Rattles

[dubs_17]

I have a lot of rattling in my rear deck when I play any songs with a lot of bass. I have a 12" Boston back there....is there a good way to eliminate this rattling? I bought Dynamat, but I don't know if it'll do too much. Anyone successfully get rid of this rattling?

[Kor]

Re: Rattles

I assume you mean in a Jetta. If you ran any wires over the deck when you installed your sub, you should re-route them. The deck is always noisy, I wonder if you could just cut it out and replace it with a welded-in stress bar or something...

[FlyBoy]

Re: Rattles

I have a lot of rattling in my rear deck when I play any songs with a lot of bass. I have a 12" Boston back there....is there a good way to eliminate this rattling? I bought Dynamat, but I don't know if it'll do too much. Anyone successfully get rid of this rattling?

I have noticed that too. I have 2 Alpine Type R 10's firing forward against the seat. My amp rack is covered and installed behind the subs, so basically I have a little chamber in there. I had the rattles completely removed for about 6 weeks, but one main one has come back, I think I just need to stick down some of the foam. Here's what I did:

First go at it, I stuck a layer of 1/4" open cell foam on the bottom of the deck lid with double sided tape and re-installed. Got rid of the worst of the rattles.

Next, I sealed every single hole, keyway, cutout, gap, etc. in the metal deck (there was HUGE airflow coming through the holes) with dynamat, cut about 1/2" larger than the hole. DO NOT cover the couple slots where the deck lid attaches and the child seat anchors (unless you got fillers). There is a channel at the back end, it doesn't need to be filled. The trunk side of mine was about half covered from my previous stereo install, so I covered the holes on the top side.

I then slipped a strip of foam under the carpet on the rear lip of the deck. This made it somewhat difficult to re-install the deck lid, but once it was in, it was tight, no rattles. Now it appears that the foam has worked its way out on the drivers side of the centre brake light. I can see it through the vent, and it vibrates a bit again. I think once I cram that back in and stick it down, the rattles should be gone.

Remember when re-installing the deck lid to hook the brake light back up. Watch your fingers, I have sliced my knuckles open every time I have done it (3 times now). Let me know if you need some help, or more Dynamat (I have about 10' x 1' roll of B-Quiet Ultimate which is equivalent to Brown Bread, way cheaper than Dynamat). I also have a bit of foam but I don't think it is enough to cover the rear deck, but I think I can get some more cheap.

One other rattle I have found on the outside is the bottom of the rear valance vibrates against the spare tire well. Some foam in there does the trick too.

Jeff
01 Jetta GLS

[Kor]

Re: Rattles

Won't doing that make it harder to hear your subs?

[FlyBoy]

Re: Rattles

Won't doing that make it harder to hear your subs?

HUH? SPEAK UP SONNY!!

Just kidding, I can hear mine fine, but then again I've got 350W going to each sub. For competition, I would flip the seats down anyways for maximum effect, but I haven't been to one yet.

Jeff
01 Jetta GLS

[dubs_17]

Re: Rattles

What's the trick to removing the rear deck? Does it just snap in? Perhaps I should look closer....

[FlyBoy]

Re: Rattles

What's the trick to removing the rear deck? Does it just snap in? Perhaps I should look closer....

First remove the child seat brackets, pop the plastic cover off and there is a bolt underneath (11 or 12 mm socket if I recall). They go into a threaded insert so there is no worry about losing a nut. There are 3 snaps at the forward edge (close to the seat). Push up and they pop out. Pull the deck lid towards you a little and lift it up enough to get your hand to the brake light and unplug it (the wire is only about 4 inches long, it has to be unplugged in place). You need to squeeze the plug to disengage the clips holding it in. Then slide the deck lid straight out. The car tapers in as it goes up, so if you lift it too much it won't come out.

Jeff
01 Jetta GLS

[dubs_17]

Re: Rattles

First remove the child seat brackets, pop the plastic cover off and there is a bolt underneath.....

What's involved in gettting these things off? I tried, but can't seem to budge 'em.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Rattles

What's involved in gettting these things off? I tried, but can't seem to budge 'em.

There is a tab on the back side that catches on the metal piece. Try slipping a small flat screw driver under the side and moving it towards the back and it should pop off. If that doesn't work, pull up and back on the forward edge, but only grab the plastic, it doesn't go right around the metal. Kinda like trying to peel it off.

Last resort is to whack em with something somewhat hard (like wood or a rubber mallet). Swing towards the window to knock the cover back. Just be careful, and don't hit too hard. Once they are off the first time it is easier to get em off after.