[Wentworth]

So I've been driving my Cooper since about November 2002, and it has developed a mystery noise that I can't find. It is coming from the back of the car, and is kind of a low/deep, rattle/bang type noise. It's not really loud, and I don't think its the hatch. Sounds like it might be coming from the side, or possibly near the rear seatbelt housing. It's also not the seatbelt clasp hitting the interior, I've checked that multiple times. If anyone has experienced something similar and knows what may be causing this I would like to know about it.

Thanks

[PigLick]

I have a suggestion of what it could be. From the bottom of the boot shelf/cover, two cords hang down and on the end of each is a hard rubber sphere. These cords can start swinging when you drive and, especially at low sppeds, cause the spheres to bang on the sides of the car.

If you lower the rear seats, you can easily see what I'm talking about, however note that they will not be apparent if you open the hatch. This is because these cords pass through eyes in the shelf/cover and then attach to the hatch at the top. The result is that when the hatch is opened, these cords are pulled up and the spheres butt up against the bottom of the shelf/cover causing it to lifft when that hatch is open. Thisall might sound a bit confusing, but it will make sense when you look at it. Hope that helps. MIne also makes the sound, and it kind of bothered/worried me when I first noticed. KNowing what causes it has given me peace of mind though, and the sound no longer bothers me at all.

PigLick

[Wentworth]

Hmmm . . . I'll have to look into that. I know what you are talking about, but the sound seems to be a lower tone than that. Maybe I'll tape those to the shelf and see what happens.

[flipper]

We think that it is the rear seat catch/latch mech. Not to be confused with the tailgate latch.
Some have had success by using tape but I would like a more permanent mini fix

[Wentworth]

I've already got the tape on the hatch, where on the seats would it go, and how much? I think that sounds like it could be a reasonable explanation since it wasn't what PigLick thought.

[pxlmxr]

It's good to know I'm not crazy- I have been activley tracking this sound for weeks- it's driving me crazy! So far I know what it's not- here's the list:

Its NOT the little hangy balls under the rear shelf

It's NOT the place where the rear shelf rests on the inner body

Its NOT the rear seat latch (sound is louder with seats folded down

Its NOT the boot latch

That's all I've learned so far- If anyone has any insight into what is causing this god-awful rattling please email me- this is my one pet-peeve with the car and I would like very much to eliminate it.
Thanks-
-Steve thepixelpusher@yahoo.com

[Karridy]

I took my MINI back to dealership to fix this, and after being without my baby for four days, they call me to say the noise is gone. I get down the road and start hearing it loud and clear. I can't take it back and do without my car again. Ya know!

Please Email me also, if anyone identifies.

karridy@karridy.com

Thanks,

Karridy

[PigLick]

On some other threads I've seen it suggested that the manual fuel fiuller cap release handle can cause a rattle. I believe it is located inside one of the panels in the boot, on the left hand side. You have to reach up inside the cavity to find the handle. I haven't ever felt or looked for it on my car, so I don't know exactly wher it is or how to find it, but some people have found that it was causing rattles in their boot. Check the owner's manual or do a search for more info on where exactly it is located.

PigLick

[Karridy]

I will check it out. It sounds just as valid an attempt as many of the other things I have tried and/or heard of. I will let you know if I have any luck.

Thanks again,

-Karridy

[flipper]

Quote:

Originally posted by pxlmxr
It's good to know I'm not crazy- I have been activley tracking this sound for weeks- it's driving me crazy! So far I know what it's not- here's the list:

Its NOT the little hangy balls under the rear shelf

It's NOT the place where the rear shelf rests on the inner body

Its NOT the rear seat latch (sound is louder with seats folded down

Its NOT the boot latch

That's all I've learned so far- If anyone has any insight into what is causing this god-awful rattling please email me- this is my one pet-peeve with the car and I would like very much to eliminate it.
Thanks-


-Steve thepixelpusher@yahoo.com

I have tried all of this too!

[Wentworth]

So I taped the rear seat things just like I taped the hatch, and still no change. I also took the boot shelf out to see if that was causing any trouble. The noise is still loud and clear with no improvement. I hear the sound loudest on the passenger/right side of the car, so I don't think it can have anything to do with the fuel filler setup.

It sounds almost like it is internal within the wall of the car, or someplace near the rear wheel. Has anyone removed any of the interior panels from their car?

Someone please hunt this down and let us know what you find.

[switz]

I love my mini but I have never purcahsed a new car with so many rattles and noises. The one described here is driving me nuts. It is a loud thumping noise that sounds like it is coming from within the body near the gas filler. It is not the seat belt and it is not the gas cap cover. When I go over bumps, it makes a loud thumping noise. Plus I am getting an anoying noise from the passenger door. Once I hear a noise it drives me nuts until I get it to go away. Anyone that figures this out I will owe big time!

