R231 - rattle rattle rattle

[LockNumber25]

Hello kind folks.

New chap here desperate for some guidance. Very happy owner of a 2013 R231 being driven slightly potty by a rattle coming from behind the passenger seat on bad roads. Sounds like a loose metallic noise coming from the interior but I can't track the bugger down. Pretty sure it's only with the roof closed but not 100% due to the extra general noise when the root is open.

I'm thinking of removing trim from the rear deck and directly behind the seats to see if there is anything obviously loose. Does anyone have any experience in this area either with R231 rattles or removing the trim. Any thoughts would be really great and might help save my sanity.

Thank you,
Andrew.

 

[Naraic]

Baffle in the fuel tank?

 

[LockNumber25]

Any way to be sure (tap the fuel tank from underneath)?

 

[SL63 Mark]

Mine rattles from the passenger seat, I have had it apart and removed several pound coins, a cigarette lighter, a rather nice pen, and some keys.

Made no difference to the rattle though. It does not happen when someone sits on the seat. So I suspect your seat. Try putting a passenger on it and see if it goes.

 

[LockNumber25]

Sorry, should have mentioned that it also happens with a passenger in the seat and with the seat in any extreme position, windows up or down or anywhere in between. Thought it might be seat belt related as that disappears into the rear quart trim.

 

[Craiglxviii]

The fuel tank baffle issue was fixed in the R231 and was more of a tap/ bong noise than a rattle.

 

[LockNumber25]

Thank you for the replies. Really appreciate the thoughts. Anyone with any trim removal experience in the R231? I've got a good indy but when I took it in they were unable to replicate (roads too good around them unfortunately).

 

[SL63 Mark]

Well on the 230, the rear trim panels all slides out rather easily once you have the knack. Malcolm's the man, he has the patience to describe it, and owned a 231 I think.

 

[drmw]

Mine's a 230 but I had a really annoying rattle coming from behind the seat - turned out it was the Tracker box of tricks that had been stuck on with double sided (note "had") - held it down with cable ties & all fine.

Not sure what changes to the 231 in terms of removing the panel - it is a bit fiddly on the 230 but quite obvious if you take it step at a time.

 

[LockNumber25]

Sounds just like that - a module that's come loose and is swinging on its wires or something. Guess it might be time to take a proper look at removing those interior trim panels. I'd be so happy to fine something obvious.

 

[LockNumber25]

Just to update incase anyone else comes looking. Haven't found the main rattle yet, although a lot of the interior panels are now out but did solve a loud buzz. Turned out to be a plastic roller that is part of the roof mechanism accessible from the boot. There is one either side and it should fit snuggly so that it can't rotate easily when to boot is closed but the one on the passenger side could spin freely. Adjusted it to make it a little tighter.

On the subject I don't suppose anyone has the process for adjusting the roof mechanism on the R231?

 

[Dave779]

I had an annoying rattle behind me with roof up on my R230 and it was the adjustable rubber for the boot lid, there is one for each side and a 2 minute job. Hope this helps.

 

[television]

My 231 could do it I never found where it was from.

 

[John Laidlaw]

My 231 could do it I never found where it was from.

And neither have I!
I just turn the sound up
Or let the exhaust note drive it out

 

[M10DOS]

Hi Andrew

Mine has the same rattle on the passenger side only when the roof is up. Did you manage to sort out where your rattle was coming from?

Regards

Phil

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hasn’t been seen on here since 2015 Phil....

 

[M10DOS]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll keep the radio turn up for now ;-)

 

[SL63 Mark]

I know this is a 2 year old thread, but since it has been resurrected, yesterday I found the source of an annoying rattle coming from the back of my 230 and it was ....

CDs in the CD changer compartment.

Remove CDs, no more rattle. Bliss.

 

[M10DOS]

No need for CD's with the beautiful sound coming from that V8 ;-)

 

[SL63 Mark]

Yes the changer stopped working some time ago, and I haven't bothered to fix it. I had forgotten it was there, hence the surprise at finding a load of rattly old CD cases in the rear compartment.