My Mk3 polo has a loud rattling noise when i drive on bumpy roads. The more bumpy the road the more it rattles. I can only hear it if i drive with the window down, and it is so loud it echos off buildings if i am in town. It has been doing this since i got the car in august. I've tried to find it by crawling around underneath and pulling on everything, but there is nothing obviously loose. What could it be? as I'm out of ideas.

This could be one of many things, so let's put a few up to start with, by the way, is there any abnormal tyre wear that might give us a clue?

1) Exhaust system, including loose baffles.

2) Shock absorbers/struts, including mountings.

3) Suspension bushes.

4) Engine/gearbox mountings.

5) Spare wheel or loose items in the boot.

Sorry that I can't be more specific at this stage.

Regards.

There could be the possibility that youve lost the chatter clips from your brake pads, i lost them o my golf and it made a real rattle sound over bumps.

This could be one of many things, so let's put a few up to start with, by the way, is there any abnormal tyre wear that might give us a clue?

1) Exhaust system, including loose baffles.

2) Shock absorbers/struts, including mountings.

3) Suspension bushes.

4) Engine/gearbox mountings.

5) Spare wheel or loose items in the boot.

Sorry that I can't be more specific at this stage.

Regards.

thats a pretty short list for a mk3

This could be one of many things, so let's put a few up to start with, by the way, is there any abnormal tyre wear that might give us a clue?

1) Exhaust system, including loose baffles.

2) Shock absorbers/struts, including mountings.

3) Suspension bushes.

4) Engine/gearbox mountings.

5) Spare wheel or loose items in the boot.

Sorry that I can't be more specific at this stage.

Regards.

Thanks for the pointers.

I did originally think it was suspension, as it doesnt ride that well and fidgets alot. I should find out if it is no. 2 or 3 quite soon tho. As i am lowering and poly bushing it in the next few weeks, it should go away when this is done. I dont think it could be no. 5, as i would hear that inside the car. The exhaust is straight through from the cat to the back box (no centre box) and back box is not very old, however the cat looks pretty ancient, so maybe could be that? I hadnt thought of engine and gearbox mounts.

There doesnt look to be any strange tyre wear.

Edited 13 January, 201115 yr by malaga red