Interior Rattle

[westcoastguy19]

my 2002 has recently developed a annoying rattle behind the passanger seat...it rattles as you hit small road bumps etc.....turning up the stereo can cure the problem but i was wondering........ other owners have you had any issues with interior rattles that may be helpful in me being able to get a body shop to find the rattle in a problematic area?

thanks for any suggestions

[Java Junky]

Wes, save your money for things that you can't remedy yourself.
First plan of attack is obviously checkin' the offendin' area for loose flashlignts (that was mine) r' whatever.
If that doesn't prove fruitful you've godda wick it up to the second level: gettin' in n' under it n' either poundin' on it with a hammerfist r' a rubber mallet to see if you can't get it to happen.
The final level you already know about: turnin' up the tunes.
This is somethin' that you should be able to detect yourself. It's bad enough that the shop is gonna charge ya for it. Think of all the time that it's gonna be sittin' at the shop when it should be outside waitin' on you to get the urge.
Be well.
Java

[spa01s2k]

My '01 has a rattle from the passenger seat too. Everything was tight underneath. To fix my rattle I stuffed a folded towel behind the seat. Stops the seat back from moving around when noone is in it.

[westcoastguy19]

ok i will try that its driving me crazy...i just cant seem to pinpoint were its comming from but thats a good idea thankyou

[Java Junky]

Wes, statin' the obvious, but the passanger seatbelt clip can make ya crazy when it's in jus' the right spot too.
I've found that I spend so much time with the top down that on the rare occasion that I have it up . . geez louise! It's noisy in there!
Seems like all kind'za clatterin's goin' on, but after a stint topless n' goin' to the enclosed mode,I think that any little noise is runnin' forced induction.
Be well.
Java

[spa01s2k]

Java has a good point. I forgot about that, when the seat belt latch is high up on the seat rattling against the plastic.

[westcoastguy19]

this noise...rattle...squeeky sound seems to come from deep behind the passanger seat......you are right about the seatbelt it can be a bit noisy but thats fine and understandable...this sound seems more like the interior body hardware maybe a bit loose

when i did my research before buying my S2000 the body integrity was always a bit of a concearn...i was hoping that someone with a history with thease cars might have had the same problem.

when the top is down its not as noticeable but i live in canada lol and i need the top at some times of the year lol

its an annoying high pitch rattle i tried the towel behind and under the seat last night and it did not help but a great suggestion

im thinking were the convertable top is attached to the body.....how does the hardtop attach to the body?

[Java Junky]

Wes, this 'puta thing is real handy for alodda stuff, but unfortunately, diagnosin' (especially noises) ain't one'a it's strong points. Describin' from one person to another is hard enough (spent some years behind the counter), puttin' it into the written word n' then reversin' the procedure at the other end while someone's tryin' to translate . . well, it's a little less than a science, y'know?
But anyway, for what it's worth, high pitched rattle? 'First thing I think of with high pitch is somethin' in the wind. Speed induced air intrusion? (whew! Wuzzatt impressive r' what?)Thin sheet metal might give a tinny rattle, but I don't know that I'd call it high pitched. Jus' for the sake of arguement, n' as long as you've already got that towel out, throw it up top under where the seatbelt lies on the seat. Aaay! You got somethin' better to do with it?
N' there you have the extent of my ideas on it.
As for your concerns with the car, when I was doin' my homework they hadn't had one recall r' even a hair out'a place with the car. Now, that was a while back, but judgin' by not havin' heard anything otherwise on the site or others, I'd say that you've no undue reason to worry.
But it sounds like this is really buggin' you n' my apologies that I can't offer more than those suggestions.
Be well n' good luck with it. Keep us posted. You could save somebody else from goin' through it.
Java

[Bubblerboy64]

I am wondering if this is related to the seat at all? If you have a passanger do you have the noise? If not then I would assume it is in fact related to the seat. You state deep behind the passangers seat. That would mean to me it could be coming from the inside the trunk? What about the spring mechanism which holds the trunk open or the spair tire mounting or at least something in that area. My seat rattles a little with out the passanger sitting on it and its essentially just the back of the seat moving in relation to the road vibrations. I am thinking you have been all over the seat and its something else. Might check around the trunk and see it you stumble on to it. Just a thought. John H

[westcoastguy19]

thanks for the suggestions...i took it in and the body shop took the rear interior of the car apart and drove it..they found that there was a screw in the seatbelt mechanizm that had come loose....with the screw gone two peices of metal rubbed together on every road bump...

rattle fixed and wow its like having a new car again....it had to be the most annoying GD thing ever but it is nice and quiet in the cab again and much more fun to go over the rail crossings at high speeds!!!!

[spa01s2k]

Thanks for the update!! Good to know in case that ever happens to my car.

[my87300zxt]

i had that problem too but i found it to be in the spare tire hold down its a metal screw with a metal plate that if it came loose it would rattle check it out i might solve your porblems. but the only problem i found with the seat is my g/f is kinda small so she pulls the seat up and the back hits the plastic when it shakes arouns with noone in the seat. hope this helps

[HONDADDICT]

i also have a rattle which sounds like it is coming from in back of the passenger seat. i guess i chalked it up to the rigid nature of the car, but the towel behind the seat trick might just work for me. i'll have to try it. thanks to whoever made that suggestion.