My wife's 1.25 2008 Mk 6 Fiesta Zetec Climate has developed a rattle at the rear. I think it is the offside shock absorber which is pretty easy to change.

However I'm surprised that this should start at only 5,000 miles. Is this a known problem? Anyone else had this or some other cause of a rattle at the rear? I've eliminated the obvious by emptying the boot, removing the rear wheel, parcel shelf etc. At one time I thought it was the seat belt mechanism behind the trim but more likely the shock absorber. Ford say shock absorbers are not a warranty item (despite the low mileage).

Thanks guys

shock absorbers come under steering and suspension.

One thing to check is that the rubber bushes have not become loose or perhaps perished (a bit early really in such a new car)

a loose top mount.

Put some insulation tape around where the rear seats attach onto.

Lack of sound insulation where the spare wheel goes or would go causes a drumming noise.

Check that the boot bump stops are adjusted correctly. (Ford removed adjustable bump stops on the new fiesta and its !Removed! annoying)

Jamie

Thanks for that Jamie.

I have a feeling that the top mount might be a possibility.

I intend to strip the thing down when we get some fine weather as my garage is a bit narrow for side jobs.

I will do a search to see what other members have experienced and work my way through them.

Incidentally although a Newbie to the site I have 50 years (yes 50 years !!) experince of working on Fords right back to the old Popular models. This includes Anglias, Mk I and II Cortina GT's, Sierra Cosworth, Escorts, Mondeos, Focus, Fiestas etc.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Rob

Thanks for that Jamie.

I have a feeling that the top mount might be a possibility.

I intend to strip the thing down when we get some fine weather as my garage is a bit narrow for side jobs.

I will do a search to see what other members have experienced and work my way through them.

Incidentally although a Newbie to the site I have 50 years (yes 50 years !!) experince of working on Fords right back to the old Popular models. This includes Anglias, Mk I and II Cortina GT's, Sierra Cosworth, Escorts, Mondeos, Focus, Fiestas etc.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Rob

Some people have reported difficulty reseating the squab of the rear bench after using the full capacity of the boot. I grope around, and get the rear seat-belt buckles up in sight, and fasten the belts into them. My last car, a Yaris, had to be forcibly locked back down into the floor lock points, before raising the back-rests to lock them back. The belts then rattled against the side-panels, if you forgot to use the belt parking mouldings in the rear side-panels (3-door car). I've even had front belts knocking against the B-pillar, so I adjusted the height of the top pulley.

Dry weather can often cause knocking of suspension bushes as they dry out, so I hose them when washing the car, also play the hose on the backs of the rear brake-drums. I hose the underneath in the wheel-arches also, to try to moisten bushes.