B55

Posts: 114

Country:

 

Thanks: 0

Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts

As many of you, I have experienced a rattle in the trunk area of my SLK. This rattling only occurs when the top is up and on uneven roads at slower speeds (5-45 mph). It sounds like the trunk top is loose. This rattle only eminated from the driver's side of the trunk area. The passenger side made no sound.

This rattle is not the same thing as the typical creaking you hear from the top's rubber seals when it is closed. It is an incredibly annoying rattling sound that was destroying my enjoyment of the car.

I took my SLK to the dealer to have this fixed. They claimed they fixed the noise. But, of course, they didn't. All they did was spray some silicone on the trunk's rubber seals. This did not fix the problem. I was very frustrated. I even considered selling the car because the noise was so bothersome to me. So, on my day off, I decided that I was going to figure out the problem once and for all. I began inspecting all of the moving parts in the trunk and on the top mechanism. Everything was tight and sealing perfectly. I checked the spare tire area and all of the bolts and connectors on the trunk lining. All perfect. I removed all of the tools, first aid kit, etc. a long time ago so it wasn't that. I checked all of the moving parts on the trunk partition but it was opening and closing perfectly without any abnormalities. This took me about an hour. I was stumped.

Just as I was about to give up I noticed something. The trunk rests on two pins at the inside upper right and left hand corners. These pins are long srews with flat round rubber heads (see pic below). They are secured in place by nuts on the top and bottom of the steel plate that they are secured to. I noticed that the pin on the driver's side was significantly (about 3 inches!) higher than the passenger side pin. This caused the trunk top to close unevenly creating a much larger gap where the trunk seals when closed. I closed the trunk and pressed down on it hard a few times. I found that the gap on the driver's side had some play in it while the gap on the passenger side did not. I concluded that the rattling was being caused by these pins being uneven. I was right!

I opened the top half way so that the nuts securing the pin were fully exposed. I used two sets of needle nosed pliers and loosened the nuts. I then lowered the driver's side pin so that it was exactly even with the passenger side pin. I lowered the driver's side pin because the passenger side wasn't making any noise. Once I tightened up the nuts again and closed the trunk, I found that there was no longer any disparity between the driver's side gap and the passenger side gap. Also, the play in the driver's side gap was gone.

I got in the car for a test drive and nervously pulled out of my driveway. The trunk would normally start to rattle as soon as I pulled onto the street. But this time, it was completely silent! My fix had worked perfectly. This feels like a new car. All of the rattling is gone.

See the pic below for where the pin is at. I hope that this solution works for those who are experiencing similar rattling from the trunk area.

Take care.

Attached Images

Pin (Medium).JPG (51.1 KB, 503 views)

mtiede

 

Posts: 1,760

Thanks: 142

Thanked 64 Times in 54 Posts

Congratulations!

etyu

 

Posts: 6,486

Country:

 

Thanks: 626

Thanked 499 Times in 327 Posts

Bravo B55! Thanks for the excellent tip. I don't have any rattles/squeaks but I had to check. I measured the height using a small metal ruler (found in hardware stores) with mm scale.

The left side (driver side for US models) on mine was 21mm high and the right side was 19mm high. I also noted the paint work where the rubber meets the underside of the trunk/boot lid had more rubber mark on the left side -- i.e., tighter, so I lowered the left side by 1mm to 20mm. The rubber marks are easily removed with liquid carnuba wax.





To adjust the height, use an open end 10mm short-length wrench to loosen the top bolt by 1/2 to 3/4 turn, the screw-on rubber pad can now be adjusted by hand using clockwise or counterclockwise movement. Measure the final height (base of metal to top of the rubber pad) and tighten the upper bolt. Double check to make sure the screw-on rubber pad is tight.



Thank you B55 for your post.

I test drove after the above adjustment around the neighbohood with roof up -- no rattles or squeaks to report.

__________________
Eddy

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, (
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant., Clear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

Ynot

 

Posts: 2,928

Country:

Thanks: 178

Thanked 50 Times in 45 Posts

Thanks B55, I don't drive it with top up much but the few times I did drive with roof up, I've heard rattles, I will check it out when I do drive it, whenever that is.

__________________
06' SLK 350, Iridium/Ash all pkgs. 6-spd, 19" DCR.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

-1-

 

Posts: 2,695

Country:

 

Thanks: 106

Thanked 111 Times in 81 Posts

Good job! Our SLK is rock solid. I'm really impressed with how quiet it is with the top up. I previously had a rattle on the right side. Turned out to be the seat belt. Easy fix.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

----------------1-----------------
--------SLK 55 ///AMG---------
ALL SUNNY DAYS, ARE GOOD DAYS

DansSlk

Posts: 7,796

Country:

Thanks: 246

Thanked 460 Times in 337 Posts

Nice one mate

__________________

V8SLK

 

Posts: 1,182

Country:

Thanks: 90

Thanked 84 Times in 45 Posts

i'm sorry b55, i'm afraid the noise is still there... you're going to have to sell your car... to me

__________________


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Scott

DesignoSLK

 

Posts: 1,995

Country:

 

Thanks: 263

Thanked 103 Times in 53 Posts

Dang Scott...you must drive your wife mad! BRAVO!!

Nice catch B55!!

Excellent close-ups eddy! as well.

__________________
Kevin
An American in Germany...
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

'00 SLK230 Designo copper, '06 Saturn Vue, Cessna 172 (pilot)

MJawa 55

Posts: 157

Country:

Thanks: 30

Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts

Thank you B55 for the info. the sound has been driving me crazy eversince last winter and ive taken my car a million times to mb in the uk and france and they couldnt solve it.

alroumi

Posts: 6,859

Country:

Thanks: 430

Thanked 336 Times in 212 Posts

B55 thanks for this thread, hopefully it will be useful to future potential SLK owners and current forum members.

__________________
06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG
06 Porsche Cayenne S
07 Jaguar XKR Coupe'

I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

Ak1rA

Posts: 33

Country:

Thanks: 0

Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Thank you B55!

I fixed my SLK this afternoon!

Baron7700

Posts: 1,598

Country:

Thanks: 3

Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

way to go B55.

If it was still here, you would get rep points.

watsons

Posts: 684

Country:

Thanks: 74

Thanked 31 Times in 10 Posts

Yesterday, I noticed that there were some "tik tik" sound when I went over some uneven road with top up. The sound came from the left side of the trunk area (which is the passenger side in my city). Not sure whether it is the sound that some of you mentioned, but it's a bit annoying!

I am flying off to Malaysia now, and will check it out when I return to Hong Kong on Thursday!

watsons

Posts: 684

Country:

Thanks: 74

Thanked 31 Times in 10 Posts

I wonder whether there's any standard on the height of the rubber pin. When I checked mine yesterday evening, the left side was 17mm whereas the right side is 15mm. So, I tried to lower the left side to 15mm, but I can still hear the "tik tik" sound when the car go over the uneven road, although it seems not as frequent as before...

I decide to take the car back to the dealer for service next month when I am on a business trip...

Zeiser50

Posts: 581

Country:

Thanks: 12

Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts

For info, i have 20 mm on the left and 21 mm on, the right.

watsons

Posts: 684

Country:

Thanks: 74

Thanked 31 Times in 10 Posts

Thanks, Zeiser50!

pnato21

Posts: 23

Country:

Thanks: 3

Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

thanks a lot, I have the same problem, hopefully this solution works on my car

pnato21

Posts: 23

Country:

Thanks: 3

Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

does anyone know if there is aux output in the 2006 slk 280 a20 radio I believe, I do not need my cd changer

UK-C200

 

Posts: 2,471

Country:

 

Thanks: 196

Thanked 467 Times in 308 Posts

Hey pnato21 - probably better to start a new thread for questions like this rather than go "off topic" on an existing thread - and only after searching the forums!

Long answer short, no, the A20 head does not support a wired aux input. Search the forums for other possible solutions.

dmjonez

 

Posts: 1,704

Country:

 

Thanks: 356

Thanked 375 Times in 196 Posts

Especially in a thread that's two years old!