I'm back again

While I'm on a roll trying to get my car MOT ready, I noticed there was a rattle from the front of the car over bumps. I checked over the suspension with a fine tooth comb and couldn't find anything wrong with it (not long had work done). Then by chance I heard the same sound it was making over bumps when I shut the bonnet. Turns out the front grille bit that's bolted to the rest of the bonnet is rattling really badly, and the bolts are all rusted. Anyone had this issue before and knows how to quieten it down or where I can get fresh bolts from? 

 

They're so rusted I'll probably have to drill them out.

I actually had two rattles here. One was the chrome insert rattling in the frame (due to the clips bending over tume) which was fixed with some glue. And the grille loose like you said - but the bolts were not stuck.

 

Also check the bonnet stay - mine rattled there too when it's clipped (the orange clamp was a bit loose).

I figured out part of the issue, the rubber stops on the bonnet lid were screwed in all the way which caused the front grille to clatter against the chassis. I unscrewed them about two turns which made the bonnet sit more flush with the wings. This stopped the rattle over bumps, however caused another issue where the chrome grille now rattles in the frame while stationary idle, similar to yours. I might stick some glue on it like you have suggested

1 hour ago, Kalum0101 said:

I figured out part of the issue, the rubber stops on the bonnet lid were screwed in all the way which caused the front grille to clatter against the chassis. I unscrewed them about two turns which made the bonnet sit more flush with the wings. This stopped the rattle over bumps, however caused another issue where the chrome grille now rattles in the frame while stationary idle, similar to yours. I might stick some glue on it like you have suggested

Well done. I had to replace those rubber buffers as the top had spread out and got flattered over time and they just screwed in again while driving. New ones really made the bonnet sit securely.

On 30/09/2024 at 09:16, Tailhappy said:

Well done. I had to replace those rubber buffers as the top had spread out and got flattered over time and they just screwed in again while driving. New ones really made the bonnet sit securely.

 

Do you know where you get those rubber buffers from? I can't seem to find them on eBay and I'm guessing they are not made new anymore?

14 hours ago, Kalum0101 said:

 

Do you know where you get those rubber buffers from? I can't seem to find them on eBay and I'm guessing they are not made new anymore?

I had to order from Slovakia - around 3 years ago now so can't find details - but if you search by part number they should show up. I remember the items were only around 2 Euro and postage was something like 16 Euro 😆

Found it, skoda-parts.com. Ordered some the other day and should be coming next Tuesday.

 

The rattle has got worse, it makes the same sound duff droplinks do over bumps and when sat idle it buzzes through the bonnet. Thinking about taking the whole grille assmebly off and sticking some rubber tape between where the grille sits and bolts onto the actual bonnet, maybe some rubber sealant in the small gap between the two too, just something to stop this god awful rattle without having to resort to a new bonnet.

19 hours ago, Kalum0101 said:

Found it, skoda-parts.com. Ordered some the other day and should be coming next Tuesday.

 

The rattle has got worse, it makes the same sound duff droplinks do over bumps and when sat idle it buzzes through the bonnet. Thinking about taking the whole grille assmebly off and sticking some rubber tape between where the grille sits and bolts onto the actual bonnet, maybe some rubber sealant in the small gap between the two too, just something to stop this god awful rattle without having to resort to a new bonnet.

Sounds like a plan. But heads up, what can sound like rattling bonnet can be things in the immediate area vibrating through. Check where the air intake pipe snaps onto the slam panel plastic part - my clips wore here and I got a really bad rattling at idle and low revs. Easy to fix, hard to find.

The 1.4 auto doesn't have an air intake pipe that attaches to the slam panel, it gets its fresh air through a hole in the side of the engine cover, which also acts as the air filter housing. Threw me off at first but I learned quickly all about it when I was diagnosing another issue. The boxes also have a flap controlled by a thermostat that switches between fresh air and warm air from the manifold, I think its supposed to make the car warm up faster by recycling air coming from the manifold. Flap was stuck in the always warm position which hurt performance and MPG when hot, so I just bolted the flap down to be in the always cold position.

 

I think its 100% the grille. the rattle vanishes when I lift the grille up even slightly. My guess is time and a life of sitting outside hasn't been kind to the bolts and arms holding it in place. I got a set of new bolts and arms along with the new rubber buffers, so all thats coming apart when it arrives. Hopefully the combination of those new parts and the rubber silicone stuff will help to finally put this issue to rest.

 

If not, might see if anyone is scrapping a VRS in black magic and I'll just put a new bonnet on. Might be nice to have the sound deadening panel that comes with those too.

So quick update:

 

Got the new parts in, fitted them all and.... still rattles. Sigh...

 

One thing of note is that even with the new bonnet bump stops unscrewed so much the bonnet sits slightly above the wings, it still rattles, although not as much. Its almost like there is play in the bonnet catch as when you lift it by hand without releasing the bonnet it makes the same knocking sound that I hear when driving.

 

If anyone has had anything like this before, please help as I am at my whit's end.

Edited 14 October, 20241 yr by Kalum0101

On 14/10/2024 at 08:58, Kalum0101 said:

So quick update:

 

Got the new parts in, fitted them all and.... still rattles. Sigh...

 

One thing of note is that even with the new bonnet bump stops unscrewed so much the bonnet sits slightly above the wings, it still rattles, although not as much. Its almost like there is play in the bonnet catch as when you lift it by hand without releasing the bonnet it makes the same knocking sound that I hear when driving.

 

If anyone has had anything like this before, please help as I am at my whit's end.

Are you able to simulate the rattle with the car stationary by gently bumping with your fist? Just as I found when nearly driven mad by rattles it was something quite small that sounded like something larger. 

 

One other area, at the back of the bonnet are two solid blocks to hold the bonnet stable. Check they are not missing.

On 15/10/2024 at 12:20, Tailhappy said:

Are you able to simulate the rattle with the car stationary by gently bumping with your fist? Just as I found when nearly driven mad by rattles it was something quite small that sounded like something larger. 

 

One other area, at the back of the bonnet are two solid blocks to hold the bonnet stable. Check they are not missing.

 

So I have done this, and I can hear the clunking as the bonnet moves while closed. Checked the blocks and they are all there.

 

I have found a happy medium for now, where the bump stops are out enough that it doesn't rattle over small bumps. Any larger bumps I probably hear the Console Bushes squeak more than the bonnet rattle, but thats a job for another day. Think I am going to call this one done for now, plan is to find a for parts Black Magic VRS and do some body part swaps, so I will look at a bonnet as well.

Edited 19 October, 20241 yr by Kalum0101

So, I finally solved the issue, after countless replacement parts, it was the simplest of things.

 

It was the catch that was loose, so while the bonnet was secured, you could still lift the bonnet up slightly. The fix? Some duct tape around the metal catch, just enough to remove the slack. So if anyone else has a rattly bonnet, the £5 miracle of duct tape might save you tearing your hair out like I was.

You can adjust the position of the latch with two or three Torx screws.