Air Bag Rattle on Driver's Side

[emerydc8]

I thought there was a discussion somewhere on the forum but I'm not having any luck finding it. When I drive over washboard roads I hear a rattling noise coming from the air bag area. I just removed and reinstalled it per the workshop manual but still no help. I can hear it click into position before tightening the left and right T-30 bolts on the back of the steering wheel. The air bag unit feels secure on the steering wheel--at least I can't get it to move around.

Anyone experience this or know what could be causing it? Bad technique installing it?

 

[nocfn]

It did for me when I first got the car. I recently replaced the stalk and when I did, I must have put things back together properly as the click went away.

 

[gsxr]

Jon, when you had the airbag off, did you tighten the Torx bolts that attach the metal center assembly to the wheel frame? Those can loosen over time and cause rattles.

 

[emerydc8]

No. But I will and report back. Thanks Dave!

 

[emerydc8]

All the Torx bolts I could see were tight. I installed some Velcro (the soft felt side) to areas I suspected could be causing it, but it made no difference. Maybe I'll just have to keep moving the Velcro around until I get the rattle to stop.

 

[gsxr]

Jon, if it were my car... next thing I would do is remove the steering wheel, and shake it around by h and to see if it makes any noise. If not, attach the airbag to the (loose) wheel and shake it some more. If the noise is coming from inside the wheel, keep looking until you figure out the source.

If the wheel is silent when removed, the noise could be from somewhere else...?

Also, the Torx bolts you checked were the large-head ones shown below, correct?

 

[emerydc8]

Correct. I think there were five Torx like the one you circled. They were tight when I checked them by hand but looking now at the circled bolt it doesn’t look like it is completely flush with the mount. I’ll check again with a torque wrench and report back. Thanks again.

 

[emerydc8]

According to the WIS, this is a known problem. Diagonal titling of the airbag leads to the rattle. The "Noise test, adjustment" for the 2nd version, however, doesn't seem to differ from what I've already done.