I searched the forum and didn't really notice anything about this subject, I played around with about 4 smarts at my orlando dealership, the door really seems to rattle a lot when you close it, I mentioned it to the sales person and she just blamed it on the reinforced extra heavy doors, whatever, every SMART I closed the door on, (both passanger and driver side) made the noise, the other people at the dealership today (customers) noticed it to (without me saying anything) I noticed them practicing opening and closing the doors trying to figure out the sound. Probably doesn't matter to me any more, I think I am going to wait until the 2009 version before buying... but I really want a SMART!
Mine rattles when shutting and also when driving over manhole covers and other such sudden road bumps. Both doors are the same, though driver side is more pronounced because it is nearer. I have been trying to find source. It may be where the windows are at the rearmost contact point where the most leverage is or possibly at the latch, both due to the size of the doors. I also get rattles coming from the framing around the sunroof on similar jarring bumps in road. Finally, I noticed the sound of stuff moving around in the door pocket is transmitted through the door panel to near your ear. I am planning to monitor this subject on this forum for a while before bringing back for dealer to look at. I have a feelign its not just my car but just the way these are, in which case its a live with it thing. This may be a DCX product but I have no illusions that it is built like a Benz.
See my post on Lizardskin, the door is nothing more than a sounding board like an acoustic guitar. It will amplify any sounds that the door makes. Also just tap the Tridion cell: loud ain't it?
When I push mine closed, there is a satisfying thwump. No rattles. When opened to the first position, door stays there (even in wind.) No more door banging back against shin. Opened all the way, door stays open. Very well done!
For a little while, I heard a rattle coming from the passenger side. Hummm. Passenger door was shut. Cabrio; nature of the ragtop? Thinking of what could rattle, I moved the pass. seatbelt a bit - no rattle. The latch was rattling against the side. No rattles at all. I hate rattles. My substantial Subie Legacy's window just barely rattled when closing the door, but then, as mentioned previously, it's a frameless window, and probably just its nature.
In every respect, my smart is *tight* and perfect.
I suspect the rattles here have to do with loose fasteners or something in the window regulator. Maybe window installer was on vacation and there was a newbie fill-in at the plant?
I agree with the rattle sound, and that it sounds like a cheap car. Im a bit embarrassed by it. It is most pronounced when closing the door with the window down. With the window up, the seals are so tight it take extra effort, that part I view as a good thing.
Well, I've noticed this as well. My driver's door has this horrible "squeek" noise (almost sounds like metal to metal rubbing) when bumps are hit. I have looked at the door latch and also all around to see if I can locate any metal to metal contact, but to no avail. I cannot stand squeeks and rattles and am determined to track all of them down and try to stop them. One thing that I am aware of, is that rubber will squeek as well. You can get a rubber lubricant that you can apply to the rubber seals around the windows and it will stop any rubber to rubber or glass squeeks. I also believe that the interior plastic around my rear hatch squeeks as well when bumps are hit. Anyone else notice anything like this?
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but I really want a SMART!
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