Found rattle--need help with interior trim

[brumma]

So the good news is I tracked down the rattle. I suppose it is actually more of a "tapping" noise. It seems to be coming from the piece of glossy black trim on the B-pillar (marked A). Well, the noise stops when I press against it anyway. I'm not sure if it's tapping against the window frame or if it is rubbing against the blue leather bit of trim below it (marked B). How do I get access to the part to check it out? Do I need to remove everything to get at it (A, B, & C)? If so, how? I can't find anything in the workshop manual. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Murph7355]

Not sure, but you could try putting talc between the blue leather and the part. If that is the cause, it may stop the noise...

[X7LDA]

Not sure how to remove the bottom trim, however what you want to do is put a small bit of rubber or such like in between the pillar and both the roof and the leather and I bet you it stops it. I had this on mine. I'm an expert at fixing rattles after four Lotus'!

If it helps, the top piece of trim comes away by pulling, starting down behind the 'roll bar' in the back shelf (you'll see where it ends and meets the roof).

[brumma]

X7LDA said:

Not sure how to remove the bottom trim, however what you want to do is put a small bit of rubber or such like in between the pillar and both the roof and the leather and I bet you it stops it. I had this on mine. I'm an expert at fixing rattles after four Lotus'!

If it helps, the top piece of trim comes away by pulling, starting down behind the 'roll bar' in the back shelf (you'll see where it ends and meets the roof).

I'm actually trying this approach now to see if it helps. I've cut a dense foam sheet that I found in a hobby shop into strips and have wedged one in (it's a tight fit). Right now I just have one at the bottom where the blue leather trim meets the black plastic strip. I will follow your suggestion, and try one at the top as well.

Regarding that top piece of trim... Have you noticed that there is a gap where it meets the headliner in back past the aluminum struts? If I look at it from the hatch inwards, there is a good 1/4" to 1/2" gap. It seems as though there aren't any fasteners past about half way back. Seems odd to me. Is your's the same?

[X7LDA]

Yeah that's the same as mine - and others. The first holding clip is quite far along and for some reason the 'tail' never sits flush with the roof!

[brumma]

X7LDA said:

Yeah that's the same as mine - and others. The first holding clip is quite far along and for some reason the 'tail' never sits flush with the roof!

Alright. Well at least I don't have to worry about that then.

[peterr96]

Hey Brumma

Thanks for this thread. We periodically have a rattly tappy noise from over there that I've never managed to track down.
I'll have a peek at that over the next few weeks

[brumma]

peterr96 said:

Hey Brumma

Thanks for this thread. We periodically have a rattly tappy noise from over there that I've never managed to track down.
I'll have a peek at that over the next few weeks

I would also check out the snap on the seatbelt loop. One of mine is a bit loose, and I think it may be rattling a bit too. By "loose" I mean that the male end of the snap is too small for the female part (ahem... ), so it's able to wiggle side-to-side a bit. It might also be weather related, as it's just turned cold here in Florida and I've only had the car since March. I've been driving with it unsnapped and tucked out of the way for now, but I'm testing out some possible solutions today.

[X7LDA]

Check the interior door handles as well (not the 'catch' to open the door - the actual arm rest/handle itself) - bolts come lose and door card rattles. Easy to tighten up at the two bolts.