Name that Rattle - w/video

[jgonza5]

I am experiencing a pair of faint rattles on my 2014 SEL (FWD) daily driver.

> Location: Both Driver & Passenger Side footwell (kick panel) area. Same type of sound coming from each footwell area.
> Speeds: ~45 mph & above
> No effect on ride quality & no steering wheel feedback.

Any ideas?

Other Details:
> 90k MI
> Thrust Washer (half-shaft) TSB was done 3 or 4 years ago
> Original Owner
> Never in a Collision

 

[luigisho]

was someone working on front end parts? suspension? are the plastic liners in the fender well areas tightly secured? tire/wheel out of balance?

 

[jgonza5]

was someone working on front end parts? suspension? are the plastic liners in the fender well areas tightly secured? tire/wheel out of balance?

No front end work other than the TSB.

Nothing obviously loose in other wheel well. Will have to check behind the well liner.

Tires were replaced 2 years ago and were balanced. Tires are wearing evenly; no pulling.

Brake pads were done some time after the TSB, and well before the tires.

 

[Jordan_R]

I am going to say the splash guard has one spot loose/undone and rattling with the air flow underneath

 

[luigisho]

I am going to say the splash guard has one spot loose/undone and rattling with the air flow underneath

That was my first thought. That noise sounded like plastic vibration. Which means.. probably something else completely.

 

[jgonza5]

are the plastic liners in the fender well areas tightly secured?

You probably nailed it. On the rear side of the front fender liners, there is a single plastic screw/rivet fastener off by itself toward the center of the car that is 1/8" loose and likely allowing the wheel well liner flap at highway speeds. I can squeeze my hand in there, and should be able gain access to remove the fastener by cutting the wheel.

Both fender well liners have this loose condition, which fits my observations in the cabin.

Finally, after finding the loose fasteners on the SEL, for comparison, I checked the same fasteners on the SHO, which were tight.

Hopefully, I can correct it next the week, road test, and report back. Thanks!

 

[jgonza5]

I am going to say the splash guard has one spot loose/undone and rattling with the air flow underneath

I will check the splash guard out too, although the fender liners appears to be the culprit.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Laser411]

I have this same rattle in the same spot but a little less noisy, I just haven't felt like investigating. Looks like I'll go on the same adventure now though.

 

[citysmoke]

The Underside splash shield mounts loose?

 

[Paul K]

For further help with this type of sound. If you check those gaurds and find no resolution, replace your sway bar end links. Sometimes the ball sockets inside dry and wear prematurely, thus causing them to move just enough to jump around inside the housing. This holds even more true when these links bodies are made of plastic, resin, and fiberglass. They will check out fine when checked loaded or unloaded so, unfortunately the only way to find out if they're a problem is to replace them. This has been an issue with the SHO since gen 1.

 

[jgonza5]

You probably nailed it. On the rear side of the front fender liners, there is a single plastic screw/rivet fastener off by itself toward the center of the car that is 1/8" loose and likely allowing the wheel well liner flap at highway speeds. I can squeeze my hand in there, and should be able gain access to remove the fastener by cutting the wheel.

Both fender well liners have this loose condition, which fits my observations in the cabin.

Finally, after finding the loose fasteners on the SEL, for comparison, I checked the same fasteners on the SHO, which were tight.

Hopefully, I can correct it next the week, road test, and report back. Thanks!

Update:
Replacing the single rivet on each fender well liner solved the rattle.

I picked up a pack of Dorman replacements at Advanced. They are 1/4" diameter.

A tip found on the web for removing these plastic screw rivets (phillips pattern) is to use a dry wall screw and hand thread it into the center of the plastic rivet slightly then pull to remove the rivet: