Annoying, unknown rattle in rear...
 

Hello, and allow me to introduce myself. My name is Andrei. I am a new and proud owner of a 96M Edittion (not a fan of the PS and ABS, but I got it cheap). I have switched from the VW scene (Corrado G60 and VR6), though a piece of my heart will always remain there. The reason is very simple - rwd fun.

Now, the mx5 has several problems... but one drives me mad:vash:. I did a search, but came up with nothing.

I have been hearing this rattle for about a moth now. It only happens when in gear, and under acceleration. Reving doesn't bring it out. It is very lound... or so says my friend that I passed on a local hway.

Now, I have checked literally every heat shiled and clamp (that's what it sounds like, a loose exhaust clamp)... nothing. The PO had a HD Duce installed... is there anything under the sheet metal behind the seats that could rattle? I dont want to take it appart and find out it was a waste of time... god knows my mx5 needs a lot of attention in other areas:bang:.

Thank you much!

Check the spring rods that keep the trunk up. They should have a clip to keep them from hitting together, but mine came uncliped once, and that was annoying.

Appreciate your time! Will do asap!

russian?

Korean?

No... I wouldnt say it sounds russian. Just a rattle :).

Ok, how did you figure it out? Must be my spelling. Russian-Romanian (Moldova).

I looked for a rattle for a long time without any luck. Found it when I installed my headers. It was the front O2 sensor that was not screwed in properly. Made a surprisingly high noise thru the exhaust system.

If you use the spare tire as a storage bowl like I do, things sitting in it will slide forward and rattle against the back of the trunk. Just make sure it's nothing sitting in the trunk rattling. Better yet, remove everything from the trunk, including the carpet (leave the battery in) and go for a drive.

Thank you guys! I will make sure to check all of the above!

Mine had a similar rattle when the baffle in the muffler was loose. Would only rattle under load. It stopped about 4 months later when the guts of the muffler blew out the tailpipe.

I had/have a feeling i have the same problem... its a distinct rattle. Sounds like something is about to fall off, yet I can not find anything even remotely loose :bang:.

PS What could I do to speed it up... throw some marbles in and wait for it? Drive through some highly crowded places.

LOL - JK

I have the same noise, when down shifting or slowing down it sounds like shit near 3-2k rpms. And its a whole new exhaust system headers back. Do you think it would be the heat shield above the cat by the shifter or the one above the exhaust at the back its really annoying...

What's up fellow Rockvillian?

I would get the car up on stands (securely) and shake the hell out of the entire exahust system. It's bound to be in there somewhere.

Rocks wouldn't be able to get on it or in it, headers have no heat shield, just put new high flow cat in, borla has no heat shield so that eliminates those, it did it on my stock exhaust system ripped off every piece of heat shield even on the cat and it still did it...

if the rear brakes are not adjusted properly they can rattle. There is a little allen adjuster underneath a 12 or 14mm bolt on each rear caliper that is used to adjust the parking brake and if its too loose i think the pads can rattle.

Nope, not that, i learned about that when i did my brakes, i found it and my e-brake wasn't working properly, thought my calipers were shot but it was that adjuster and i tightened it so its not that its under rpm's, il try and get a video if the roads are nice just snowed here :td:

i had a rattle, it was those torsen bars the act as trunk lid springs, what i did was cut a slit in a length of small clear rubber hose and slipped it over the bars and it stopped the rattle. this is one solution if that was your rattle.:)

hit your cat and muffler with a rubber mallet... that will tell you if either of them is the cause.

damn, beat me to the rubber mallet trick!

Moldovean huh...

Constantean here...

been to Kisinau, i didn't wanna leave, LOL...the beautiful women ratio there is like 9 outta 10. Incredible.