Hi folks,

 

Not sure if anyone can help with this but I thought I'd give it one last shot before I call it quits, or send the car to Skoda/mechanic.

 

Basically the problem is a loose screw or something metallic that is rolling around inside the cabin. The location seems to be from the centre console however, it is very hard to pinpoint exactly where it comes from.

 

The noise occurs when turning left and right, and can easily be reproduced by accelerating and then braking sharply. This makes whatever this object is roll around whatever panel its inside.

 

It sounds very similar to the sound of a screw rolling on a hard plastic surface, meaning quite a few places it could be.

 

So far I have pulled apart the:

• Glovebox
• Rear ashtray/cubby box thing
• Gear stick surround
• Rubber matt where the wireless charging is
• Centre console lid
• Front coin box thingy next to the steering wheel
• The trims around the sunroof switch and interior light pane

 

I've also taken the side panel off the centre console and run a magnet around up the middle, plus checking inside the centre aircon duct that exits to the rear passengers. Taking the whole centre console out would be my next step however its quite a job. 

 

Should probably mentioned that I have taken all loose objects out of the car as well, including the umbrellas. 

 

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

 

 

You sure someone hasn’t dropped something down one of the vents and it’s rattling around in the ducts? A coin for example fits perfectly

Probably an idea to have a passenger listen for the noise to pinpoint its location, sitting in the front and then the back, because driving and trying to isolate the location oneself when you’re driving is practically impossible. 

3 hours ago, ApertureS said:

You sure someone hasn’t dropped something down one of the vents and it’s rattling around in the ducts? A coin for example fits perfectly

 

That is certainly a possibility, though the aircon ducts are made of thin, flexible plastic. Unless there's a hard piece at the end, I don't think they would generate the same sound.

3 hours ago, numskull said:

Probably an idea to have a passenger listen for the noise to pinpoint its location, sitting in the front and then the back, because driving and trying to isolate the location oneself when you’re driving is practically impossible. 

 

Very good idea, will give that a try. My wife couldn't tell where but I'll get a second opinion. Cheers!

Have you tried striking with your hand various parts of the interior to see if you can 'encourage' the offending item to bounce about?
I presume the item rattles around fairly easily, meaning it occurs very regularly upon turning/accelerating etc?

8 minutes ago, varooom said:

Have you tried striking with your hand various parts of the interior to see if you can 'encourage' the offending item to bounce about?
I presume the item rattles around fairly easily, meaning it occurs very regularly upon turning/accelerating etc?

 

I certainly have, at first I thought it may have been in the door cards so gave them all a shake.

 

Seems like it doesn't roll very far though, the sound only happens for a second or so each time.

That's going to be one annoying rattle if so transient.  Makes finding it feel as you have found a gold nugget.

Have you looked in the front passenger under seat compartment?

 

it’s all plastic I believe so might be echoing 

1 minute ago, Danoid said:

Have you looked in the front passenger under seat compartment?

 

it’s all plastic I believe so might be echoing 

Unfortunately mine actually doesn't have one, it has control unit in its place. Took the plastic cover off and had a peek though

Checked the sunglass cabinet above the rear view mirror?  I have my garage door remote in there and it rolls around after I use the remote. 

On 22/07/2022 at 12:10, CRB123 said:

Unfortunately mine actually doesn't have one, it has control unit in its place. Took the plastic cover off and had a peek though

Ah man,

 

You said it can be heard if you go left then go right and also forwards and backwards

 

Does it sound like it travels longer going left/right or forwards/backwards?

 

Is this a sudden new noise or new car to you?

I had this on my B8 Passat after some warranty work. When I took it back they said it was impossible for them to have caused it, but took it for a drive and admitted it sounded exactly as described.

 

After a day in the workshop it was diagnosed as a socket set piece that had been left in the exterior plastic windscreen scuttle 😂

 

Take a look there

Edited 23 July, 20223 yr by Patent

I've taken mechanic's tools for a ride also.

17 hours ago, Donweather said:

Checked the sunglass cabinet above the rear view mirror?  I have my garage door remote in there and it rolls around after I use the remote. 

 

No sunglasses cabinet on mine unfortunately 🙁

 

13 hours ago, Danoid said:

Ah man,

 

You said it can be heard if you go left then go right and also forwards and backwards

 

Does it sound like it travels longer going left/right or forwards/backwards?

 

Is this a sudden new noise or new car to you?

 

I'd say its longer going forwards/backwards, but not by much. Wherever this thing is, it's in a pretty small space. 

 

The car was purchased second hand through a dealer and the noise has been there pretty much from the start. Who knows what the previous own did to it, there are 2 small screw holes in the centre console trim where that had something (radar detector maybe?) mounted. 

 

And yes, I have checked behind that trim already 😂

 

5 hours ago, Patent said:

I had this on my B8 Passat after some warranty work. When I took it back they said it was impossible for them to have caused it, but took it for a drive and admitted it sounded exactly as described.

