Rattling sound coming from rear

[flyingzard]

Picked up my spangly new GTI only 2 weeks ago. Being a virgin VW owner i have to say i love it 

Still running her in so not pushed it yet but i cannot wait when its time....

My only slight niggle with the car is an annoying rattle coming from the rear of the car. I have removed everything from the boot (even the floor lining!) and checked all the obvious areas. I think its either coming from the boot lid or even the light cluster.

When i shut the boot lid i hear a rattle then so i am assuming that this is the noise i hear when i drive over a bump.

Anyone experienced this or got any ideas before i give in and take it to my useless local dealer?

[Dogbucket]

probably something you have already checked; but I sometimes forget to lock both the folding rear seats back properly (so the red tab is still sticking up) and that causes a rattling sound.

[stealthwolf]

In my old fezza, if I hadn't put the parcel shelf back in place properly, it'd rattle too

[JerseyAndy]

Is your number plate attached properly? They're a bugger for rattling it they're loose!

Andy

[flyingzard]

Thanks for the info chaps.

After looking into it a bit further... in other words getting the wife to sit in the back like a proper back seat driver we narrowed the rattling source to somewhere behind the side panel on the drivers side near the rear seat.

Interestingly enough a mate who has a MK4 TDI has the same rattle in the same place. I reckon its the wiring loom running down that side for the boot light and 12V supply.....

CBA'd to get the garage to rip it all out to sort that as i imagine the panels etc will not go back as well!!

Its only done 500 miles it may settle down 

[zippytwo]

Had something very similar - and it turned out to be the locking mechanism for the boot (the black metal lock shrouded by grey plastic sited at the bottom middle of the boot door).  It had worked itself very slightly loose and as a result the boot door was "jumping" just enough to make a rattle.  A slight turn using a star shaped driver soon sorted it out!

[flyingzard]

Just checked that - although i couldnt find the nut to tighten. However the boot appears fine.

Just went out for a spin with a mate from work. When sat in the back it is very hard to tell where the noise is coming from. However, after an after thought that it was coming from beneath the car he was lying comedy stylee on the floor with his ear to the ground and the rattle is definately coming from under the passenger side of the car - gotta be exhaust rattle. Car is going in on Wed to be looked at.

[carl1]

also check rear armrest i think thats were mines coming from.The metal bits (escuse my technical descriptions  )
seem a bit rattly when it is surpost to be clipped back in,if you know what i mean 

[L555BAT]

Had something very similar - and it turned out to be the locking mechanism for the boot (the black metal lock shrouded by grey plastic sited at the bottom middle of the boot door).  It had worked itself very slightly loose and as a result the boot door was "jumping" just enough to make a rattle.  A slight turn using a star shaped driver soon sorted it out!

How did you manage to get access to that?  I've had a look and don't see anything to tighten.  Do I need to start pulling trim off?

[zippytwo]

Had something very similar - and it turned out to be the locking mechanism for the boot (the black metal lock shrouded by grey plastic sited at the bottom middle of the boot door).  It had worked itself very slightly loose and as a result the boot door was "jumping" just enough to make a rattle.  A slight turn using a star shaped driver soon sorted it out!

How did you manage to get access to that?  I've had a look and don't see anything to tighten.  Do I need to start pulling trim off?

My description was from memory - just been out to the car to get it right this time!  There is a black plastic cover to the black metal lock.  In trying to work out where the rattling was coming from (and it took daaaaaaays!) I happened to wiggle the black plastic cover and found the whole unit ever so slightly loose (you could twist it without much pressure).  It's not too difficult to CAREFULLY peel back the grey plastic either side of the lock - using a large flat bladed screwdriver and something to protect the paintwork (I used a folded, damp chammie).  [EDIT - I'D BETTER EXPLAIN THAT YOU HAVE TO HOLD BACK THE GREY PLASTIC BACK WITH ONE HAND AND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS WITH THE OTHER.  IN OTHER WORDS THE GREY PLASTIC TRIM DOES NOT COME OFF, IT SIMPLY SPRINGS BACK INTO PLACE WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED] That reveals the star shaped bolt heads that hold the lock onto the boot, which in my case needed a quarter turn both sides.  The rattle had slowly got worse as the bolts loosened providing more movement loosening the bolts further... you get the picture!