Driver's side window occasionally vibrates on bumps
 

This is something that just started happening in the last month or so. It started very subtle but it seems like i'm noticing it a little more now. Sometimes, but not always, when I'm going over bumps in the road, I will hear a high frequency rattling coming directly from my left ear. It sounds like it's coming from the window. It's not a loose, floppy rattle, it's more like a micro-vibration of the glass. For some reason it seems to do it more when I'm turning right and going over a bump, but I haven't done any scientific experiments yet to reproduce the rattle. I just had my 15K inspection and an oil change and the dealer said everything looks great, though I didn't bring up the rattle. I don't notice it as much when I have my music cranked up (for obvious reasons) but I don't think the speakers are producing any rattle because I can confirm that it still vibrates with the audio off, and the vibrations correspond to bumps in the road.

FYI this is a 2009 Z34 with sport package, completely stock. Just under 15K miles. Any ideas what this is? I'm not super annoyed with it yet, but it's one of those things that starts to get under your skin after a while.

Mine does it too. I'm pretty sure mine is one of the plastic "pushpins" that hold the inside panel to the door.
Have you ever had the panel off?

I haven't, no. Not sure if the previous owner did anything.

Ive got the same thing. I did everything short of removing the window regulator itself to try and eliminate the sound. I may do that one day, but I dont know. It is rather annoying though.

If your mechanically inclined at all, i would take the door panel off one day and just inspect for any loose parts.. Hey it can only help..

Mine does the same exact thing . It only vibrates when the window is all the way up . If I just push the window down button for a millisecond , just kind of punch it real fast, the vibration stops so it must be the glass vibrating when the window is in the full up position.

So there are no fixes that anyone has tried, other than slightly rolling down the window? I don't really want to spend time taking off the panel if it will just amount to finding nothing wrong and putting it back on...

ha, mine does this too. I thought it was the plastic stuff that is on the seat belt connector, which like holds the seatbelt away from your face... if that makes sense...

you could also create a new rattle this way...

I have this problem, except it's when I hit the bass instead of a bump.

I have an interesting squeak that comes whenever I go over a bump on the driver's side. I always thought it was suspension noise. Could be this too. Great.

:bowrofl: true haha,

but this happens on my passenger door not mine hmm, and its only on the highway at higher speeds.

Ditto... it's annoying. Wonder if it's the rivets holding the glass or the track? Simply banging on the inside panel will rattle the glass.

I put in a new subwoofer last weekend and I don't hear the rattle nearly as much. :)

I've heard that exact same tiny squeak before. I couldn't tell where it was coming from though.

:facepalm: I started to notice this a few months back and it seems to be getting worse...I haven't paid attention to it with window up/down but I'll have to see. I've tried to hold every piece of my door while driving to see if it'll stop but haven't had any luck.

^^ from last reported time, noise no longer there, even on highways, magically disappeared. :driving:

I wonder if this has to do with the warmer weather and stuff expanding then it goes away when the weather gets cool? Seemed to have started with the warmer weather for me.

this could be it, although I think the window on my car just doesnt go up all the way, and there is air rushing in the small crack so thats where the noise is from, its actually the shop where I had minor damages fixed fault, they re assembled the window and didn't put it back together right so it looks like ill have to make another trip down there. :rolleyes:

Any updates on this? Starting to feel like smashing my face into the glass to make it stop...makes no sense to me. Window down, no noise, window up rattles like hell but there's absolutely nothing up there to make it rattle?! It's all just rubber! This is going to drive me to sell my Z.

Im at work today and its slow so I may dive in and see what I could find.

Found it.

At least in my car I did. If you take the door panel off and look at the bottom left, there is a white plastic box plastic riveted onto the panel. Problem is it isnt riveted tight. I shoved a piece of rubber in the gap so the box sat tight against the panel and voila, rattle is gone.

nice!...did your rattle stop when you lowered your window before the fix?...if so, it's the same thing.

i will try this! thx
now i gotta figure out how to take door panel off lol

wow I found a dude from same state!!! I am Cyclone!!! Glad to see you here man.

The only time I could here my rattle was windows up, no radio.
Its easy, 1 10mm screw behind the door handle piece, 2 behind a cover above the storage slot on the bottom. It pops off and the door linkages pop right out.

slow day for me too, I'm gonna go and try this. Thanks 6spd.

no prob, i hope it works for you too

How'd this turn out for you, KingZee? Any luck? Same problem as 6spd and same fix? If it works for you too, then I know what will solve my rattle. It's the exact same issue.

I had no luck what so ever with any amount of shimming etc. it got to the point I couldnt listen to the radio even at a mild volume and every bump it made that dang rattle. After taking it to the dealer several times and complaining about it someone in the office yelled "it's the regulator" We had replaced every piece in the door including the door panel even the switches. The second the regulator was replaced it was perfect. No more rattle over bumps and the bass from the speaker sounded pristine. It's covered under warranty and most likely u will have to tell them what it is. My Nissan dealer was slow figuring it out. GL and hope this helps :tiphat:

Excellent!!

After driving mine yesterday, my noise was gone, but we'll see after more time.

Sucks about the regulator, but at least it was pinpointed!

There must be 2 separate issues.

I took the panel off yesterday and noticed all the little silver screws could use some tightening which I did (didn't help) but I didn't have anything to stick between the plastic which I noticed was loose as well. I have a feeling mine is the regulator as well though because it doesn't seem like the noise would be coming from that plastic box especially because as soon as I touch the window down a millimeter the noise stops so I'm guessing it's something inside the regulator...I'm dreading dealing with the dealer on this cause I know they're gonna give me bullsh*t. I'm doing my oil change this saturday so I'll find something to secure the white plastic box just in case and keep everyone updated.

my noise came back :( must be the reg.

I have the same problem. Had to take my Z in for a recall fix today. Steering wheel lock. N/C of course (would have cost $750) but while there I had them check out the buzz in drivers side window. They said it was the window regulator.They would have to order the part and will cost $425 including labor to fix. I found the regulator on E-Bay for $65. Will try doing it myself first.

Ditto... getting one ordered under warranty! My tech spent over 3 hours trying to figure out how to silence it. Pulling the regulator motor didn't fix it either.

I had the window rattling problem shortly after getting the car. Dealer was able to adjust regulator and didn't have to replace it.

Just as an update, I got the new regulator assembly installed. Those who pointed out the loose rivets are correct. My tech compared the two and noticed there are plastic insulators on the rivets keeping them still this time around.