A4 B9 Creaking from rear

[wm1976]

Hi,

A4 S-Line, 2 weeks old, getting a creaking or rattling from the rear. It sounds like the window creaking when I drive over uneven roads at any speed.

I've had another driver drive the car while I've sat in the back and vice-versa, I can't pin it down but it does sound like glass creaking, if that's possible.

Anyone having the same issues?

Cheers.

[mrj]

I have a noise from the rear parcel shelf but my noise isn't a creaking.
I have a tapping sound from around the rear parcel shelf, but it does sound like the window glass. like a metallic or hard plastic tapping against the glass. My car is going into Audi on Monday. I'll update this after they diagnose it.

[wm1976]

Yes, a light random tapping, I would agree with that. Maybe creaking is the wrong word. Please update here, cheers.

[mrj]

Got my car back from Audi, seems there was some trim at at the back /rear of the parcel shelf that had come loose /unclipped or wasn't correctly fitted in the first place. Its not visible from inside the car.
That was making contact with the bottom of the rear window., hence the tapping. There was supposed to be a small gap.
Seems it was straightforward to fix it back in place properly. So far, all quiet the way it should be.

[wm1976]

Thanks for the update. I may try and record the noise with my phone and post here, just to confirm it is the same noise. If so, I'll get it booked in.

This noise only started for me once I'd put the rear seats down and back up again to shift some stuff.

Makes sense that the noise is originating from a part not visible inside the car, that would explain why I couldn't pin point it.

Cheers.

[wm1976]

I've recorded the noise and have posted it here...

https://clyp.it/uhv01p0z

It's very obvious, no explanation needed.

Did the dealer need to remove the parcel shelf? Do you think this is a job for the dealer?

[Reeced]

I have the same noise coming from the rear window as well, I've taken the car to the dealer and they had a look but they couldn't sort it out at the time, so the car is booked to go back in this Monday coming to try and sort the noise.

They believed it was coming from the pillar at the side and not the parcel shelf.

[wm1976]

It's a difficult noise to pinpoint as the curve of the window and the acoustic properties of the car can carry the sound away from the source.

It may be worth mentioning MRJ's post at the dealer. Please post back here, mine is booked in Wednesday day and any info would be appreciated.

[mrj]

Re: A4 B9 Creaking from rear – 21-09-2016,01:10 PM http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/images/blackpost/buttons/report.gif (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/report.php?p=1030376)
I've recorded the noise and have posted it here...

https://clyp.it/uhv01p0z

It's very obvious, no explanation needed.

Did the dealer need to remove the parcel shelf? Do you think this is a job for the dealer?




That sounds suspiciously like the noise I had, but a lot more sustained and frequent, mine was intermittent depending on road surface etc . I think they removed the parcel shelf cover, that's something I'd leave to the dealer, too many clips to break if you do it yourself. Its possible it was actually the pillar, there are connector blocks for the various antenna down the sides of the rear window.
In any case it shouldn't be making noise like that and it's an Audi after all. The mechanic told me they have tools for tracking down the source of noises (car stethoscope or something I guess) and it didn't seem a big deal for them to sort it out.

[wm1976]

Yes, you are right, it's an Audi and it shouldn't rattle. The last 3 Audi's I've had have had something in the way of a rattle, the 1st one had a loose exhaust bracket, my second had a heavy "clunk" in the boot when I went over a pothole or speed hump. The dealer looked at and couldn't fix it, it was only resolved when a woman on her phone went into the back of me, seems a bit extreme.

I just wonder if I have a bit of OCD with rattles that other people would just out up with.

I'll feedback later in the week.

[hedgepig]

Hi. Just wondering what the outcome was from this? I'm afraid I put a fresh post on the forum before I saw this. The recording of the sound (posted by wm1976) is exactly what I'm experiencing at the moment. I'd be keen to find out what it was and if they managed to rectify it? Thanks in advance.

[wm1976]

Sorry, there was nothing to report, hence no post. The car's booked in for end of October. I'll report back then.

In the meantime, the sound has gotten louder and now sounds almost from both sides of the rear, although as I mentioned, difficult to pin point.

[hedgepig]

Thanks for the reply. Ahh... doesn't bode well! I'll get myself booked in. I'll keep this thread updated on developments. I think it's where the trim meets the back window.

[Nuke]

I have the same creak with an A4 delivered in July. However I've noticed the issue begins to lessen below about 13degC & is almost gone in colder weather. Humidity also seems to have an adverse effect!
Anyone else notice similar fluctuations?
I should note a friend bought an A6 around the same time. Haven't driven in it but he claims his car has the same issue..

[alanant]

Hi, sounds like the noise I had . The car was in with the dealer in Belfast today. The fault was confirmed. They removed D pillar trims and found the guide pins for the rear window was creating the noise by rubbing on the D pillar trim. They modified the pins (removed them) - trim refitted - noise gone. They also did a software update (45E3 for ESP) at the same time. Hope this is of help to you

[hedgepig]

Hi. Just a quick update. Took the car to the dealership who were very sympathetic. The noise was glaringly obvious from the start of the test drive. Sadly no loan cars until November. I'll report back then. As for the noise, the master technician was mystified. Seems like a common problem judging by the responses on here.

[spellsinger]

Hi. Just a quick update. Took the car to the dealership who were very sympathetic. The noise was glaringly obvious from the start of the test drive. Sadly no loan cars until November. I'll report back then. As for the noise, the master technician was mystified. Seems like a common problem judging by the responses on here.