[fms]

I was having a rear knock which was very difficult to isolate, but I finally did, by having my son ride in the back, messing w/ stuff until he messed w/ the seat catch and really made it loud. It turned out to be the inner catch of the driver's side rear seat. I was able to get it quiet by taking a thin piece of foam and wrapping it around the U bracket which the seat back latches to w/ some electrical tape- not too thick a wrap job, so the seat still will latch in place. It's a temperary fix, as I'll have it to the dealer in another week or so, but it's nice to know that I've found it. They'll have to take the rear seat back off to get to the latch and tighten it. Should be sorted then. Now if they can just find that blasted high frequency hum I get at speeds over 70 mph...

[retroom]

Have you check under the carpeting of the boot?

For Cooper owners could it be the spare tire, it could be loose.

Just some things to look at.

retroom

[brycem]

I have similar noises which were fixed but came back again and then fixed again seem to be rear seat catch mechanisms

[switz]

Ok, I think I have maybe fixed several of the rattles. First thing I did was checked the gas-cap cover. I noticed that it was lose even though the screw was reasonably tight. I unscrewed it off and placed duct tape (would die without it) around the entire rim of the piece that swings out that was still attached to the car. Using a razor blade, I trimmed the tape to the exact width of the bracket. Then, I put little squares of duct tape where the extended tabs are on the back of the bracket that touches the gas cap cover. Put the screw back and it is nice and quite.

I then noticed that the little cover that lifts up when the boot lid is lifted makes noise when it is bounced up and down. So, using the magical velcro, I placed a small piece of velcro on the cover as well as the boot area that it lays on. So, now when the boot is closed, the cover stays nice and put. If it does move, it won't make any noise.

Finally, I did the suggestion on the rear seat latch.

Well, all the above seems to have hellped quite a bit for noise in the rear area. Now if I could only find the constant noise coming from the passenger door when driving.

[delfino]

Over the past 2 weeks i've had a few diffeent rattles coming from the back end of my One.The first rattle was identified as a faulty rear damper bush after only 3000 miles.It was replaced free of charge and that particular rattle seems to have gone.
The other rattle was much harsher - like metal-on-metal.I thought it was from the boot latch but eventually discovered its from a little rubber bumper on the inside of the boot lid.These bumpers screw in and out and it seems that if they are screwed in too far they cease to work as bumpers and allow a sharp rattle to develop.Try unscrewing them slightly - the guy in the garage said he has seen it a few times before.
Hope it sorts the problem out.

[Wentworth]

So . . . . I've been driving my Cooper since September 2002, and I have it scheduled at the dealer for some work on April 1, 2003. I have a whole list of things that I want looked at, but hopefully the service person will be able to figure out what is making my "Mystery Sound".

I read something in a different post that talked about the rear shocks that sounded plausible, so I'll mention that when I bring the car in.

If anyone else has opinions on what to check, etc I would love to hear them. I'll also let you know if I find anything out.

[Wentworth]

Car is going to dealer tonight to get worked on. I'll let you know how everything goes if I ever get it back.

Install new software 32.1 (car nearly stalls, and backfires a little)
Fix steering wheel clicking (Steering column bearings?) (Stearing rack?)
Fix seatbelt housing vibration (both front, primarily passenger)
Fix passenger side big front speaker screen/housing vibration
Unfound rear rattle/knock (Shocks??) primarily passenger side, but occurs on both
Fix squeak/rattle from center council (passenger side silver pillar? Under toggle switches?)
Squeaky dash. Passenger side and middle
Middle of dash vibration
Replace passenger door reflector
Squeaky drivers seat
Repair Paint chip on hood near bumper!
Program daytime driving lights?
Hatch rattle?

[Karridy]

I have dealt with a couple of these. The one that is still annoying me is the passenger Speaker buz. It seems to be getting worse. If you want a quick fix for this until the shop can get to it, here is what you do.. Turn on some music with ample bass, or adjust your bass level so that you can consistantly hear the buz. Get a couple of toothpicks. Looking at the speaker as a clock, wedge the sharp ends of the toothpick(s) between the door and the speaker bezel at approximately 8:00. Once the buzzing goes away from the added pressure, break off the toothpicks being careful to leave a small part hanging out from under the bezel, thereby making sure they won't fall into the speaker cover. Yes, the would be aesthetically unpleasant if we did not do it at the 8:00 position. From there, nobody can see it, except the driver - and even then, only when the passenger door is open. When you get it fixed the right way, these will simply fall out.

Karridy Askenasy,
White-Boy Engineering specialist since 1978