I'm having a very annoying rattle/squeaking from my center console (or the area nearby).

It sounds like some bracket might have come loose and is rattling at light load at low rpm. When under more load or higher rpm there's nothing.

 

As I hear it from the drivers side (left side), it comes from within the console or maybe from somewhere by the feet. And I had a passenger, who also thought it was coming from center.

I've had everything in the center console torn out, to try to find the source, but I can't find anything loose. I did pull the frame, and it seemed to have fixed it, so I reassembled, But next drive it was still there. 

 

I have read the threads about center vents, and tried pressing on the dash above them, but it didn't make a difference.

Someone also mentioned the passenger vent at the feet, I tried to push/pull that, but also no difference.

 

Any suggestions, before I go nuts?

You could try an endoscope and get the camera in through the vent slats and have a look. You could try a vcds scan or the self diagnose of the heating system (ignition on as you press and hold the 2 extreme buttons on the climatronic head unit, assuming you have it), that could point toward something loose in the heating system effecting it's operation. Not sure to be honest, could be something daft like some leaves in the heating system, could be a lot of things, I might try these first though.

Thanks for the help. The problem is now fixed. I remembered reading about a loose heat shield, where the gear shifting cables comes out causing a rattle. As I was allready under the car for an oil change, I fiddled with the shield. And now silence :clap: .

 

So apparently a noise that sounds like it comes from within, can be caused from the outside...

Yes automotive acoustics can be strange like that, glad you got it sorted.

Wow. great fix. I've also got a bad rattle from the centre dash that I can't pinpoint. It may be worth trying this before pulling the centre dash apart (As this seems impossible to do). How did you identify where the heat shield was rattling? Did you just touch the silver material to find something loose? and how did you then secure it? Thanks. Craig

I had a rattle in the centre of the dash which I could not find too.

Turned out it came from the button on the end of the handbrake lever but sounded like it was behind the dash.

Easy fix too. Just put a few drops of light oil down the side of the button for a five year + fix.

Hi Craig.

 

It was very obvious, as there was missing one of the locking discs holding the heatshield in place. So when I tapped the heatshield, there was no doubt, that it came from there. I squished a M6 nut a bit and screwed it on as a temporary fix. I've bought some new locking discs, but have not come around to replacing them yet...

Thanks for the info on the handbrake fix. I'll have to try that, as mine also rattles a bit.