As some of you know I have been tracking down this interior creeking/tick noise for sometime now. I narrowed the noise down to originating under the headliner in the front where it meets the windshield.
The problem seems to be that two pieces of metal are touching causing this really annoying noise that a lot of us seem to have. The noise can come and go due to ambient temperature and the quality of the road surface that the car is being driven on. A few months ago I was able to physically bend a tab where the offending metal parts meet and this worked for some time but after about a month, the noise was back.
Knowing where the problem is, my best sollution was to take some acoustical bonding foam and fill up the areas where there is the metal on metal contact. After I re-assembled everything and took the car for a drive, I am happy to report SUCCESS!! The annoying creeking/tick sound is now history!!!
I will try to post some pictures so that it will better explain the process but hopefully Inifinti will post some kind of TSB to address this bothersome issue.
Thanks!!
BrianBT Tech
Tick/Creeking noise finally fixed!!
Re: Tick/Creeking noise finally fixed!! (bttek)
I have been noticed the same noise, and been trying to nail where is the sound comming from. Can you upload some picture about the fix? or steps.. the noise is driving me crazy now!!
Have you tried to take the car back to dealer?? Any feedback from the dealer?
Have you tried to take the car back to dealer?? Any feedback from the dealer?
-
dividedhighw
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:55 am
- Car: 2008 EX35 AWD (Technology Pkg)
- Location: Ottawa, ON, CA
- Contact:
Re: Tick/Creeking noise finally fixed!! (il911tw)
For a full history of bttek's issue, have a look at this thread: zerothread?id=352439 (your question is answered about halfway down the page)il911tw wrote:Have you tried to take the car back to dealer?? Any feedback from the dealer?
Cheers,David
Re: Tick/Creeking noise finally fixed!! (dividedhighw)
I really should have taken some pictures but at the time, all I could think about was solving this annoying issue.
Here are the steps that I took to cure this creaking/ticiking noise once and for all.
First, go to favorite home improvement store and pick up a can of expanding foam. The one that I purchased was from Walmart and is called "Touch'N Foam in a green can. It comes with a an attachment so that you can place the foam in hard to reach places.
I had the noise from the passenger side but since there is an exact seam on the drivers side as well, I decided to go on the offensive on both sides!!
1: remove the "A" pillar cover from both the drivers side and passengers side. Make sure that your hands are CLEAN or better yet, try to get some latex gloves so that you do not put any dirty marks on the fabric. There are 3 clips that hold each cover on so simply hold it in the center and pull it straight out. Not upwards or at an angle.
2: Remove both sun visors. There is a small cover under one and this can simply be taken off with a small flat head screwdriver. Under the cover there are 2 phillip screws that need to be removed. Take the screws out and the visor will drop down in your hand. dissconect the electrical connector and let it hang down. The clip that the visor attaches to needs to be removed as well. take a large flat head screwdriver and turn it 90-180 degrees in either direction. You will feel it "unhook" and you can simply remove it. Do this for both sides, drivers and passengers.
3: At this point both "A" pillar covers should be removed along with the sun visors. On the passenger side where the visor was, this is a tan rectangular plate that has to be removed. There are 2 clips towards the front that need to be detached. take your fingers and put them in the middle of this cover towards the front and with moderate pressure pull on it so that this piec comes out. You will see an electrical connector attached to the plate which you can leave in place. Once you remove this plate you should see a metal foiled cover with some adhesive holding it on. Remove this so you can gain access to where the foam will be sprayed.
4: VERY important step!!! MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WELL COVERED IN THE CAR INCLUDING THE DASH, CARPETING, SEATS... IN OTHER WORDS ANYTHING THAT CAN COMIN IN CONTACT WITH THE FOAM. Please don't ask me how I know this!!
5: Make sure that your can of foam has been shaken well and that you attach the extension nozzle that came with the can. What we want to do is to use the access hole where we pealed off the metalic film. Aim the exension towards the front of the vehicle so that the fluid will get in between the metal layers. Don't be afraid to spray too much but prepare for some to start to come out where the visors are attached. Take a small paper towel and wipe away and residual foam that comes out. Be sure to minimize any of it getting on the headliner if possible. After a few minutes the foam will begin to harden and you should not have to wipe any more of it off.
6: Do the same procedure for the drviers side and taking the same precautions. Since the A-Pillar trim was removed, I took it upon myself to spray the foam in these locations as well. I inserted the extension in the top most hole where the clip from the trim piece would be inserted. Spray liberally in there and again you will start to see the foam come out of the other holes where the clips attach to. With a paper towel, wipe off the excess and again after a few minutes, less and less will come out and you will be ready to put everything back together.
**REMEMBER that you DO NOT want any of the foam to get on any interior parts as it will easily stain and be a PITA to remove so PLEASE make sure that everything is covered the best way that you can before you start this project.
Okay, now the reasoning for this. After hours and hours of hunting down this really annoying noise, I found out that it was coming from metal on metal contact under the headliner and where the front windshield meets the frame. A few months ago I was able to reduce the noise but bending up on a tab that puts tension on the metal in this part of the roof. This worked for a few weeks but the noise was back!!
As this metal to metal contact occurs, it propogates very efficiently throughout the front structure making it near impossible without placing specific microphones at different locations to find out where it is in fact orriginating. The origin point is right at the access panel above the visor and my theory is that once the foam is installed, it is in a fluid state and is able to get in between the various layers of metal and insulate them from one another. As the foam expands and fully cures, its insulation value improves and keeps the metal on metal contact from occurring at all.
