I noticed one this morning in the quiet of the parking garage. Can't tell where it's coming from but sounds a lot like metal -vs- metal. Could be from underneath the car. Any takers?

jerij

A ticking noise has been discussed. Basically, when heated metal, underneath expands and seattles, you may hear some noise. Probaly, more noticeable in cold climates and cold weather. Heat sheild, transmission, something like that.... Noise come after parking and car off, I assume.

If that is not it, change your gas to the higher octane.

Sounds a lot like the exhaust heat shield to me. A few owners have had dealers replace this item to solve the noise issue.

Hope it helps,

Way to vague of an explanation to even make a guess. Could you be a little bit more specific?

Is kind of vague......

Maybe XM radio left on Channel 41, the Metal station......

If it is after you've driven the car it is just the heat shields cooling off.

Is it that simple to replace the heat shield...LOL

It's not pinging.
It's not the "cool down" of the heat shield or other exhaust related components.
And definitely not XM.... :-)

The noise was during slow movement of the car thru the parking garage. It was a lot like a "vibration". Seemed to be more noticeable over bumps/rough pavement.
Usually you would hear something like this when you drive over a good bump and your dash/whatever would rattle. This noise though has a metal "buzz-clang" to it.

jerij

Could be so many things that I don't even want to guess. :confused: Sorry I couln't be of any use. :( Hopefully you get it figured out! :beer:

Nevermind....
It was my rear license plate cover.

jerij

After it cooled down? :p:

Nevermind....
It was my rear license plate cover.

jerij

Here's my tip:

Take off the plate & frame then install 2 clear plastic "bumpers" under the plate where it contacts the rear gate. While you have it apart, put a 1/2" high strip of double-sided foam tape on the back of the frame where it contacts the license plate. This will kill all traces of "rattle" when the rear gate is closed, and even over bumps.

Maybe I'll take pics and put it in the "how-to" section... ;)

That's the first time I've heard of that method. :confused: Most people either put Dynamat or a cheaper equivalent on the back of the plate or use foam weather strip tape like you get from the hardware store on the back. ;) Dont the feet push the bottom out? :confused: No offence meant SoCal but I don't know of any stereo shop that would use your method. :bow:

Dynamat or foam covers a broad area and is prone to causing rubbing damage to the paint. The small bumpers I'm speaking of are only 1/4" tall. Sitting in the indentations behind the plate you won't notice they are installed at all. Even if you did, they are easily trimmed with a razor blade. Also, since the contact point is isolated - you won't have any rub damage to your paint. Of course I would do whatever works for you...

Hope it helps,

Interesting, I'll look into it. I haven't had a vibration problem with the back plate yet so I haven't done anything to deaden the vibration. Where do you get the little rubber feet from?

Almost any hardware store sells them. They come in cards of 12 in different sizes. Buy the 1/4" ones. They are clear rubber - not black. Good luck. I did them on both my HHR and the wife's new 06 Accord (man, you think we have a plate rattle problem!) Both are all good now. :thumb:

your basically talking about the little button on the doors of kitchen cabinets correct? Good idea. I dont have any problems though with any rattles. Thanks

your basically talking about the little button on the doors of kitchen cabinets correct? Good idea.

Just like those! :thumb:

Take care,

Funny you mention the rear mounts. I noticed my little rubber bumper on the lift hatch was missing. I looked at several others at the dealer, some had both, some one , others none. Guess someone likes little bumpers. Anyway, I put a rear licenses plate cover and frame around my rear plate. It came with 4 bolts, nuts and buttons. I didn't put the bottom bolts and nuts on the plate and it rattled, Badly. So I took it off and put the nut, bolt and buttons on the bottom. Rattle went away. Next time I washed it water got into the cover and left a water streak on the inside of the cover. So I again took it off and then just applied clear silicone to the Licenses plate and the cover frame. Let it dry, put it back on, no rattle, no water leak when washing or other wise.:p:

I used the lil rubber buttons on mine as well. I have a gold plate frame around my plate and used all four of the nuts/bolts. I found my lil rubber buttons at WalMart for like $0.98 for a package of 12.

Works great, no more rattle for me!

CBL

I am new here but I had the same issue maybe. The part that holds the spare tire down in the back had worked loose. I pulled the cargo mat out and tightened it down and no more rubbing sound.

I am new here but I had the same issue maybe. The part that holds the spare tire down in the back had worked loose. I pulled the cargo mat out and tightened it down and no more rubbing sound.

:confused:

Nevermind....
It was my rear license plate cover.

jerij

Yep, sounded like a metal :cussing: "buzz-clang" to me... :nuts: ;) :beer:

I had a "rattle", "buzz", whatever you want to call it when I got mine back from the body shop. My wife and I searched everything, everywhere. Ended up being the same thing....rubber bumper missing under the rear plate. Dealer put a new one in and that fixed things.

Hey CH, some avatar. That a self portrait of you , first thing in the morning? :lol:

Hey CH, some avatar. That a self portrait of you , first thing in the morning? :lol:

Nah my wife. :lol: It's Cthulhu. :smile:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu

When we picked up our HHR I took it for a spin before signing the documents...I immediately noticed a noise from under the drivers dash. It sounded like a rapid scratching-vibration and was also accompanied by another separate sound that reminded me of a relay opening and closing rather quickly. I asked the sales manager to drive it and listen, and he did, but he didn't have any idea what it was. He asked if we would leave it or come back for it Monday, but we drove 1/2 way across Texas to pick it up so I took it home and decided to take it to the local dealer for a look...

About 500 miles into the cars life and the sound had completely disappeared. We've got 800 on it now and still no rattle. Maybe when that knucklehead hit me (the HHR, not me literally) the other day he straightened something out. I dunno.

As soon as I get plates I'm going to keep an ear open for the rattle you referenced in this thread.

i found the source of some of my rattles, caused by bass.
1. Visors, where they connect and disconnect, those plastic pieces rattle
2. The plastic covers where you can change the tail light bulbs
3. Plastic cover on rear hatch, hole damn thing rattles when bass hits

With only 300-watts to my subs I have crystal-clear bass with no rattles.

Pleased as punch baby! :thumb: