B55

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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, 401 views)

mtiede

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Congratulations!

etyu

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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.

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Eddy

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Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
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Ynot

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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.

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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.

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--------SLK 55 ///AMG---------
THE MON55TER ON THE BLOCK

DansSlk

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Nice one mate

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V8SLK

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

DesignoSLK

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

Nice catch B55!!

Excellent close-ups eddy! as well.

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Kevin
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MJawa 55

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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.

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M. Jawa
2006 SLK55 AMG

alroumi

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

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Ak1rA

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Thank you B55!

I fixed my SLK this afternoon!

Baron7700

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way to go B55.

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

watsons

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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

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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

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

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watsons

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Thanks, Zeiser50!