 

After a day in the workshop it was diagnosed as a socket set piece that had been left in the exterior plastic windscreen scuttle 😂

 

Take a look there

 

Ah yep, I have left stuff there by mistake and even picked up a free 1/8 extension bar from a mechanic who left it there as a gift. Thanks for the idea, I will have a look.

Might be worth checking the rear air vent outlets under the front seats

Few more places I’d check would probably be

 

drop the glovebox and check the pollen filter, just in case and probably change pollen filter whilst there

 

Fully bring back both seats and check around that area as I’ve dropped all sorts down there thanks to the annoying gap

 

Remove the door sill panels, the ones where you open the door and see the long plastic bit

 

Remove the panels where your feet are at the sides, might be worth doing the passenger one too, just in case

 

You said you have a sunroof, fully open that if you can and check the channels in there.

 

Lastly buy a cheap endoscope camera with a light and attach that to your phone (android better I believe) then you can put that down the vents, also check the ones for the rear passenger feet vents, as well as the rear center vents

I suffered for moths with a tinkling noise that I was convinced was coming from the nearside of the car, probably low down. M passengers couldn't hear a noise on the nearside. Eventually I located it as the zip fastener pull toggle on a sunglasses case knocking against the inside of the sunglasses holder. This taught me two things. One, that it's tough to gauge the height of a nose and two, that the noise might be closer than you think!

The secret storage slot at the bottom of the centre armrest storage?

OP currently tracking down 4 new rattles that have appeared since dismantling the interior

 

On 24/07/2022 at 19:18, skomaz said:

Might be worth checking the rear air vent outlets under the front seats

 

Good idea and thanks for the tip. Will check them out once I get my hands on an inspection camera 

 

On 24/07/2022 at 19:43, Danoid said:

Few more places I’d check would probably be

 

drop the glovebox and check the pollen filter, just in case and probably change pollen filter whilst there

 

Fully bring back both seats and check around that area as I’ve dropped all sorts down there thanks to the annoying gap

 

Remove the door sill panels, the ones where you open the door and see the long plastic bit

 

Remove the panels where your feet are at the sides, might be worth doing the passenger one too, just in case

 

You said you have a sunroof, fully open that if you can and check the channels in there.

 

Lastly buy a cheap endoscope camera with a light and attach that to your phone (android better I believe) then you can put that down the vents, also check the ones for the rear passenger feet vents, as well as the rear center vents

 

• Did the pollen filter recently so all good there
• Checked around all the seats
• Have done the passenger side, will check the drivers soon
• Have done the passenger side, drivers I think has the bonnet release
• Checked sunroof too

The endoscope is a great idea 😀

 

On 25/07/2022 at 02:11, 100andthirty said:

I suffered for moths with a tinkling noise that I was convinced was coming from the nearside of the car, probably low down. M passengers couldn't hear a noise on the nearside. Eventually I located it as the zip fastener pull toggle on a sunglasses case knocking against the inside of the sunglasses holder. This taught me two things. One, that it's tough to gauge the height of a nose and two, that the noise might be closer than you think!

 

Yeah, I really need another passenger in the car to help locate it. My wife is deaf in her right ear so the noise for her sounds like its coming from the front. To me, its in the centre console 🤷‍♂️

 

On 26/07/2022 at 03:13, Steviedakota said:

The secret storage slot at the bottom of the centre armrest storage?

 

Tried that one, I have since found the glue holding that storage matt is is pretty weak and mine was already peeling off. Quite easy for a screw or coin to slip down there though

 

On 26/07/2022 at 04:32, Patent said:

OP currently tracking down 4 new rattles that have appeared since dismantling the interior

 

 

hahaha yep, pretty much. Now that my sunroof has started creaking again, I'm considering making this a dealer problem and see if they'll fix both at the same time

So over the weekend I had a bit of a poke around the engine bay and lifted up the plastic panel below the windscreen. Underneath is a hole that looks like it enjoys eating 10mm sockets that have been left behind, so I'll probably drop a camera down there at some point.

 

 

Another "gem" was the DSG breather found dangling under the airbox. I'd never seen this before so I googled the part number and found its actually supposed to be attached to the battery box!! So probably been flapping around, making a racket in the engine bay for a while.

I think today was my lucky day. I found the little f**ker!  

 

Underneath the passenger seat is the control unit thing with the black plastic cover.

 

I pulled this off (which I have done before) and decided I'd also pull the control unit out to see what was underneath. I then found a broken zip tie, which made me wonder if someone had previously run cabling through here and cut the zip ties

 

So I then proceeded to pull the carpet up next to where the plastic cover would be (as pictured)

 

After poking around a bit, I felt something metallic that didn't belong there..............WTF???????

 

The cause of my near insanity over the last few months is a.....coax connector?!?!

 

In fact, it is a BNC coax connector. Most likely scenario is the previous owner had a UHF radio and they (or the dealership I bought it from) kindly left the connector as a gift when they removed it 🤬

 

Took the car for a spin and sound is definitely gone! 

 

Thanks to everyone who posted on this thread. It's great to see how helpful people are on this forum and truly appreciate your input.

 

Cheers!

 

This is brilliant! 

Woohoo, wonder if your car was an undercover police car in a previous life