Just a quick question - those with a the creak from the rear, do you have the standard or B&O sound? I wondered if it was anything to do with the extra speakers at the back?

[Nuke]

Standard speakers - I'm tone deaf anyway!
To recap tho - seems two guys had problem successfully resolved. However one seemed to be parcel shelf clips, the other rear window guide-pins into C-pillar...
It would good if this was a recognised fault - with a documented fix!
I think mine is rear window/C pillar related. Bright sun seems to exacerbate ( dark colour). Also switching on rear-window demister seemed to start it up the other morning.

[cuke2u]

Try lubricating the door seals, it is a common issue with modern car design...

[wm1976]

Got mine seen to Tuesday. They need to remote the parcel shelf apparently and some parts may be needed before they do so it's booked in mid November. I'll report back.

I've not made the link between temperature and the noise yet. I would say it does sound like it's in the D pillar.

[wm1976]

Been back to the dealer, they can't find the source of the noise so it's being booked in a bodyshop.

[hedgepig]

Hello. Just got the car back after two days at the dealership. I'm happy to report that the source of noise has been identified and fixed.

The creak/rattle/tap sounded exactly the same as the audio recording posted in this thread. If your rattle is similar, it's well worth getting sorted.

I'm told the window was rubbing against the surround (I'm no mechanic) and it involved removing all the headlining and trim around the D pillar on the passenger side.

Beyond that I know nothing. But the 25 mile drive home was rattle free. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

[Ekyp]

Hey guys, sorry to bring up an old thread.

My B9 recently has developed a similar sound and both myself and my dealer is having problem identifying the problem.

I've tried to remove both the D pillars and the entire parcel shelf and the tapping noise is still there. This tells me my noise is not from the trim pcs tapping the window. Nothing looks loose from what I can tell. Anyone has any other details on the fix?

I feel like the tapping noise is coming from the metal and the body rather than interior plastic tapping the window but we are having problrm identifying the source. It taps whenever the car body flexes or vibrates it seems.

Any comments would be great.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[Nuke]

I'm due to leave mine in around mid Jan so I'm afraid I have no new insights. It's v disappointing. Sounds like there's a design or quality issue to do with rear winow installation?

[Klov]

Same issue here. Purchased A4 in late-Nov and started hearing creaking/tapping noise (exactly as recorded and posted earlier) from rear, seemingly from right rear passenger area/window deck.

Thought it was simply ice between window and exterior trunk after washing (temps here are -25 Celsius) but it didn't go away when warmed or rewashed.

Will probably wait to fix until first scheduled maintenance unless is becomes more distracting or I grow more irritated by it.

[Ekyp]

Issue still not fixed yet but I have narrowed down the source of the problem. Mine is coming from the rear window top corner on the passenger side just beneath the corner of the headliner. The window is either installed incorrectly or something is missing (I did find a loose plastic spacer from that area which i am suspecting is the cause of the issue). If i apply pressure outward on the window glass in the corner, the tapping noise would stop. The noise have subsided a bit since the weather has warmed up back to 10 deg C. Today it got cold again, and noise came back.

Noise is definitely there, seems to be temperature related, and its coming from the top corner of the rear windshield.

[Ekyp]

Hey guys, just so you know. Ive been battling with this squeak or rattle from the rear for over a month and finally Audi has a tsb for this. It's caused by the rear windshield guide pin. Mine sounds exactly like the sound clip from this thread.

Tsb # is 2046397/1

Mine is fixed now!

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[cowcatcher]

I have a similar issue. It's a constant ticking noise when the ignition is on. The engine doesn't have to be running. To me, it sounds like it's coming from the tweeter next to rear door handle. It drive be bonkers! If I turn off the MMI screen fully the ticking stops!


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[noscream]

I've recorded the noise and have posted it here...

https://clyp.it/uhv01p0z

It's very obvious, no explanation needed.

Did the dealer need to remove the parcel shelf? Do you think this is a job for the dealer?


LOL, My A4 B9 has started with this very sound from rear window area....

What is the cause? is it the rear seat frame to parcel shelf or is it in the headlining to rear window?
Problem is I drive and have no assistant to sit in the back and prod everything....

Someone mentioned a TSB? is there a direct link to the TSB for this with description?

thx.

[cowcatcher]

Discovered what my 'ticking' sound is... there's some sort of digital interference coming through the tweeter on in the offside rear door. And is more apparent and louder when he MMI is on google earth. I took it in to the dealer who brought their MMI specialist to look at it, he couldn't hear it until he sat in the drivers seat.
It's booked in in a couple of weeks for them to have a fiddle with it, until then I'm using standard nav and instead


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[Nuke]

I had mine in today. Luckily problem manifested itself out on a drive. Early days, not 100% sure it's fixed but positive signs & I'll know for sure soon enough.
TSB#2046397/1 doesn't corelate with my chassis no. but it's a similar problem. Issue is where guide pins for rear window meet up with C-piller.

[noscream]

So basically it's nothing we can look at and sort in a few mins. it's beginw the internal linning.
I have ming booked in, so annoying as I only have 800miles on the clock.

[wm1976]

It's been a year. I never got this resolved through Audi, although they did try. The noise is no longer there, I guess the materials have bedded in over the year and the noise is no longer there.

[Nuke]

I got mine resolved at an Irish Audi dealer & there was definetely an issue with the guide pins for rear window. I quoted the TSB Ekyp referred to above (2046397/1) - that seemed to be for a different batch of cars but my problem was identical. The technician even showed me a print out of the fix from the Audi system. Mine was fixed leaving the service bay. I did the homework, but they listened & sorted it out so satisfied.