What's under your seats? (and noise from seat?)

[scam75]

Afternoon All

Whilst trying to find my rattle that seemed to be inside the sill or chassis leg I removed the passenger seat and carpet to get to the inspection holes in the inner sill and have a good look/poke about. On removing my seat I found a squash ball, a crayon, an eye brow pencil, a battery cover for a remote control, a rusty allen key and some smashed glass! What a bizarre collection of objects! What bizarre oddments have you found under your seats?

I also uncovered soaking piece of sound proofing under the carpet which I have since deposited into the bin (as it disintegrated on removal) and dried the floor pan, I think this is from a leaving the door not closed properly in heavy rain incident, but will keep an eye it does not return. Door seals and window scraper seem ok. The carpet and mat were bone dry but the soundproofing was drenched under the plastic top cover.

I also then noticed that my rattle noise was gone with no seat in which was a breakthrough and I thought must be an easy fix. Put the seat back in, noise back! Seat back out again and can find nothing much that could be the culprit. Shaking the seat about makes no noise at all! I did notice the runners were dry and clanky when moving and thought the noise may be the little ball bearings clanking about in the runners when I am accelerating/braking. I have greased them up and the noise is mostly away.

Where/how else could a seat make noise like this? The noise is like something rolling up and down the sill when accelerating/braking but is gone completely with the seat out? [&:]

Answers on a postcard

Stuart

 

[Lowtimer]

I don't suppose there might actually be something in the sill? Possibly something that has found its way in via the B pillar vent? Mind you, if taking the seat out makes it go away I guess not.

 

[DavidL]

I seem to recall finding 2 lighters, a pencil an old 10p piece and a couple of other bits of detritus.
Sorry can't help with your rattle though.

 

[RSGulp]

If your seat has any holes through the steel tubes like this...

...sometimes a small piece of metal can end up inside the tube during manufacture and it if it comes loose will roll back and forth as you accelerate and brake. I'm not sure why it wouldn't make a noise when you shake the seat around. Maybe you could take the removed seat and lean it forward and backwards to recreate the accelerate/brake effect (but I'm guessing you did that?).

 

[scam75]

Yes, I can't think of anything other than the little ball bearings in the runners that could cause this phenomenen!

I will change the seat runners up at Al's at some point and see if that cures it, meanwhile I hope the offending bb runs into a blob of grease and shuts up!

Stuart

 

[Mark Elder]

I don't want to point out something that will really make you kick yourself if it turns out to be the cause.....but....as I did exactly this very stupid[8|] thing a few years ago I can be the one to suggest it to you...

Really annoying rattle from passenger side in my 993. Just like you I removed seat as part of the quest to find it, no noise, put it back, noise returned, took it out, shook it etc.... One day I realized it did not happen if GF in passenger seat. So it must be under the base and prevented by her sitting on it. Took it out, put it in again.... When I found it... none of these. Was lose seat belt buckle knocking on the plastic rear of the seat!![][]

Found a coin with Hebrew writing on it under the seat (!)

 

[scam75]

ORIGINAL: RSGulp

If your seat has any holes through the steel tubes like this...

...sometimes a small piece of metal can end up inside the tube during manufacture and it if it comes loose will roll back and forth as you accelerate and brake. I'm not sure why it wouldn't make a noise when you shake the seat around. Maybe you could take the removed seat and lean it forward and backwards to recreate the accelerate/brake effect (but I'm guessing you did that?).

Yip, done that! Rocked the seat when out and shook it as hard as I could! No noise [&:]

Also makes noise with wife installed in passenger seat! []

Stuart

 

[scam75]

Well it was definitely the little ball bearings in the seat runners on the passenger side. They had dried out completely and were running about. Greased up and been quiet now for about a week.

Not a coincidence! []

Stuart (searching for more noises to eliminate)