Air Conditioning Pipe Rattles On SUBFRAME
Where customers report a rattling noise emanating from the instrument panel area and/or from the underneath of the vehicle, this may be caused by the air conditioning system pipework contacting the longit bracket or the longit section of the vehicle subframe (at a point located within the rear right of the engine compartment - see illustration below showing the likely point of contact).
Follow the remedial actions described below to resolve the issue:
- Looking into the rear right of the engine compartment from above, locate the point where the air conditioning system pipework passes just above the longit bracket/longit section of the vehicle subframe. As shown below, it may be necessary to gently move aside additional cabling/pipework to gain clear access.NOTE: The illustration shows the configuration of diesel powered vehicles
- Apply a section of Butyl rubber tape to the subframe to allow cushioning between the subframe and the air conditioning pipes. The illustration below shows the tape repair applied to petrol (shown left) and diesel (shown right) vehicles.
- Complete a road test, as closely as possible reproducing the drive/road conditions under which the noise occurs, to confirm that the rattling noise is no longer evident. If noise is still experienced, consult the table above for advice on other sources of noise. If the issue is resolved, return the vehicle to the customer.