V90 buzzing/rattle from passenger side

[Jamieboy]

Right, so infuriated by this I decided to investigate and do something about it. I had found that the creaking/rattle sound when the car was warm could be stopped by firm pressure on the glove box - so I decided this is where to start. It worked a charm - so thought I'd post it up properly to help others if they have the same.

Glove box on the V90 is very easy to remove. There are two T20 torx bolts on the underside to remove the plastic undertray. This reveals two more T20 bolts securing the bottom of the glove box itself. There is then a 7mm (or it could be 6mm - sorry can't quite remember) hex bolt at the rear of the glove compartment - N.B. you need quite a long reaching socket to get to this. Next step is three more T20 bolts right at the front top of the glove box (needs to be open to access them) - then it simply pulls out. There is wiring which needs to be disconnected to fully remove - I didn't bother and just propped it up in the footwell.


lower contact points.jpg


Most obvious culprit for the noise in my view is shown above. The hard plastic of the lower rear frame which the glove box sits in is right against the hard plastic of what I think is the footwell air duct. I've marked the probable contact points in the picture above.


lower felt points.jpg

As per pic above, I put felt tape across the three areas where the two parts would be coming into contact.

Centre contact points.jpg


Next I looked at the hard plastic tube which I've marked red in the picture above. I don't know what this is as it seems to simply end without connecting to anything behind the centre console (is that worrying?). This tube was resting against the hard plastic of the frame of the centre console which I've highlighted yellow. If I reached along the tube behind the console it was also resting against a similar structure behind there (couldn't take pic). I just wrapped felt tape around the tube in both places.


Rear felt points.jpg

I thought the above was less likely to be an issue but whilst I was in there I put felt tape on the hole into which a large plastic lug on the rear of the glove box rests (red arrow above); the area that sits flush with the rear of the glove box around the 7(or 6)mm bolt (green arrow); and along a bit of metal frame which may be in contact with the top rear of the glove box (blue arrow above).

I then just put it all back together, putting a bit of PTFE lube on the mounting points.

Not sure exactly which element of the above did it - but this has completely solved both the vibrating rattle I had on startup when the car was cold and also the creaking rattle I had when the car was fully warmed through. I suspect it was the footwell air duct as this would have been temperature sensitive but anyway its sorted so i'm happy.

[V90Virgin]

JamieBoy you are my hero, just done the glove box repair to my V90 and peace appears to have been restored

[Rod57]

I had a niggling rattle on the drivers side of my S90 (69 plate), usually starting around 1500 revs. I thought it was coming from inside, maybe from the door, or perhaps the dashboard area, but just couldn’t pin it down. Eventually the mechanic managed to trace it to the drivers side external front side panel (that extends over the wheel). He found this out by gently knocking on the panel and replicating the rattle. Initially he thought it was the wiper washer pipes knocking on the side and secured them. This helped for a very short time, but then the rattle returned within 24 hours. Took it back again this morning and the problem was fixed in 10 minutes. It appears that the underside arch cover above the Wheel has a hole where a stud would normally fit (we checked other S90’s and they had the same missing lug, so this is obviously the norm). The mechanic put a lug into the hole and problem solved. So simple and I am really surprised Volvo don’t fit this extra lug in the first place (unless there is some particular reason). I also asked him to plug the passenger side as very very occasionally I thought I heard a slight rattle on that side. Hopefully this may help some track down a niggling rattle that cannot be found. Good on the mechanic.

[St James]

If you have an annoying buzzing sound, it can be the headlining.

I had it on my XC60 on the driver's side and I've got it again on the passenger side of my new V60 - I will get the dealer to sort it at first service cos it's not so loud as the XC60 was; but if I press the headlining above the headrest (basically), the buzzing noise goes away.

Also only occurs on rough road surfaces, so it's clearly some element of the inside of the headlining just touching some part of the roof/side pillar and gently vibrating at the perfect resonance to make the noise.....grrr....

[RSK55]

Sorry, I know this is an older thread, but huge thanks to Jamieboy for his detailed answer.
I have recently bought a 2019 V90 CC which rapidly developed an increasingly annoying buzz at normal roadspeeds, which I thought was coming from the centre console - this would have been apart recently as I had Apple Play added to the car by the dealer, and they added the extra USB port in the centre cubby.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I did Jamieboy's recommendations. I've just done a 150-mile round trip with a couple of breaks, and not a hint of a buzz from anywhere. Fingers crossed that's caught it - thanks!

Roger

[Pc44]

Hi, I know this thread is a bit old, but Jamieboy described all the steps I followed, while the rattle-buzzing sound is still coming out of the air-vent area.
I removed the glovebox, put a felt in the abovementioned spots, took a ride without the glovebox and the noise is still there.
Did anyone of you have similar issue and solved it?
I am loosing hope I will get rid of it.
Cheers

[Sotosound]

I used to think about buying a V90, but this thread has got me rattled.

[S90]

Originally Posted by Pc44

Hi, I know this thread is a bit old, but Jamieboy described all the steps I followed, while the rattle-buzzing sound is still coming out of the air-vent area.
I removed the glovebox, put a felt in the abovementioned spots, took a ride without the glovebox and the noise is still there.
Did anyone of you have similar issue and solved it?
I am loosing hope I will get rid of it.
Cheers

Getting rid of a car for a rattle, ALL cars rattle, even Rolls Royce cars rattle!

[MikeGMT]

Originally Posted by Pc44

I am loosing hope I will get rid of it.
Cheers

Originally Posted by S90

Getting rid of a car for a rattle, ALL cars rattle, even Rolls Royce cars rattle!

I read that as meaning get rid of the rattle, not the car.

[Pc44]

Originally Posted by MikeGMT

I read that as meaning get rid of the rattle, not the car.

As intended