How to reduce rattles from doors in only minutes... for free

[djltoronto]

After installing upgraded speakers and a 4 channel amplifier (no subwoofers), I have been plagued with door rattles and unwanted resonance. I have not added any dynomat (or the like) yet and was hoping to able to free myself of the vibration woes without purchasing the costly sound deadening material.

So after looking all over the place for the cause of the vibrations, I have pinpointed the most substantial source.

Each of our doors has 3 water drain ports that have rubber covers!
As unlikely as it seems, these little rubber covers were causing all types of noise. So I simply removed them. I don't see any negative effects from removing them as they are a pretty poor excuse for a 1 way valve.

Of course, this will not solve all of the rattles, but it certainly helped me out a lot and I thought I would share my experience..

If this doesn't work for you, you can easily just put the rubber flaps back in position!!!

 

[tsunami]

no s***... i have a nasty rattle from my pssnger side... i wonder if this will take care of it...?? (one can hope..) will post if it worked or not...

 

[tsunami]

meant to post about this a while ago... was at the drive in a few weeks back and heard the rattle from my passenger side yet again... i just went over with the door open and pulled on those lil flaps (re-seated them i would think) and the rattle went away for about 1.5 weeks or so and has showed up again... so next time i think about it i will prob just remove these lil bastards... can't see a point to em, cause like you said pretty lame excuse for a one way valve...

 

[DJ_Seija_Tenshi]

i notice a rattle in my M3 too. eh, i wonder if its in most mazda3's.

Strangely i never notice those things. I'll have to check it out.

I still have stock speakers, but still, its quite rediculous that there are rattles.

I always thought it was in the engine, or doors, if not even the sunroof. the rattles and noise are very very annoying.

i'll try this out. thanks.

 

[ZippityZoomZoom]

See also: Mazda Technical Service Bulletin 09-009/05

There is a plastic nut/washer that should be replaced deep inside the door panel interior.

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

I think my glovebox rattles a bit. I havent heard any rattles from the door though...

 

[cbc]

@wetsuitninja

Thanks for this tip, as I'm starting to "hear things" coming from the doors that I hadn't noticed before. Will give this a try.
Also starting to hear door rattles from this lamea$$ed bass-heavy oem HU. Even at -4 setting on the bass & reasonably low gain levels they still sound like they are overloading & making the doors resonate badly. @#$% cheap a$$ oem audio!!
There..I feel better now.

 

[cbc]

oops..sorry , meant props to djltoronto for the drain hole cover tip

 

[djltoronto]

oops..sorry , meant props to djltoronto for the drain hole cover tip

No prob....
I try to help (thumb)

 

[Amemiya]

I have one. I think it's the window. When we press the window down it stops. I'll try that.

 

[GeeWhizBang]

It makes sense that these rattle, but i think the only good answer to prevernting rattles is not to let the back radiation of the speakers into the doors.

The other thing that might help would be to just drill a 3/4 inch vent into the interior doors, at least a foot away from the driver. There has to be some cheap grille available somewhere that could be inserted into the hole; a little polyester batting on the inside of the hole would damp it slightly. Basically, if you reduce the back pressure a bit, there would be less air flowing in and out of these vents to make them rattle, and they are in the doors for a good reason.

I have never had a car with WORSE door buzz, especially since the Mazda is so quiet otherwise, so you can really hear them.

 

[GeeWhizBang]

The Cobalts are nice cars for the money. They are just not as nice as the Mazda 3.

 

[SNike05]

How can a very thin flap of rubber be making rattling noises? If anything removing them should make the noises because you are inserting a gap.

 

[djltoronto]

How can a very thin flap of rubber be making rattling noises? If anything removing them should make the noises because you are inserting a gap.

Did you remove them and find the you actually induced more unwanted noise?
I suppose individual results may vary, but this worked for me, on all 4 doors.

 

[mazdameister]

there is a very annoying high pitched whine/hum coming from the center console area of my 06 3i (less than two months old) at 80/85mph on the freeway. i enjoy driving the 3 but this whine/hum is driving me crazy. Don't drive over 80 is the only fix suggested by our local mazda service center. i hate to sell my mazda because of this stupid whine.

 

[C-Bass]

Don't drive over 80 is the only fix suggested by our local mazda service center.

Yup! There's the Mazda service I know and love!

 

[WetsuitxNinja]

I found that my doors were creaking a bit, took them apart many times tightening stuff down to get it to stop, then it hit me, the door latch itself. Threw some grease in there, and bam no more squeeks outta the doors.

 

[MM3Canuck]

My drivers door rattles too along with the bass. When I push against the door it stops. I dont really want to take the door apart, as it seems that after u had it apart once, things get loose and rattle even more (from experience)