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Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:47 pm
by pinstriper38
So I have a strange issue on my SSEi. At speeds varying between 30-35 mph, my headliner and roof vibrate, causing an obnoxiously loud bass sound in the cabin. It really does sound like I have a couple of 15's bumping in the trunk. The vibrations essentially turn the headliner into a giant speaker. If I open the sunroof those sounds get worse. At any other speeds, it still has slight vibration but not enough to cause an issue. Any idea what gives? Could some kind of vent be blocked somewhere?

Re: Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 7:08 pm
by RJolly87
I would check tires and wheel bearings. I am thinking it's a resonance caused by another issue.

Are the windows shut when this is happening?

Re: Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:30 pm
by haro1225
I had a busted strut mount shake the car really bad like that, but it was at 55+ mph. Grab the wheels and give them a shake and see if they move, that would help narrow it down.

Re: Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:11 pm
by MattStrike
Another possibility is that the roof metal skin has separated from the structural bracing, if that's even possible. The roof should not be vibrating at all. Does windows open change it at all, +1 to Rjolly87 suggestion.

Re: Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 5:04 am
by RJolly87
MattStrike wrote:Another possibility is that the roof metal skin has separated from the structural bracing, if that's even possible. The roof should not be vibrating at all. Does windows open change it at all, +1 to Rjolly87 suggestion.
It's funny you mentioned that, because I suspect I have that very issue in the PA. Sharp impacts or car wash blow dryers get pretty annoying

Re: Super Bass (roof rattle)

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:31 pm
by pinstriper38
Windows open or closed seems to make no difference, aside from what I mentioned earlier when the sunroof is open, it gets worse. I think the struts are ok, I do know that my front drivers side wheel bearing is slowly on its way out. When I jacked the car up last I could wiggle the wheel ever so slightly in various directions. Would that really cause a resonance issue? Never associated that with a bad bearing, but it could make sense.