mx5cartalk.com

Greetings to all -

2006 NC Auto - ragtop

I have a rattle in the middle of the panel behind the seats.

Somewhere close to the small glovebox, quite loose sounding and stopped easily by putting arm pressure against the lid of the box though it is not in the box or lid but behind the panel itself.

Cannot see how to open the panel which seems to extend right across the car in one piece.

Does anyone know how to get behind the panel for a look, or suspect what the rattle might be?

Any help appreciated - damned rattle is driving us crazy

Safe driving
Nils
Tasmania

Couple of the Mazda Technical Service Bulletins from 27/6/06 onwards sound like they might help: http://www.miata.net:80/garage/tsb/

Have a look at the last post on the first page of this thread http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=25564&hilit=rattle+nc

This link has instructions on how to get the back panel off. I didn't remove or loosen the centre console.
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=219601&highlight=centre+console

Thanks to the various posts about fixing the rattle behind the seat panel I finally got stuck in yesterday. For the benefit of others - You have to remove the hoop covers, by pulling them forward towards the front of the car, not up. The windblocker also has to come off. this pulls up but requires a fairly hefty pull. You can then with a bit of GBH pull the panel foward enough to get in behind it. I couldn't find any cause of the rattle but the white fircone fasteners are certainly loose in the panel so following instructions from others I removed the centre one and lubed the others and the pad where the glove box catch touches the steel. Test drive - no rattle so maybe a successful effort - time will tell.

A tip - if you need to lube plastic or anything else for that matter far better than silicone is a product by Lanotec, an Aus company. They make Lanolin based lubricants. The one I use is Lanospray, it prevents rust and is an effective lube, safe on virtually all surfaces found in cars.

Thanks again for the help and safe driving.