Hello Guys,

I know it's stating the obvious, but, I need some help!

I took my car to the shop today to get a couple of noises fixed. One was a squeak in the seat and the other was a noise in the back.

I just called and they have fixed the seat noise but cant find the source of the noise in the back.

It sound like there is something bouncing around in the spare wheel well or the hatch isnt closed properly.

Anyway they werent able to find the cause, has anyone had this and had it fixed or does anyone know what it could be.

Thanks for the help.

As always

H

 

I have the noise at the rear...i located it to the bumper or rear passenger side light housing.

the bumper isn't very well fitted imho.

btw i still have no word from Nissan about the grease on the windows....will ring and ***** about it tomorrow.

zuffy

 

The only noise I have from the rear is a buzzing not a rattle and I think it's loose trim.

What's the rattle sound like? Plastic or metal on metal? I once had a jack in a previous car rattle. Just wound it up a bit so it was held in place better.

Zuffy, what's the hold up on the streaks? Can't you just book it in and have them fix it?

 

I have the noisy seat as well. It does it with my 85kg frame but not my wife, 65 kg (just a guess). They will fix at next service.

I had a rear rattle which I fixed by strategically placing some adhesive backed rubber pads. You duplicate the rattle by using your fist and knocking the rear bunper either side of the number plate well. Not very well secured in the 1st place !

 

Thanks Guys.

I just got my car back.

The didnt fix the squeak in the seat nor could the find the source of the other noise. Other than that the cars great.

They have however ordered a new shock and rear sway bar something so hopefully that will fix it. I told them the noise seemed to be coming from the rear suspension but they wouldnt believe me, they though it was the hatch.

If you could just imagine your hatch not being closed (or your boot in a car with one) and every time you go over a bump it goes up and down, that's the noise.

I also asked them while they had the car to advance the timing. The response was that the Consult thingy (yes the technical term) cant actually adjust it. It can read it while on the car but as soon as its unplugged all settings go back to standard. Or some BS like that.

As always

H

 

Hope that fixes it Harry. If not (and I don't know why I didn't suggest it last night) take it to a local suspension place your friendly with and have them put it on their drive on shock machine. That way they can simulate bumps while you look around for the noise. Done it before and it really helps track things down.

Re the Consult thing you should've asked them how they adjust the timing then if it doesn't do it. Would've been interesting to hear what they came up with.

 

Hi Harry,
I had a noise coming from the back, it sounded like it was coming from the spare tyre area. Sounded like metal on metal. I investigated and found the jack was a bit loose in its mould. I expanded the jack out a bit and it has been fine ever since.

Might be worth a look.
Bevan

 

Bev that was the first thing I tried at that little baby is as tight as a proverbial.

Ive figured out how to "fix" the noise though.......

Just drive at "full biscuit" with the stereo up nice and loud.

WHAT NOISE??????????????????????????

H

 

 

Apps - did you fix the buzzing sound from the rear? If so, what did you need to do? I also have this sound and am taking my car in for a 10,000 km service next week, so I would like to tell them what precisely to fix. I notice the noise when I rev hard to 6000+ as well as when I'm on a shitting road that has potholes and joints.

 

No, I've never got around to it. I've picked up a few more rattles since so I'll spend a weekend soon tracking them all down.

 

BTW, I've also got a rattle around the 3 dial instrument pod above the Sat Nav compartment and another in the speedo / tacho area. Very frustrating. I will get the dealer to sort them out during the service and will let you know what they were in my instances, so you have an idea where to look for corrections to your rattle if in similar areas.

 

I have a rattle around the main instrument cluster and have found that pushing or pulling on the surrounding dash trim stops it. I read somewhere it's actually the instrument wiring harness underneath that's loose and rattling against the dash.

 

Re the timing adjustment
The Consult 11 can adjust the timing & keep the setting in the ECM when it is removed.
Make you wonder sometimes what training the Dealer staff get.

