Rattle when I go around a tight bend....?

[Lylos]

Hi folks,

My car has had a rattle ever since I've had it which is about a year now. It only occurs when I go around corners. At first I thought it was under the seat as it sounds like a screw running across the metal under them. However, after spending time getting very dizzy in the back whilst my girlfriend happily ragged around an empty car park in figure of eights we found out that it wasn't the seats but in fact under the passenger seat - weird.

It's still a mystery as I as I cant find a way under the seats. However, the other day I dropped a quid ( I know, a quid! - gutted) and it fell under the slot in the handbrake and this made me wonder that this maybe what happened in the first place to cause this god-awful noise every time I turn a corner...

Any idea chaps, anyone had the same thing happen - is there a secret rattly section in my car that's been installed just to annoy me???

[Pete Taylor]

When I changed my carpets I found nearly a fiver in change in mine! First take the boot carpet out and have a look to see if anything is loose. It could also be something under the spare wheel. The most likely thing will the the exhaust swaying when you go round corners and touching a loose heatshield above the middle box which is below the rear seats. Have a check in the seat runners of the front seats from behind, stuff tends to get stuck in there like loose change

[Lylos]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the reply.

I'm pretty sure it's not the exhaust. It quite clearly sounds like a penny or a screw trickling across the chassis of the car. Just as though something has fallen down a nook or crack in the interior and is now moving from one side of the car to the other when I go around the corners and I'm quite sure it's up near the fron seats.

I'll try lifitng the boot carpet up and have a look to see if there's anything that could be the culprit.

Short of turning my car upside down and giving it a good shake I'm stumped as to how I'm gonna get this rattle to stop!

[Pete Taylor]

If it's rolling from the side of the car to the other from side to side then it can only be something onder the back seats. If you look right at the front where the beanches hinge to pull up there's a space which is awkward to get into, get poking around in there with proddy things, hands and a vacuum. If it's rolling front to back then it could be something in the bottom of the front doors. If you have a look in the doors, whilst the door cards are off... unscrew the pocket at the bottom of the door card from behind and pull it off, surprising what can get stuck in there!

[Len]

Can only be under the rear seats! Everywhere else has sound deadening under the carpets.

[Lylos]

Thanks for the reply. I was sure it was under the seats and have tried prodding, pushing, hoovering, magentising! but nothings changed and the rattle's still there. I'm starting to think it's elsewhere....and that maybe I'm just going to live with it which is massively frustrating!