The irritation of the unsolvable rattles, creaks and clicks

gtman

Senior Member
First Name
Mitch
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Threads
328
Messages
16,671
Reaction score
24,356
Location
USA
Website
www.civicx.com
Vehicle(s)
2017 Cosmic Blue EX-L Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
2
For the past few months I've been dealing with some absolutely annoying rattles, clicks and creaking sounds emanating from my passenger side headliner area. I thought I had the problem solved after a few attempts by stuffing a ton of foam up there. But the sound always comes back. I even tried spraying the area with some dry Teflon lubricant and that made no difference.

Here's the thing though, it only happens on the way to work when the car has been sitting overnight. And it's really bad. Even the slightest road imperfection causes the whole headliner area to sound like it's ready to fall apart. It's horrible and makes my car feel cheap. Even the stereo barely drowns it out.

Yet coming home from work when things are a bit warmer out, the same symphony of noise I get early in the day is barely noticeable. I know it's some sort of plastic on plastic creaking but I have no idea how to fix it. Anybody else with this issue?
Sponsored

 

DoubleDown

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2017
Threads
3
Messages
134
Reaction score
149
Location
Los Angeles
Vehicle(s)
2017 Civic Sport Hatch 6MT
Country flag
My car is an absolute rattle box. I wonder if the 2020 models suffer from the same issues.
 

turbo lover

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2016
Threads
17
Messages
645
Reaction score
348
Location
Canada
Vehicle(s)
Civic Hatchback Sport Touring
Country flag
Is it near your windshield or sunroof? Could water be getting in there while it's warmer out, then freezing overnight?
 
Last edited:

justasimpleman

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 7, 2019
Threads
45
Messages
1,396
Reaction score
1,566
Location
socal
Vehicle(s)
‘20 PWP FC1 Si
Country flag
Small speaker on the driver side rear door rattles like crazy when I’m driving. Pain in the ass. Being that the car is brand new, it’s annoying. Might mention it to the dealership when I go in for my first oil change. Unless someone can suggest something I can do myself?
 

JohnnyL

Senior Member
First Name
John
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Threads
11
Messages
231
Reaction score
64
Location
03766
Vehicle(s)
2019 Civic Coupe EX
Country flag
Is it near your windshield or sunroof? Could water be getting while it's warmer out, then freezing overnight?
Good chance you are right on this. A couple months ago my car sounded like a dump truck. Tons of rattles coming mostly from the right side but changing location. Thought it might have been the rear shock. One day it warmed up enough and I was washing it. Got to the lower part of the rocker panel and I could feel ice sticking out of some holes. It apparently was sliding up and down the plastic when it thawed out enough and made a ton of noise. Needless to say snow and ice had been filing up inside the plastic panel for months over the winter. Warmer now and no noise.
 


Sonic20ST

Member
First Name
Chris
Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
22
Reaction score
18
Location
Tustin, CA
Vehicle(s)
2020 Civic Sport Touring
Country flag
2020 rattles a bit at above 70 mph...I have not figured out where the rattle is coming from as of yet...I know it is on the passenger side of the car.
 

BoxsterSteve

still plays with cars...
First Name
Steve
Joined
Aug 7, 2018
Threads
5
Messages
591
Reaction score
415
Location
Baden, ON
Vehicle(s)
2000 Porsche Boxster S, 2018 Civic Touring sedan
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
Here's the thing though, it only happens on the way to work when the car has been sitting overnight.
The only time that my Civic ever has a headliner rattle too, except in mine the buzzing is at the left rear corner of the sunroof opening.
Goes away after a couple of miles.
I can barely hear it with XM playing, only really noticeable if I have the radio off, which is hardly ever.
 

Blue20Sport

Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Threads
1
Messages
18
Reaction score
14
Location
East Texas
Vehicle(s)
20 Civic Sport
Country flag
2020 rattles a bit at above 70 mph...I have not figured out where the rattle is coming from as of yet...I know it is on the passenger side of the car.
My ‘20 does that too. I am going to foam the cable guides. I think they are rattling.
 

20ABM06MT

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
50
Reaction score
37
Location
Ohio
Vehicle(s)
Si
Country flag
2020.. no rattles yet - 900 miles in and fingers crossed!!!
I do get vibration rattles from the sub woofer- currently mostly fixed with a piece of foam and planning to have the dealer install a more perm fix at first service or after covid-
 

Zeffy94

Senior Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Threads
77
Messages
1,850
Reaction score
1,486
Location
Doylestown, PA
Vehicle(s)
2017 Mazda3 GT Hatch 6AT, 2018 Honda Civic Type R (traded in)
Vehicle Showcase
1
Country flag
There is a VERY persistent rattle coming from the passenger side. It's gotten worse. Driving with the radio on a low volume makes it so audible that I instantly zone in on it. It's a bit disappointing.
 


OP
OP
gtman

gtman

Senior Member
First Name
Mitch
Joined
Oct 27, 2015
Threads
328
Messages
16,671
Reaction score
24,356
Location
USA
Website
www.civicx.com
Vehicle(s)
2017 Cosmic Blue EX-L Sedan
Vehicle Showcase
2
There is a VERY persistent rattle coming from the passenger side. It's gotten worse. Driving with the radio on a low volume makes it so audible that I instantly zone in on it. It's a bit disappointing.
Same issue here. It's to the point I only play music loud just to cover up the annoyance.
 

biosses

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Threads
80
Messages
389
Reaction score
83
Location
Japan
Vehicle(s)
Civic
Country flag
For the past few months I've been dealing with some absolutely annoying rattles, clicks and creaking sounds emanating from my passenger side headliner area. I thought I had the problem solved after a few attempts by stuffing a ton of foam up there. But the sound always comes back. I even tried spraying the area with some dry Teflon lubricant and that made no difference.

Here's the thing though, it only happens on the way to work when the car has been sitting overnight. And it's really bad. Even the slightest road imperfection causes the whole headliner area to sound like it's ready to fall apart. It's horrible and makes my car feel cheap. Even the stereo barely drowns it out.

Yet coming home from work when things are a bit warmer out, the same symphony of noise I get early in the day is barely noticeable. I know it's some sort of plastic on plastic creaking but I have no idea how to fix it. Anybody else with this issue?

my 2017 hatch, i get rattle on the A pillar on the driver side, bottom near the windshield, i put stuff it with foam.
Sponsored

 


 


Top