Interior Creaks and Rattles - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jdh122 · #1 03-16-2010, 10:21 PM

The interior of my '83 300D makes only one annoying noise on a constant basis, and that is a bit of a quiet rattle in the center stack. I'm not sure anyone else even notices it, but I know exactly where it is coming from: the wood trim piece that covers the CCU rattles a little over any sort of even mildly rough road. If I push on the wood piece or remove it entirely, then the noise goes away. I tried to fix it by attaching some thin rubber pieces to the backside of the wood trim, but that didn't work.

When I go over larger bumps such as railroad tracks, I hear a loose jumbly noise from the various door panels. It almost sounds as though the rear ashtrays are moving around a bit in their frames, but I don't think that's it. Perhaps something inside the doors is loose, or maybe that's just how a 27 year-old car sounds when it gets bumped around a bit?

On the whole though the interior sounds almost as solid as the car feels, which is saying a lot. I'm curious though - do others have any problem with interior trim rattles or other noises?

UriahT · #2 03-16-2010, 11:16 PM

Well, the car is almost 28 years old at this point, with a big diesel engine shaking parts loose over its entire lifespan. Mine rattles all over the place... its just a matter of slowly pinpointing the rattle/squeak one by one and fixing them.

My old sedan didn't rattle at all. So some do, some don't, but I'm not surprised by it really. Door rattles can be easy to fix, as opposed to dash rattles- pull the door panel (3-5min) and wiggle things around until something makes noise. Window regulator bolts get loose, as can the lock mechanisms.

Biodiesel300TD · #3 03-16-2010, 11:54 PM

Pretty normal to have a few squeaks, rattle, and other little noises in an old car. Like UriahT said you just have to dig around a little and slowly whittle them down. For rattly door stuff you can take the panel off and have someone else drive while you listen and hold different bit and bobs to see what is rattling. Probably a loose nut or bolt. For the ACC wood you would try wrapping a little tape over the nubs that hold the wood into the plastic to make it hold tighter.

My 240 has some squeaks that are the vinyl on the door jams rubbing on the doors. Kind of annoying, but nothing a little silicone spray can't fix.

mike-81-240d · #4 03-17-2010, 01:49 AM

If I roll my drivers window(crank) down any farther than 1.5in It rattles like a sob,
also If i'm driving around the plastic trim on my seat makes contact with my center console and creeks really bad.
To bad I haven't even tried fixing either of these.

vstech · #5 03-17-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdh122

The interior of my '83 300D makes only one annoying noise on a constant basis, and that is a bit of a quiet rattle in the center stack. I'm not sure anyone else even notices it, but I know exactly where it is coming from: the wood trim piece that covers the CCU rattles a little over any sort of even mildly rough road. If I push on the wood piece or remove it entirely, then the noise goes away. I tried to fix it by attaching some thin rubber pieces to the backside of the wood trim, but that didn't work.

When I go over larger bumps such as railroad tracks, I hear a loose jumbly noise from the various door panels. It almost sounds as though the rear ashtrays are moving around a bit in their frames, but I don't think that's it. Perhaps something inside the doors is loose, or maybe that's just how a 27 year-old car sounds when it gets bumped around a bit?

On the whole though the interior sounds almost as solid as the car feels, which is saying a lot. I'm curious though - do others have any problem with interior trim rattles or other noises?

there is a DIY on here somewhere about repairing the wood trim, pretty involved, but the aluminum the wood is mounted to loosens over time. the wood needs to be reattached and the cracks need to be fixed in the urethane. to undo the rattles.
how do your windows operate? smooth and quick, or slow and clunky or somewhere inbetween? I'd pull all the door panels, and check out the regulator mounts, and the slide points, and fix any issues found there, also the act of removing and re attaching the trim will tighten up all the loose screws. that ought to eliminate any rattles there.

JayK · #6 03-17-2010, 10:23 AM

I have a 1995 and even at 15 years, it is annoyingly squeaky inside. So is silicon the general fix for vinyl creaks? Is it safe in the long run?

rrgrassi · #7 03-17-2010, 11:03 AM

The sunroof in my car rattles pretty bad, especially in winter.

mhin1956 · #8 03-17-2010, 05:12 PM

May sound stupid, but traced squeak to wood trim on door panels on 300sdl. Mainly when cold. Took off panels, removed trim and ran a small bead of hot glue on the back edge of the wood/metal trim then re-assembled. No longer squeaks! - Hmmmm wonder what I can do w/ duct tape!

vstech · #9 03-17-2010, 09:37 PM

there is no limit to what you can do with duct tape.
which hot glue did you use, the clear or the yellow special hot glue?