My new Octavia Elegance is back in the dealers today for the first time since I bought it. The 2 rattles that have developed have gotten to a point I can't ignore.

One from the steering column and one from the drivers side B pillar somewhere.

I'll let you all know how it goes on and the level of service I get from Claybank (manchester).

At least the courtesy car was ready, clean and fueled so +1 for that.

I did ask if I could take out the nice black Octavia VRS that was on the forecourt...............alas the white Fabia 1 Diesel that I got wasn't quite the same.

What kind of rattle was coming from the steering column? I know its difficult to describe rattles at times, but i have a rattle/vibration noise coming from the top of the dash i think almost as if its between the steering wheel and the windscreen. At the moment its not too bad and sounds like 2 thin pieces of metal slightly vibrating. If it gets worse ill take it to the garage but its not too bad at the moment

It took me ages to track down.

It's a vibration / thrum that comes from somewhere in the steering column assembly but sounds like if coming from the instrument binnacle / dashboard. Mine goes away if I apply upwards pressure on the bottom of the steering column.

If I adjust it it then goes away also but slowly returns. Try moving your column and playing with the piece of rubber / fabric that you can see that hides the mechanism.

I'm wondering if my locking arm to secure the column isn't quite holding it tightly enough in place.

Good luck! :yes:

Update :

Just had a call from Claybank. Car won't be ready till tomorrow so I am keeping the courtesy car overnight.

Not overly impressed considering I dropped it off at 8.20 this morning and it's only in to have a couple of creaks investigated. I did mention this morning that I'd had a problem getting into 3rd gear occasionally but I don't think she mentioned anything about that. (the call quality on my mobile was rubbish)

More likely they just haven't got round to it yet. :wonder:

Further Update :

Rang Claybank at lunch to see if car ready. Yes it is!!! As it's only 15 minutes from my work I popped down to pick it up............car not ready.

The showroom and the garage are separate and my car had gone back to the garage this morning but the girl at the garage end didn't know and though it was ready.

Left arm doesn't know what the right is doing!

Hopefully it will be ready tonight and will have had a clean also as I asked for this as my time had been wasted.

Why does everything fall down once you actually have bought the car?

On the plus side the desk girl at least said that it had been kept overnight because the mechanic wanted to get to the bottom of the rattle because he had heard it.

Well ive just been on a 60 mile round motorway trip and the noise is back even on relatively smooth roads. It sounds like a prestud vibrating because it hasnt been closed properly if that makes sense and appears to be coming from the vent area on top of the dashboard. Tried air con on and off and its still the same. Think ill give the dealers a quick call when i get back from my hols next week

Update :

Car back and my 2 main rattles seem to have been resolved. Credit where credit is due the service manager said he was out in my car and did notice the rattles and went out again afterwards to see if they had improved.

I haven't heard the main creak from my steering column (it was adjusted) and the one in my right ear near the B pillar they think was coming from the tailgate / reg number mounting and I was just hearing it from my right side.

Certainly, everything under my variable boot floor had been removed and to be honest it feels like the 1st day I got it again.

It was also washed and hoovered as an apology for the confusion over picking it up. Service manager has also said if it reoccurs to come back and he will go out with me.

So all in all a for my first visit back to Claybank since purchase.

Hope it's always the same!

Update :

I haven't heard the main creak from my steering column (it was adjusted) and the one in my right ear near the B pillar they think was coming from the tailgate / reg number mounting and I was just hearing it from my right side.

Hi, I have had the same rattle in my left ear (it is a left hand drive) and thanks to your topic I have found it!! I adjusted the mounting of the regplate and will test tomorrow on the motorway if it solved the problem.

Hope it fixes it for you! I had actually noticed that the number plate mount was slightly loose when I have been cleaning the car but never thought that the rattle in my ear could be that.

Weird how sound can appear to come from a certain source but be from somewhere else completely!

Rattle update : After the dashboard rattle had seemingly gone it had returned with a vengeance over the last couple of weeks. I knew it was coming from the steering column as pressing upwards on it solved the problem. I just needed to investigate further.

Anyway, underneath the steering column there is a star drive bolt that secures the steering column adjustment and the steering column mount. Grabbed a star drive screwdriver and was surprised that I could give it 2 full turns before any resistance was met. I also gave the 2 bolts on the bottom of dash a turn whilst I was there!

It's fixed!!!! Not a creak, wobble or flex in sight so far.

Just need to find the minor rattle that I can hear in my right ear now!

are rattles fixed under warranty? I have a 10, that has two - driving me mad.

Anyway, underneath the steering column there is a star drive bolt that secures the steering column adjustment and the steering column mount. Grabbed a star drive screwdriver and was surprised that I could give it 2 full turns before any resistance was met. I also gave the 2 bolts on the bottom of dash a turn whilst I was there!

I've had a similar rattle for a while. Did you need to remove the column undercover to access the star drive bolt? All I can see on mine is a couple of star drive bolts holding the finger plate to the release lever and a star drive bolt which seems to be holding the plastic undercover.

Thanks

I've had a similar rattle for a while. Did you need to remove the column undercover to access the star drive bolt? All I can see on mine is a couple of star drive bolts holding the finger plate to the release lever and a star drive bolt which seems to be holding the plastic undercover.

Thanks

No I didn't need to remove the cover. I may be wrong but I presumed that it was just one bolt that holds the cover and then secures the mechanism. It's the single bolt in the middle of the column near where the handle is located.

I was really surprised how much I could tighten it. I'd say it was easily 2 full 360 degree turns if you know what I mean. It's certainly fixed the problem though.

Sorry if my explanation is a little unclear. The other two bolts I tightened are on the bottom edge of the main underside dash attachment. Imagine either side of your knees on the lip if your driving.

No I didn't need to remove the cover. I may be wrong but I presumed that it was just one bolt that holds the cover and then secures the mechanism. It's the single bolt in the middle of the column near where the handle is located.

Thanks for that Wizzlebanger. I've located them all now but unfortunately all are tight. But you have inspired me to put a bit more effort into to finding it.

Glad you've sorted yours out, rattles are really annoying.

Cheers

Thanks for that Wizzlebanger. I've located them all now but unfortunately all are tight. But you have inspired me to put a bit more effort into to finding it.

Glad you've sorted yours out, rattles are really annoying.

Cheers

Try moving your steering column to it's lowest / furthest out setting. Once there you can see a rubber type flap that allows the extension and hides the workings. (It's in between the top of the column and the dash). Have a play around with that to make sure it's seated ok. This also seemed to help mine.

Good luck. Rattles are so annoying that for me they can completely spoil the pleasure of owning a car.

Next weekend I'll be trying to locate the final rattle in my right ear. The missus sits on the left so I know it's not her.

Try moving your steering column to it's lowest / furthest out setting. Once there you can see a rubber type flap that allows the extension and hides the workings. (It's in between the top of the column and the dash). Have a play around with that to make sure it's seated ok. This also seemed to help mine.

Good luck. Rattles are so annoying that for me they can completely spoil the pleasure of owning a car.

Next weekend I'll be trying to locate the final rattle in my right ear. The missus sits on the left so I know it's not her.

Thanks for the advice, I'll have a go when I get some time. If only all rattles were as simple to sort out as banning people from the car.

Good luck with your final rattle.

I get a small rattle from the head rest on my left. It sounds like it is much further away. I lowered the headrest down one notch and the rattle has gone,