the same again.

I am really debating tinting my new A4 now. If i will, i will be looking for shop that does not take down the door panels.

Not sure that's even possible if you want a good job.

My only major rattles seem to be a rear door creak over bumps. Any how to on removing the interior panels?

Here's a good list of threads that should answer your question

http://www.audizine.com/search/index...&sa.x=0&sa.y=0

[BoostEasy]

Not sure that's even possible if you want a good job.




Here's a good list of threads that should answer your question

http://www.audizine.com/search/index...&sa.x=0&sa.y=0

My tint was done without door panel removal. Came out fine and has been great over 2 years so far. Real experienced guy.

Panel removal is definitely a little scary as you never know what type of fasteners are used and often they basically just need to be replaced each time the panel is removed or some part will be loose and make the odd noise.

[BlownOne]

Door panel isn't removed for window tint. It's a car with thousands of parts, pieces, nuts and bolts...they move around and sometimes make noise.

[pdqgp]

Door panel isn't removed for window tint. It's a car with thousands of parts, pieces, nuts and bolts...they move around and sometimes make noise.

^^ some installers do remove the panels. depends on their techniques.

To the OP'er...have you had your oil changed recently? Check the front end for a missing twist screw holding the undercarriage cover on. Could be the corner one up front is missing and it's flapping in the wind.

[Works2shoot]

Door panel isn't removed for window tint. It's a car with thousands of parts, pieces, nuts and bolts...they move around and sometimes make noise.

This installer loosens the panel to get to the bottom of the glass.

UPDATE:

Sitting at the stereo shop. They found the problem. A plastic sleeve for a door panel screw broke off and fell into the door. The screw still goes into the panel so that's why it didn't rattle otherwise. They removed the screw, fixed the sleeve and reinstalled the screw. If the fix fails, the sleeve will still be on the screw and won't fall into the door unless said screw is removed.

[Works2shoot]

Update 2:

Rattle is back, with a vengeance. I'm thinking of sourcing a new door panel vs keep fixing this one.