 

My car was rattle-free for the first 5000 miles, since then I have a variety of rattles (car bought in Jan, now on 10,000 miles) in various places that come and go. The 2 persistent ones have been:
1. In the dash, seemingly where it meets the windshield, quite a loud clattering rattle.
2. In the leftmost of the 3 dash-top instruments (the multi-function one), a sort of squeaky rattle.

The rattles vary according to the temperature. If the car has been parked in the sun for an hour, there will be no rattles at all. On a cool, cloudy day, they are both there persisently and loudly.

The dealer was no help - he told me it was a sports car with hard suspension, there will be rattles, and I should just get over it.

The rattle at the dash/windshield I fixed (hopefully permanently) by pushing a narrow sheet of black felt between the glass and the dash.

The rattle in the dashtop display is getting worse, and is driving me nuts. I was going to get into the dash to see what's up but I can't see how to even get in there - there's no visible screws or anything. Any ideas how to get in there?

Dennis

 

I must admit I'm a bit surprised at the amount of rattles in these cars so early on. I have a bit over 7000km on mine now and it already has a similar level of rattles as my previous 9 year old MX-5. Hard suspension will contribute but anyone who thinks the Z suspension is hard hasn't ridden in many sports cars or even modified cars before. This is the softest suspension I've ever had.

I'm fairly certain this will be my first and last Nissan.

 

From the 2003 Nissan 350Z Technical Service Manual:

SQUEAK AND RATTLE TROUBLE DIAGNOSIS

DUPLICATE THE NOISE AND TEST DRIVE
If possible, drive the vehicle with the customer until the noise is duplicated. Note any additional information on
the Diagnostic Worksheet regarding the conditions or location of the noise. This information can be used to
duplicate the same conditions when you confirm the repair.
If the noise can be duplicated easily during the test drive, to help identify the source of the noise, try to duplicate
the noise with the vehicle stopped by doing one or all of the following:
1) Close a door.
2) Tap or push/pull around the area where the noise appears to be coming from.
3) Rev the engine.
4) Use a floor jack to recreate vehicle "twist".
5) At idle, apply engine load (electrical load, half-clutch on M/T model, drive position on A/T model).
6) Raise the vehicle on a hoist and hit a tire with a rubber hammer.

Drive the vehicle and attempt to duplicate the conditions the customer states exist when the noise occurs.

If it is difficult to duplicate the noise, drive the vehicle slowly on an undulating or rough road to stress the
vehicle body.

Have they even offered to have you drive the vehicle with one of them in it so you can tell them when you hear the noise?

Pv

 

That's ********!
The factory service manual begins every chapter with how to troubleshoot and locate possibly fix rattles.
I would imagine that rattles are probably THE most common complaint in automobiles.
The technicians should be well capable of fixing almost any rattle.
A dealer saying "get over it" because of the suspension is ******** and should be reported to Nissan Customer Assistance.

Check out this thread:
https://my350z.com/forum/audio-and-video/26598-350z-how-to-s.html

Or this site:
http://www.scafremon.com/dashremoval/dash_removal.htm

Pv

 

Australia has some of the worst consumer protection laws when it comes to cars. Once they sell you the car you are pretty much lumped with it good or bad.
It's much like a marriage if you have it tied into a lease of sorts.

Thanks for that post though. I'm always looking for more info and that center console removal link is one to put in the favorites.

Anyone who has console noises heads up!

 

Thanks to Swoobyz for the links on the dash removal!

Also, just FYI, I fixed the seat rock myself. The dealer went through several stages of denial:
1. "They all do that"
2. "The NTB won't work"
3. "Your car's seat doesn't rock"

I basically followed the procedure described in the NTB [Nissan Technical Bulletin] elsewhere on this site. It took an hour - that included making up my own spacer washers that are described in the NTB. Total cost: 69c for a bag of washers.

It was real easy, try it if you have this problem. Tip: as described in another thread, cover the door sills to stop the botton of the seat from scratching as you take it in and out of the car.