HELP ! Mk2 squeak driving me nuts !!

[Chuck21]

I'm desperately hoping somebody can shed some light on a squeak that going to drive me bonkers if I don't sort it soon. The car is a Mk2 Phoenix and the noise seems to come from the drivers side when the car is moving, particularly if it's bumpy and there's lateral movement if that makes sense. At first I thought it could be trim rubbing or part of the roof mechanism but someone mentioned that it could be from where the body joins the chassis or something like that....

Any ideas welcomed !

[OnlyMX5ives]

Drop the roof, is it still there ?

There is no chassis so its not that either.

A better description of the noise would help too.

[Chuck21]

Cheers - I think it's still there with the roof down but I'll double check.
It's basically a loud'ish squeak that goes in time with the movement of the car i.e. if I'm driving on a rough surface the sound will go in time with the bumps - seems to come from low down on the drivers side.

I feel like I should have known re. the chassis - what does it have instead ?

[paulmurr]

I've got a squeak coming from the driver side door on my 2003 1.8iS. I've been meaning to try and sort it for weeks but I never seem to get around to it.

[Chuck21]

Sounds similar - does it go in time with the car moving as per my description ?

[paulmurr]

Yep, that seems to describe it. I can't think where it is coming from but it's probably a loose piece of trim. I normally end up jamming my shoulder up against it which quietens things up a bit As I said before, one day i'll find the time to tighten everything up and see if that sorts it. I'm not sure that it bothers me enough to dismantle the door card. I normally end up cranking the stereo if it's really annoying me

[Chuck21]

True enough, with the hood-down/radio up it's not so bad and I guess it's not worth any dismantling - I'll enquire next time it has a service but can probably live with it until then !

[OnlyMX5ives]

Chassis is a steel frame to which a body is bolted - only a few 4x4's still have them.

Sounds like a bush / shock noise - usual 'solution' is to try squirting WD40 etc around the area.

[Chuck21]

Cheers Mark but am slightly confused.

Your first post said "there is no chassis" which surprised me as I'm pretty sure it's not a tub like than in an Elise etc - I know what a chassis is but wanted to know what the MX5 did have based on your first comment (if not a chassis !) !

[MX-5 Lazza]

The chassis on an MX5 includes most of the car. The rear wings are a integral part of the car (they aren't bolted on). The floor in the boot and in the main cabin. The front sections to which the engine, front wings and front bumper is all chassis. Basically everything metal apart from the drive-train, front wings & bumper, bonnet & boot is chassis.

My 2001 also has a very high pitched squeak in the drivers door. I thing it's something to do with the door catch & opening mechanism as I loosened & re-tightened it once and it went away for a while but came back.

ETA: Now I thing about it, the drive-train (gearbox & diff) is connected by thye Power Plant Fam (PPF). This is bolted to the chassis by a number of chassis braces so this could also be described as part of the chassis...

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Monday 2nd March 18:01

[OnlyMX5ives]

Its always hard to know at what level to pitch replies.

But there is no chassis.

What might be confusing you is that there are 2 subframes, front and rear but if they were moving / squeaking you'd be in real trouble.