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Fluttering or rattling noise on poor road surfaces

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seasix   
Sun Dec 22 2013, 02:53pm
No Longer Active
Having really enjoyed 3 years of trouble free 'wafting around', my 56000 mile C6 has been in 3 times to cure a mystery rattling apparently coming from the front end. It has had new pivot supports, front lower swivel bearings (all worn out) but still the rattling over bumps. Any ideas please as my Citroen specialist now suggests turning up the radio - not why I bought a C6 !
cruiserphil   
Sun Dec 22 2013, 03:28pm


Joined: Jan 24 2010
Member No: #38
Location: Celbridge
Have they checked the anti roll bar links? I had to replace one recently following the symptoms you describe. Also while doing it, found play in an inner track rod and replaced that as well!!

Regards,

Phil C.
Stealth   
Sun Dec 22 2013, 09:30pm

Joined: Aug 11 2012
Member No: #986
Location: Sydney
Does the rattle tend to only happen when you're turning corners?

Say, for example, turning into a street with an upward slope?
seasix   
Sun Dec 22 2013, 10:55pm
No Longer Active
No, the rattle is there whenever the road is not absolutely smooth.
Dave Mc   
Mon Dec 23 2013, 02:58pm
No Longer Active
When I had my 6 I experience the same problem and it turned out to be the under tray was loose. Easy enough to check.
rogerandoutman   
Mon Dec 23 2013, 10:38pm
Joined: May 10 2011
Member No: #466
Location: London
have you replaced the anti rollbar linkages if the ball joint has worn you will get a loud knocking over any uneven surface. have replaced my rears twice and only just 50000 miles. they are inexpensive, but get european manufacture not china copies. try rockauto.com US site but supply from UK
seasix   
Tue Dec 24 2013, 09:30am
No Longer Active
Ball joints have been replaced, will check anti roll bar links, track rod ends and under tray after Christmas. Many thanks for all your suggestions - I will post the result.
ChrisHunter   
Wed Dec 25 2013, 09:57pm
No Longer Active
we sometimes get what we think must be the under-tray fluttering when we come over a small rise as we're approaching a T-junction - not looked, but suspect it must be made of some sort of textile fabric, at least in-part ...
ChrisW   
Mon Oct 28 2024, 04:19pm
Joined: Jun 18 2013
Member No: #1335
Location: Surrey
I know this is an old thread, but I think I have the same problem, but the noise appears to come from the rear and not the front. It's as if the vibration of the car from a bad road causes something in or under to move or vibrate in sympathy. It happens at lowish speeds. No rattling on motorways. I know it's a long shot, but I would be grateful for any suggestions. This is what I have done so far, without success:

- Emptied the car of anything that moves, incl the spare wheel, tool kit, etc.
- Checked the boot and roof lining, under the seats, etc for anything loose.
- Put it on ramps and checked and fixed anything underneath capable of movement
- Removed the tray underneath the engine and checked and fixed everything that moves.

It rattles even with the tray removed, so it's not that.

- Checked bushes for play (it does not sound like a bad bush, which in my experience cause clunking noises)
- Jacked the wheels up and checked for any play in the wheel bearings, bushes etc. Tiny play in OSF wheel bearing but not enough to cause vibration or trouble MOT inspector. The front suspension was overhauled a couple of years ago.
- Taken the wheels off and checked for damaged or loose wheel arch linings and anything loose.
- Taken the car to my local garage (which knows it well). Took the mechanic for a drive, and he identified the sound and put it on the lift. The only thing he found was some play in the rear drop links. Replaced, but no change.
- It just passed MOT with no advisories.

The only possible clue is that rattle appeared shortly after driving through a shallow flood that caused a bow-wave under the car. But I could not find any evidence of possible damage from this. Lost power steering in the flood, so the aux belt must have got wet and was slipping. All OK once out of the flood.

As you can imagine, it's doing my head in! Not so much the rattle itself, but that I can't fix it! Any help much appreciated.
C6Dave   
Mon Oct 28 2024, 06:40pm


Joined: Oct 01 2009
Member No: #1
Location: Northumberland
ChrisW wrote ...

I know this is an old thread, but I think I have the same problem, but the noise appears to come from the rear and not the front. It's as if the vibration of the car from a bad road causes something in or under to move or vibrate in sympathy. It happens at lowish speeds. No rattling on motorways. I know it's a long shot, but I would be grateful for any suggestions.
Going to throw a curve ball here if you cannot find a physically loose part. Could it be something in the fuel additive or return system



Is the vibration causing the additive suction device to 'flutter'?
Website
cit-rotti   
Tue Oct 29 2024, 09:29am
Joined: Dec 03 2018
Member No: #3753
Location: Bayern
If there are rattles/pops when the suspension is compressed, the front wheel arch liners may come into contact with the suspension mountings.
Did these wheel arch liners have to be removed for repair work?

Greetings Wolfgang
cruiserphil   
Wed Oct 30 2024, 11:56am


Joined: Jan 24 2010
Member No: #38
Location: Celbridge
Hello ChrisW,

Check the handbrake support brackets! I posted this on the C6 owners facebook page.

ChrisW   
Wed Oct 30 2024, 02:06pm
Joined: Jun 18 2013
Member No: #1335
Location: Surrey
Thank you so much for your quick and helpful replies.

Dave - you may be onto something. My low Elyos warning has just come on (several weeks after the rattle started). I will book it in to top-up

Wolfgang - these linings were top of my checklist because the flood might have loosened them. Took the wheels off - they were all tight.

Phil - I will get under the car (yet again!) and check these. Here's hoping!
ChrisW   
Thu Oct 31 2024, 10:34am
Joined: Jun 18 2013
Member No: #1335
Location: Surrey
I got under the car yesterday after reading your replies. Yes! The right-hand handbrake cable was loose. It goes through a circular metal clip with a thick rubber bush. The bush had worked its way out of the clip and the cable was free to rattle.

Got it! I thought. Worked the bush back into position. Went for test drive. Aargh - no change. Next stop the eloys.

Thanks again for you suggestions.
ChrisW   
Tue Nov 26 2024, 06:15pm
Joined: Jun 18 2013
Member No: #1335
Location: Surrey
Update on my rattle, which is now cured! Took car to BL Autos in Welwyn Garden City to have the ELOYS refilled and to inspect the suspension. Filling the ELOYS didn't fix the rattle but they diagnosed that the OSF frip joint and OSF anti-roll bar link needed replacing. They did this today and it fixed the rattle. It also fixed what had been reported as an OSF wheel bearing advisory at my last MOT. The car now runs as good as new.

I was convinced that the rattle came from the rear - big mistake.

They also checked the four rear spheres (I had already replaced the three fronts). The 4 spheres were 33/34/32/33 bar, cf 40 new. They said this is ok and that the ride on the test drive was fine. They would normally replace if the pressure is below 30. They recommended IFHS spheres for when they need replacing. The worst sphere lost 8 bar over 16 years, so I estimate it will take another 4 years to get down to 30. Apparently the suspension gets harder as the spheres lose pressure but I imagine that the extra thickness of rubber on my 225/60R17 tyres more than compensates for this.

I was very impressed with BL Autos. Very friendly and helpful guys who really know the C6. It's a 100 mile round trip for me around the M25 but well worth it to know that they are experts and the job will be done properly.
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