'19 WRX: Stopped the rattle on the rear parcel shelf (mostly)

[GoFrogs]

As many of you find out, you don't need cold weather to get the rear parcel shelf/rear deck rattle. Mine came about with as little as 14k miles on the odo and 1 year into ownership. As the cold temps settle in, that rattle seems to get worse or come about sooner/more often.

Well, I was tired of it being audible even with the music on, and looked into the matter. As it turns out, it was more or less the plastic rear/third brake light housing/cover vibrating on the plastic rear parcel shelf.

Subaru does not put any barrier between the two pieces to keep them from touching. "Why not Subaru?" So, I took it upon myself to apply a barrier between the light cover and the shelf cover.

I took two small pieces of cardboard and wedged them under the light cover and it seems to have done the trick. No, not pretty, but functional (there is one on each side).

It was a bit difficult to slip the cardboard piece in there as there is a small lip the cover sits in and I didn't have any pry tools on my at the time.



The rattle isn't totally gone, but I'd guess to say at least 90% gone. Sure, I could slip a few more pieces of cardboard under the light cover closer to the rear glass, and I'm sure that would help.

When summer rolls around, or when temps get above 60*F again, (think April), I will see if I can cut out some craft felt or craft foam pieces (from the large sheets) and make my own barrier. I know I have some black lying around from other past projects.

The hardest part will be making the correct shape (if I do one piece) or maybe I will just do 4 1-inch x 1/4-inch rectangles and call it good.

I know people have sound deadened their rear deck with two sq-ft of deadener (too much effort, with too little of return).

I will start with simple, and work toward complex.

yay, first post with a picture...

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[JP Chestnut]

That’s ridiculous on a newish modern car, unless you’re out doing jumps in it. Subaru interiors are really low quality.

[rtv900]

I have a rattle from my front left dash area, I think it's the speaker cover

rattles when the body flexes over humps in the road, more of a creeking I guess

[transmutation]

Yep a known problem spot on the VA chassis. What I've seen others do (and what i did myself) was to stuff a thin rag up into the light assemble from underneath. There is a hole in the trunk for the wiring to go through, just keep feeding until you have filled the cavity up a bit but make sure to leave a bit poking out in case you want to easily remove it.

[GoFrogs]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

That’s ridiculous on a newish modern car, unless you’re out doing jumps in it. Subaru interiors are really low quality.

I guess...but any interior where plastics are involved and this stuff happens. The issue could have easily been avoided by applying a felt or rubber or foam barrier, by Subaru, between the two pieces. It's small enough that I can take care of it on my own; but it is still one of those things that lacks attention to detail by the manufacturer.

At least all of my interior seams line up and I can push on my center cluster and not hear a creaking plastic sound (like some newer Mercedes).

Originally Posted by transmutation

Yep a known problem spot on the VA chassis. What I've seen others do (and what i did myself) was to stuff a thin rag up into the light assemble from underneath. There is a hole in the trunk for the wiring to go through, just keep feeding until you have filled the cavity up a bit but make sure to leave a bit poking out in case you want to easily remove it.

Thanks. I'm good for now, but I will revisit the issue in the summer. I have craft felt squares (even the soft half of Velcro works too) that I can cut and shimmy into place and not stick out like a sore thumb or the cardboard pictured above.

My car. I only see it in the rear view. who knows, maybe it could also be a theft deterrent.