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Ironing out the rattles

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:53 pm
by Blaque
Looking for some pointers on curing some of the rattles on my 03 plate S2.

1. Doors rattle over any bump. Is it just a case of wrapping some gaffer tape around the lock pins? or is there a better solution, or is it a hinge thing?

2. Drivers door window (electric, yes it's Gay, I know :oops: ) rattles. When the window is up, you can lift the glass at the back of the door up and down. Do I take the door skin off and glue the glass to whatever it's sitting on?

3. Rattle from over left shoulder (behind pax seat) when pulling away from junctions/low revs. Undertray? Airbox (abox standard, but Hurricane on order).

4. and your starter for 10. What size are the bolts that can be seen through the front top grill that hold the radiator to the black mounting bars. 'cos mine are rusting, and I want to change them for SS ones.

Any and all help appreciated :thumbsup

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:57 pm
by Rich H
Always beware of SS nuts and bolts. Although they don't corrode they will speed up corrosion in the surrounding metals. You need duralac or similar. If I was you and could be bothered just clean what's there and hammerite them.

As for rattles, get a sports box to go with the huzza and rattles will magicaly dissapear!

Re: Ironing out the rattles

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:01 pm
by Shug
Blaque wrote:Looking for some pointers on curing some of the rattles on my 03 plate S2.

1. Doors rattle over any bump. Is it just a case of wrapping some gaffer tape around the lock pins? or is there a better solution, or is it a hinge thing?

Forgive patchy S2 knowledge, but was there not a recall about striker pins that are too small?

2. Drivers door window (electric, yes it's Gay, I know :oops: ) rattles. When the window is up, you can lift the glass at the back of the door up and down. Do I take the door skin off and glue the glass to whatever it's sitting on?

Cnut of a job, if you've gotta take the window out... Although you may not need to. Also check the rear runner - I believe the S2s have a screw that locates it at the top, which can loosen off. Also, the felt in the runner can come away, so the glass rattles off metal.

3. Rattle from over left shoulder (behind pax seat) when pulling away from junctions/low revs. Undertray? Airbox (abox standard, but Hurricane on order).

Depends if it's metallic. Metallic tizz could be undertray - dunno how the airbox could make it. More muffled rattles can be any material... get in there and try to move things to replicate it.

4. and your starter for 10. What size are the bolts that can be seen through the front top grill that hold the radiator to the black mounting bars. 'cos mine are rusting, and I want to change them for SS ones.

Pass. (although I agree with Rich)

Any and all help appreciated :thumbsup
HTH a bit :thumbsup

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:02 pm
by Blaque
Cheers Rich,

I have been looking at a Larini, but with a Hurricane on the way :wink: and a B service + cambelt. it may just have to wait until next month.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:07 pm
by Rich H
Rattles form the undertray caould be the handbrake cable. It is a really poor design where it is held on the wishbones, it had worn through the outercase on Simons and was rattling like a b'stard! Should be possbile to access it with the car on the deck, there is a little wire clip on the front part of the wishbone. Check it is tight, I fixed Simon's with a bit of hose and some cable ties.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:08 pm
by Blaque
Hammerite for No. 4 it is then.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:10 pm
by Rich H
Oh and the striker pins are undersize, a few turns of PVC tape or even better some thick heat shrink will sort.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:18 pm
by Blaque
I'll give the gaffer tape a go on the pins. I think I saw some larger replacement ones on flebay, but I've locked my paypal account out.

Shug,
I had the door panel off, but decided to wait until I had at least got some doublesided tape to put it all back together again. Will get the tape then have a better look at the weekend.

Together with going roung the trays with an alan key and socket set

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:22 pm
by Shug
Blaque wrote:I'll give the gaffer tape a go on the pins. I think I saw some larger replacement ones on flebay, but I've locked my paypal account out.

Shug,
I had the door panel off, but decided to wait until I had at least got some doublesided tape to put it all back together again. Will get the tape then have a better look at the weekend.

Together with going roung the trays with an alan key and socket set
Screw for the window runner is accessable from the top - wind the window down and look down from above the door. Should see the runner at the rear of the aperture, past the seals. S1's don't have this screw, but supposedly the S2 has one at the top of the runner, locating it.

Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:42 pm
by Blaque
Cheers Shug,

I'll have a look after work!

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:43 pm
by MacK
Blaque wrote:I'll give the gaffer tape a go on the pins. I think I saw some larger replacement ones on flebay, but I've locked my paypal account out.
For reference here is an eBay link to striker pins. I think Zippy has them fitted after trying tape a few times and he recommends changing them to these ones.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOTUS-ANTI-RATTLE ... dZViewItem

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:21 pm
by Blaque
Cheers MacK,

Now on order :thumbsup

Re: Ironing out the rattles

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 6:47 pm
by dezzy
Blaque wrote: 3. Rattle from over left shoulder (behind pax seat) when pulling away from junctions/low revs. Undertray? Airbox (abox standard, but Hurricane on order).
Is it a really metallic rattle or more of a low frequency rumble? I had a really bad metallic rattle from similar place, except offside of car. Tried handbrake, etc., but turned out to be slightly loose undertray and the suspension needed tightened or something (sorry . . . I ain't very technical!).

I still have a quieter, lower frequency rumble but I was told there's nothing they can do about that. Something to do with wheels/suspension/brakes? Can't really remember! Doesn't bother me anymore as it's not that loud and I only hear it at low speed / low revs.

Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 7:01 pm
by Blaque
Dezzy,

On looking back, it only started just after the last service, so most likely it's the undertray thats slackened off. Hurricane arrived today, so will have a look while i've got it jacked up at the weekend.

Cheers for the suggestions

Re: Ironing out the rattles

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:26 am
by The_Rossatron
Blaque wrote: 1. Doors rattle over any bump. Is it just a case of wrapping some gaffer tape around the lock pins? or is there a better solution, or is it a hinge thing?
:thumbsup
The best solution for this I found was oversized stainless striker pins that I got from ebay - they were £22 and now the door lines up perfectly, doesn't rattle and closes with a satisfying clunk. Expensive but easily better than having squint doors and retaping your old pins every 10 closes. if your interested I'll find the guy who sold them to me, think he's a VX guy.