L S 430 Rattle From The Rear

[Loathecliff]

Hi guys. This is a light rattle brought on by coarse asphalt.

Putting the rear blind up or down on the move makes no difference.

Thumping my fist in the boot doesn't bring it on.

It doesn't feel like its coming from underneath.

Any ideas?

[The-Acre]

Hi guys. This is a light rattle brought on by coarse asphalt.

Putting the rear blind up or down on the move makes no difference.

Thumping my fist in the boot doesn't bring it on.

It doesn't feel like its coming from underneath.

Any ideas?

Have you checked the exhaust heat shields? It's quite common on the LS400 anyway. They corrode around the fixing bolts causing a rattle.

[steve2006]

Agreed,Usually find them sat in top of the back boxes, refit with a big washer under the fixing bolt :)

[Loathecliff]

Thxs guys. I wish it was the exhaust shields but they are sound & it's not that 'tinny' a rattle.

I'm sure it's around the back seat/boot area.

How do I get the rear blind mountings? - I hope it's easier than that U.S. idea of 'high-fidelity' that is in the middle of the back shelf :(

[The-Acre]

It just couldn't be that simple could it!

The problem being is there's just so much packed in at the rear it's hard to know where to start. Is it a recent thing or did you buy it like it? I think I would try every single adjustment on the seats to see if different positions eliminate it. The felt type covers in the boot come away fairly easily but I don't know how you get to the rear blind. I assume you've tried it with the blind up and down, and had someone sit in the back to listen?

I've got a Vauxhall estate that I use for work, and I very nearly bought a new exhaust due to a rattle from the far rear, turned out to be radiator mountings right at the front!

I hope you get it sorted, it would drive me nuts.

[steve2006]

It could be the torch in the toolkit, you need to remove it and send it to me :)

[Loathecliff]

Toolkit?! - Oh what I'd give to have just the box!

I know where it's supposed to live & I have a picnic bag jammed in the empty space, in case it generates a certain rattle.

The rattle was there on purchase. Only heard at low speeds on country roads, otherwise the car is quite superb, feeling very tight & encouraging me to start chucking it around when in the right mood. Many new suspension bits in addition to those bright red coils.

Sorry, off-topic, I got carried away with being in love :)

Not enough time to rip the back end apart right now as we are taking it to Spain this weekend, which brings up another topic. I have four more in my head, so far :(

[Loathecliff]

I found the rattle!

Yesterday I had a hunch it was from the top of the strut.

Released the backrest; pulled up the back shelf; removed the cap, and the top nut wasn't fully tightened allowing a thick washer to move.

We now have bliss :)