After I fiinished installing the foam on both sides of the car and was satisfied that there was no more excess foam coming out anywhere, I drove the car around on the bumpiest roads I could find to just make sure that the foam would find itself into any spots while it was still in a "fluid" stage.
At any rate my car has been back together now for over a week and it has never been quieter!!! NO CREAKS, GROANS or tick noises whatsoever!!! The procedure above is just a guide and the way that I did it. There is no warranty whatsoever with this so please do this AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
I pass it on to the forum members as I know that there must be people out there as anal as I am about these bothersome noises!! Riding in my EX now is really a different experience because everytime I think I am going to hear that nasty creaking noise as I drive over broken pavement, I hear nothing but silence which is "music" to my ears!!
If anyone has any questions please let me know.
Thanks!
BrianBT Tech305.652.3115
Here are the steps that I took to cure this creaking/ticiking noise once and for all.
First, go to favorite home improvement store and pick up a can of expanding foam. The one that I purchased was from Walmart and is called "Touch'N Foam in a green can. It comes with a an attachment so that you can place the foam in hard to reach places.
I had the noise from the passenger side but since there is an exact seam on the drivers side as well, I decided to go on the offensive on both sides!!
1: remove the "A" pillar cover from both the drivers side and passengers side. Make sure that your hands are CLEAN or better yet, try to get some latex gloves so that you do not put any dirty marks on the fabric. There are 3 clips that hold each cover on so simply hold it in the center and pull it straight out. Not upwards or at an angle.
2: Remove both sun visors. There is a small cover under one and this can simply be taken off with a small flat head screwdriver. Under the cover there are 2 phillip screws that need to be removed. Take the screws out and the visor will drop down in your hand. dissconect the electrical connector and let it hang down. The clip that the visor attaches to needs to be removed as well. take a large flat head screwdriver and turn it 90-180 degrees in either direction. You will feel it "unhook" and you can simply remove it. Do this for both sides, drivers and passengers.
3: At this point both "A" pillar covers should be removed along with the sun visors. On the passenger side where the visor was, this is a tan rectangular plate that has to be removed. There are 2 clips towards the front that need to be detached. take your fingers and put them in the middle of this cover towards the front and with moderate pressure pull on it so that this piec comes out. You will see an electrical connector attached to the plate which you can leave in place. Once you remove this plate you should see a metal foiled cover with some adhesive holding it on. Remove this so you can gain access to where the foam will be sprayed.
4: VERY important step!!! MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WELL COVERED IN THE CAR INCLUDING THE DASH, CARPETING, SEATS... IN OTHER WORDS ANYTHING THAT CAN COMIN IN CONTACT WITH THE FOAM. Please don't ask me how I know this!!
5: Make sure that your can of foam has been shaken well and that you attach the extension nozzle that came with the can. What we want to do is to use the access hole where we pealed off the metalic film. Aim the exension towards the front of the vehicle so that the fluid will get in between the metal layers. Don't be afraid to spray too much but prepare for some to start to come out where the visors are attached. Take a small paper towel and wipe away and residual foam that comes out. Be sure to minimize any of it getting on the headliner if possible. After a few minutes the foam will begin to harden and you should not have to wipe any more of it off.
6: Do the same procedure for the drviers side and taking the same precautions. Since the A-Pillar trim was removed, I took it upon myself to spray the foam in these locations as well. I inserted the extension in the top most hole where the clip from the trim piece would be inserted. Spray liberally in there and again you will start to see the foam come out of the other holes where the clips attach to. With a paper towel, wipe off the excess and again after a few minutes, less and less will come out and you will be ready to put everything back together.
**REMEMBER that you DO NOT want any of the foam to get on any interior parts as it will easily stain and be a PITA to remove so PLEASE make sure that everything is covered the best way that you can before you start this project.
Okay, now the reasoning for this. After hours and hours of hunting down this really annoying noise, I found out that it was coming from metal on metal contact under the headliner and where the front windshield meets the frame. A few months ago I was able to reduce the noise but bending up on a tab that puts tension on the metal in this part of the roof. This worked for a few weeks but the noise was back!!
As this metal to metal contact occurs, it propogates very efficiently throughout the front structure making it near impossible without placing specific microphones at different locations to find out where it is in fact orriginating. The origin point is right at the access panel above the visor and my theory is that once the foam is installed, it is in a fluid state and is able to get in between the various layers of metal and insulate them from one another. As the foam expands and fully cures, its insulation value improves and keeps the metal on metal contact from occurring at all.
After I fiinished installing the foam on both sides of the car and was satisfied that there was no more excess foam coming out anywhere, I drove the car around on the bumpiest roads I could find to just make sure that the foam would find itself into any spots while it was still in a "fluid" stage.
At any rate my car has been back together now for over a week and it has never been quieter!!! NO CREAKS, GROANS or tick noises whatsoever!!! The procedure above is just a guide and the way that I did it. There is no warranty whatsoever with this so please do this AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
I pass it on to the forum members as I know that there must be people out there as anal as I am about these bothersome noises!! Riding in my EX now is really a different experience because everytime I think I am going to hear that nasty creaking noise as I drive over broken pavement, I hear nothing but silence which is "music" to my ears!!
If anyone has any questions please let me know.
Thanks!
BrianBT Tech305.652.3115