Annoying (dasboard) rattle finally fixed

  1. My model of MX-5 is: 1.8 NC (mk111)
  2. I’m based in: Scottish Borders
  3. I’m providing recommendations on: Finding and fixing a rattle that “appears” to come from inside the dashboard.

After going days with a very annoying rattle, that appeared after I changed out my ICE system, I pulled it all out again trying in vain to find the cause of this loud rattle. I bought a endoscope and looked in every hole and crevice (in the car) that I could access. To no avail. My next step was to strip out the dash. Not a job I wanted to do or was looking forward to. Thank fully I came across a video of someone who had exactly the same issue with a 5 min fix. I am so thankful and want to save anyone else this headache. Please find video link here. Disclaimer - its not my video, but thankful it was made. :slight_smile:

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I’ve had that headlining off a few times on both my low mileage (but old) NCs and noticed the odd torx bolt loose each time.

The manual suggests quite a low torque setting; I guess there’s not much length of thread in the “nut”.

So every time I come across a loose low-torque bolt or nut I refit it with a small dab of Medium Loctite 248.

After the first few, I put a dab of touch-up paint on each one I refitted as a check; none of those marked have worked loose, but are still easily undone when needed.

The sunvisor and PRHT landing wedge bolts are those I find most likely to be loose.

I also did the Chrome-dome deck bolts as a matter of course.

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Nice one Richard. - looks like I will have to have it off again. lol.
Good call on the touch up paint. Can see at a glance it they working loose again.