New Malibu Rattling Like An Aluminum Garbage Can

[Sal Collaziano]

What's the deal? Someone in my community has had a new Malibu for a few months now. I just heard him roll over a small, smooth speed bump in the parking lot - and the thing rattled like a broken aluminum garbage can. It surprised me enough to come here and ask "what's going on?"... Isn't it a little new to be sounding so bad? I mean... Already?

[fp115]

It could be anything from the guy beating up the car to an aluminum can stuck under the car :P

[Bejeweled]

It would be interesting to find out what is causing the rattles. Can you drop by their house the next time they're outside and beat around the bush to them about it? Squeaks and rattles drive me nuts.

[MrCritical]

Wheel cover?

[caddycruiser]

We have two of them now, and like every other I've driven, ridden in, etc...silent and solid.

However, from also being on the Aura board a lot, it sounds like one of two common things. 1) The "aluminum look" steel wheels with a plastic cap face can, in limited cases, be defective and create quite a rattle. 2) More so when cold, but sometimes all together if defective, the front struts can rattle--but that wouldn't exactly be too loud. Or, also, as someone said, seriously, something broken, loose, or stuck underneath.

Otherwise, seriously, the Malibu is and has been one of the most solid, quiet, well screwed together GM sedans ever. Not without faults, but I'm guessing one of the top 2 things is possible. Just not sure since I've never experienced it. Any kind of noises drive me nuts and after my G6 that was repurchased, one of the biggest reasons being the roof and sunroof that creaked, popped, and rattled incessantly no matter what was done to it, I was glad to have another Malibu after our first.

Wonder if the neighbor is aware of the squawks his car is making

[page2171]

Originally Posted by MrCritical

Wheel cover?

I would have to wonder the same thing. I hate to drive my Malibu with the windows open because the wheel covers make so much noise when I hit a bump that it makes me think my car is going to fall apart.

[chevydlrmn]

I have only heard some dash squeks when cold. That is having driven hundreds.

[plane]

The answer is quite simple.
The inferior Domestic Detroit 3 haven't made a reliable, well-built vehicle since 1936.
This is pretty much common knowledge so I'm a bit surprised to hear it come up in this forum.

sheesh.

[reign16]

oh really that is cool like an aluminum garbage can!!!




___________________
blanchard grinding

[Bill A from NJ]

2003 Buick LeSabre had same problem.

Solution:

Take out two of the plastic bolts that hold the noisy wheel cover down - not adjacent ones.

Get a pack of garden hose washers or O'rings.
Stretch the washer over the end of the plastic bolt. Then reinstall the bolt. The washers quiets the wheel covers, stopping the rattle..

Took almost a year of my wife complaining about it until I figured out how to fix it.

[nsap]

We have a 2008 as a company car. The thing has 50K miles on it and is silent inside and out. It's probably a question of what has the owner done to the car.

[Bill A from NJ]

Originally Posted by nsap

We have a 2008 as a company car. The thing has 50K miles on it and is silent inside and out. It's probably a question of what has the owner done to the car.

I think they fixed it by 08. My daughter has an 07 or 08 also, and it is whisper quiet. I hear a lot of Buicks with the wheel cover rattle. It is not a matter of beating it up, just a bad design on the wheel cover.

[JBsZ06]

Originally Posted by plane

The answer is quite simple.
The inferior Domestic Detroit 3 haven't made a reliable, well-built vehicle since 1936.
This is pretty much common knowledge so I'm a bit surprised to hear it come up in this forum.

sheesh.

thanks for the laughs...

All kidding aside though it sounds like Bill A from NJ figured out a cool solution..

----------

2003 Buick LeSabre had same problem.

Solution:

Take out two of the plastic bolts that hold the noisy wheel cover down - not adjacent ones.

Get a pack of garden hose washers or O'rings.
Stretch the washer over the end of the plastic bolt. Then reinstall the bolt. The washers quiets the wheel covers, stopping the rattle..

Took almost a year of my wife complaining about it until I figured out how to fix it.

[mbukukanyau]

Sal now works for Hyundai. Anything he says has to be taken with a grain of salt.

[JiminSTLouis]

My 09 started to get a rattle around 3k miles. It kinda sounds like a tin can sound that I can hear over even slight bumps. I've narrowed it down to the head liner near the center dome light. I can reproduce the sound by pushing up and down on the liner. I'm going to bring it in when I have a chance.