GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

In my 2005 Vibe, I have an almost imperceptible but still very annoying rattle noise while driving on rough pavement. The previous owner noted this to me about 5 years ago when I purchased this vehicle. It is not heard on a pot-holes bumpy road, just at freeway speeds with poor aggregate rough surface. My solution so far has been to turn up the stereo.
Part of the annoyance is that it sounds like 1 gram of foam would make it go away, but I can't find it. It's definitely on the driver's side, in the dash board.
If I had one complaint about the Vibe, it would be road noise at freeway speeds, but then, I also have roof rack and rocket box noise.

Have you checked under the steering column? I've noticed that my vent director (plastic piece to throw air to the floor) was not connected and was making an intermittent noise.

hehe. sorry to pop in with a joke but my friends always call my vibe the vibe-raider. lol. get it... lol.

anyways, check for any loose ends anywhere under your dash. even take out the stereo bezel to check the vents from there to see if they are lose.

I have same annoying rattle in the dash of my '09, but only on rough pavement. Dips, manholes, potholes, water shut offs, etc. won't do it. It does sound like it's in the dash somewhere, but I have been fooled before, as I know how sound travels in cars. I did notice while waxing the other day the 2 small faux vents in the front fascia were loose. I'm thinking this may be the source of the rattle. I'm going to tighten them up and see what happens.

FootScoot,
Please get back to me on your progress. I'm going nuts. I have a 56 hour drive to S. Mexico coming in January, I don't want to wear ear plugs the whole way.
Mariachi?
Pardon my ignorance.... what is a stereo bezel?

Thanks in Advance,

FootScoot wrote:I have same annoying rattle in the dash of my '09, but only on rough pavement. Dips, manholes, potholes, water shut offs, etc. won't do it. It does sound like it's in the dash somewhere, but I have been fooled before, as I know how sound travels in cars. I did notice while waxing the other day the 2 small faux vents in the front fascia were loose. I'm thinking this may be the source of the rattle. I'm going to tighten them up and see what happens.

Chech the plastic panel between the windshield wipers and hood. You'd be surprised how an outside noise can sound at speed!

FootScoot wrote:I have same annoying rattle in the dash of my '09, but only on rough pavement. Dips, manholes, potholes, water shut offs, etc. won't do it. It does sound like it's in the dash somewhere, but I have been fooled before, as I know how sound travels in cars. I did notice while waxing the other day the 2 small faux vents in the front fascia were loose. I'm thinking this may be the source of the rattle. I'm going to tighten them up and see what happens.

This sounds like the infamous steering column rattle. Mine does it in just this exact fashion. Only at low speed on rough pavement, etc. As far as I know there is no perfect fix. I turn up the stereo.