Screw rattling in the B-pillar ?

[RSouthern]

I haven't seen anyone else mention this, so I thought I'd ask. Has anyone had a loose screw or small "thing" rattling around in their B-pillar or perhaps around that area - it's hard to be specific with this sound? I hear something sliding/rolling when I accelerate hard or brake hard. Whatever it is travels forward and backward for maybe 1/2 second or so (figuring about 8" of travel - sorry metric folks).

I had a tech from the Porsche dealer ride along, sitting in the back seat, trying to hear it. It did it for several "stop and go"s but then whatever it was must have gotten hung on something and the sound stopped. Needless to say, he didn't hear it when it was happening and once whatever it was got stuck it stopped for a while. I heard it again today. Always in the same location, next to my left ear (left hand drive car in the US). This time it happened while accelerating around a left turn, not even that hard. It sounds like something small and light rolling or sliding along a relatively short space made of something equally hard. So I'm thinking a small screw or the end of a hard plastic clip, a small stone or a fragment from safety glass... something along those lines. Windows were never broken, car was purchased CPO but had <200 miles, so basically new. Sat in the showroom until I bought it, so probably not glass, but that's what it sounds like. It seems to have done this pretty much from day 1.

I didn't want the mechanics to tear everything apart to look for this because they might not get everything back together as tight as the factory, resulting in creaking or squeaks, and they said since they couldn't hear it, they would charge me to look for it unless they found it. Who knows what nook or crevice this thing is in, so that could be an expensive exercise in futility.

So I was hoping that maybe someone had a similar problem or knows how to get inside the B-pillar panels without damaging anything and if anything can be seen in there.

Any help is appreciated! This sound is quite jarring in the otherwise quiet cabin.

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[mokre]

I never heard a screw rattling around but I did have a rattle from the passenger headrest which only happened when the cushion was stowed. There's a tsb for that one.

I also thought I had something rattling around in my door, but turns out it was the flashlight I left in the door pocket by accident and then forgot was in there.

 

[RSouthern]

before anyone asks, I did check both door pockets, however the sound is wrong for them anyway, they are plastic/soft, and this sounds like something small and light on metal.

 

[OmarK_UK]

I never heard a screw rattling around but I did have a rattle from the passenger headrest which only happened when the cushion was stowed. There's a tsb for that one.

I also thought I had something rattling around in my door, but turns out it was the flashlight I left in the door pocket by accident and then forgot was in there.

I have also had occasional headrest rattle on mine, just purchased used from auth dealer. Took me a minute to figure it out.

 

[WattTurbo]

I definitely hear a rattle in the B pillar but not a rolling as you’ve described. It’s not loud enough to bother me or my wife so have not brought it in yet.

 

[RSouthern]

I was just thinking that the door projector was replaced in that door because it was out of focus/broken. I wonder if some part came loose from the assembly and is now "free range" inside the door panel or door? How easy is it to remove the projector/light from the bottom of the door and can you feel around inside that area to find any loose bits?

 

[allroadusa]

Just use a credit card to insert and remove the puddle light : 10 seconds. But the hole is tiny I don't know how you'll reach the loose bit if far away from the hole.

 

[RSouthern]

well, I found the source of the noise, not a screw after all. Somehow a small stone found it's way into the lower rubber weather seal of the back driver's side door. It has open ends. I swung the door back and forth and it eventually came out. It sounded like it was in the "B pillar" but the sound is in the same general area and was only happening under hard acceleration or braking so it was hard to isolate during those maneuvers.. Not sure how that rock got in there, looks like a piece of asphalt/tarmac aggregate. Anyway, problem solved.

Thanks to everyone that provided their opinions, it all helped narrow down the problem

 

[RSouthern]

Nope, I was wrong. It wasn’t that piece of asphalt after all. The noise came back. Luckily I was able to capture it on video on my phone and had the dealer listen to it and they could replicate it afterward.

they pulled the trim at the bottom of the b pillar and found a rivet. Apparently unused. So Porsche dropped or left a rivet there after manufacturing the car. Crazy. I thought these were mostly machine assembled, so I can’t imagine how a rivet would get dropped from a machine. I can only assume an assembly line worker was doing some assembly stuff and spilled some rivets and forgot to charge extra

anyone know where in the cabin rivets are used to fasten things together? I’m hoping I’m not missing a fastener somewhere now.

 

[Jayyvr890]

Yes I also had an annoying rattle on the area. Easy fix at the dealer and been whisper quiet ever since

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