Rockable Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 My 65 Riviera has a metallic sounding rattle in the PS door. I have had the door skin and the door panel off twice each and have yet to determine what is causing it. I have hearing loss and wear hearing aids. I can hear the rattle but I can't judge direction very well, plus it is hard to get close enough to the PS door while driving it. 😁 Has anyone else dealt with this and determined what is causing it. I folded up a sheet of paper and put it between the door panel fuzzy and the glass, thinking this might be it but it didn't change anything. I'm open to suggestions. Thanks Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jframe Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 Could be the infamous and seemingly dreaded "Riviera rattle". Think it's caused by the vapor return line (if you have factory A/C), and the fuel line rubbing against each other when the car is running. Mine seems to do it more often than not in the winter time with colder temperatures. Not sure there is a real fix; I'm sure others here have come up with ways to deal with it; I just let it roll. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 14, 2023 Author Share Posted July 14, 2023 Well, after another test drive, it doesnt do it with the windows rolled down. So it must be glass on metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 If you have the door skin off, look at this arm and make sure it’s not broken. The roller runs in a curved track. The arm is easily broken when the door is close by grabbing the glass at the top to close the door rather than using the door handle. Sorry about the small image. To get a better look at it, check out this eBay auction. https://www.ebay.com/itm/332693440759?fits=Year%3A1963|Model%3ARiviera|Make%3ABuick&hash=item4d761308f7:g:o0gAAOSwNd9bK0ta&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0EO5nak334FtgDNYp7xs0M18XmTqxRBDFgNQBI9F4%2BR2HElMpAQ1kyfdkYxC%2F%2F%2BRhee2iVrMjEGowk3CGFx4P2uN78Y%2F5EWzulV9v6KLmsqMm77n4dMtTC%2Bqeni8cj0n5T4gHRrpY0tYVnM7aQZXsqtt638HpDi%2F%2F1vvL7Iz5r1k3v%2BBTroogTOGf9WLDMVlH4lGsSbpu%2BisCiXpdxy1PUZMVtdMcZfjgz%2BrRhIaKXxKnXV2SM5LqRhjk4DAr5liXmSyR63g9AGbnkj%2BaXNfYEo%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4TF2N-qYg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 14, 2023 Author Share Posted July 14, 2023 No. Had it off twice and looked at that, specifically. Thats not it but it sure sounded like it could have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 With the skin off, the door open, and the window up; you might try moving the window at the top to see what might be loose inside the door frame. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 14, 2023 Author Share Posted July 14, 2023 I guess I am going to take it off one more time. Sigh. Fortunately, it's not much more trouble than the door panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTX-SLPR Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 Double check your door lock rods, especially the one that goes up through the door card as mine rattled. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 15, 2023 Author Share Posted July 15, 2023 (edited) Well, moving the door skin UP about 1/16" improved it but did not eliminate it. (It makes the pin stripe alignment slightly off.) I see no shiny spots where anything has been rubbing. I've had the door skin off 6 times, so far. This is crazy but it seems to be an interference with the door skin. I drove it down the road with the door skin off and it didn't seem to do it. <sigh> Edited July 15, 2023 by Rockable (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crowvet Posted July 15, 2023 Share Posted July 15, 2023 The felt wears out in the upper portion of the felt channel. top of the door. Crack the glass down just slightly just so it is not pressed against the top of the channel. I am betting the noise will be gone. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 16, 2023 Author Share Posted July 16, 2023 12 hours ago, crowvet said: The felt wears out in the upper portion of the felt channel. top of the door. Crack the glass down just slightly just so it is not pressed against the top of the channel. I am betting the noise will be gone. You may be right. You can't examine it without removing the glass.............and the door skin again. ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 I think the U channels (fuzzy) that guides the side window up and down is worn and the glass is rattling against the metal of the U channel. Is there a supplier that has these readily available? What is the correct name? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera63 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 4 hours ago, Rockable said: I think the U channels (fuzzy) that guides the side window up and down is worn and the glass is rattling against the metal of the U channel. Is there a supplier that has these readily available? What is the correct name? Thanks Steele Rubber Products. Upper Division Post Run Channel Set. I did this on my car several years ago. I did a write up in the ROA Riview magazine. That may be helpful for you. Off the top of my head I don't recall which issue. I will check. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Thanks! Please let me know what issue it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RivNut Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 There’s a feature of the Riview that allows you to search for tech articles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riviera63 Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 12 hours ago, Rockable said: Thanks! Please let me know what issue it was. Not listed under tech articles. To find articles that have been published in the Riview go to "Index of Articles". This article was found under Body-Paint-Exterior then click on Weather Stripping/Glass. My write up was in the March/April 2019 issue. Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 Well, this is getting really aggravating. I removed the door panel 2 more times today. I tightened up everthing and even adjusted the front of the glass upwards a little. I also spent a lot of time stuffing thin cardboard strips into all of the various positions of "anti rattle" fuzzy strips, both inside and outside the door. The cardboard strips did nothing to calm the clank clank. So, I walked away for a little while. I can't replicate the rattle by slapping on the door, glass or anything else. I have to ride down a rough road to test it. WHEN I find out what it is, I will post my findings. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJS Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 4 hours ago, Rockable said: I have to ride down a rough road to test it. Good day. As a last resort, maybe just stay on smooth roads…😀 Seriously, I feel your pain, chasing the sounds that haunt us can be a drag. Good luck. later, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 22, 2023 Author Share Posted July 22, 2023 That ain't gonna happen. I live on a washboard road. If it rattlers all the way to the main road, it will drive me crazy. I will get it.... eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogDriver Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 A suggestion would be to pack the doors cavity full with something like batten used for upholstery. Make sure whatever tou use have some thickness to make the effort worthwhile. If the noise stops then pull some of the batten out. Start at either the front or the back. Keep going till you have success. If the noise is there with a full cavity then look at other sources. Have you had someone else help with listening for the noise? Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Are you sure it isn't coming from the quarter window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 It is not coming from the vent window. Next attempt will involve one of my car buddies with better hearing than me riding in the passenger seat and pinpointing the noise. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Sorry, I meant the rear quarter window... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 Pretty sure it's not that one either. My wife swears it's coming from the door. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytr1903 Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 I had a rattle that was close to what you are describing. I took the door panel and door skin off, but nothing was apparent. The other door panel off at the time and noticed that there was a quarter inch or three eighths inch thick strip of foam glued to the door structure just above the inside door handle. It looked factory. The other side had a shadow of where its foam was originally attached. I stuck some foam to the shadow, put it back together and the rattle was gone. The foam took up some of the slop between the two surfaces and cure the noise. Also, occasionally I will put my wife to work with a long fuel hose riding in a car and listening through the hose for the noise. She is very good at it. Tom 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 2 hours ago, ytr1903 said: I had a rattle that was close to what you are describing. I took the door panel and door skin off, but nothing was apparent. The other door panel off at the time and noticed that there was a quarter inch or three eighths inch thick strip of foam glued to the door structure just above the inside door handle. It looked factory. The other side had a shadow of where its foam was originally attached. I stuck some foam to the shadow, put it back together and the rattle was gone. The foam took up some of the slop between the two surfaces and cure the noise. Also, occasionally I will put my wife to work with a long fuel hose riding in a car and listening through the hose for the noise. She is very good at it. Tom I will certainly look for that. It's got to be something simple like that but finding it has been a pain. The rubber hose idea is a good one, as well. I do that myself but never thought of giving one to my wife, who has pretty good hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 (edited) What about linkage rods for the door latch and lock mechanism. I have seen those with loose connections that can cause a rattle; typically when closing the door. You could temporarily tape those joints with masking tape to eliminate them as a possibility. Edited July 23, 2023 by EmTee (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 7 hours ago, EmTee said: What about linkage rods for the door latch and lock mechanism. I have seen those with loose connections that can cause a rattle; typically when closing the door. You could temporarily tape those joints with masking tape to eliminate them as a possibility. Those were the first things I checked. I am going to put new fuzzy in and see if that helps. Still not convinced that's it but the one in the DS, the one that doesn't rattle, is shot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbinator Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 If you have an emblem in the door panel, I have the black background Riviera written in the circle in my "wood panel" on. my 63. Another long shot, but. maybe a bullseye. If you give the emblem in the door panel some tape over the emblem to see if you can isolate movement, if any. that is what was rattling in my "wood" panel. Turbinator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockable Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 (edited) Healed! I got my buddy Richard to ride with me this morning and in less than a minute, he said the rattle is at the top rear of the glass. Once I knew that, all I had to do was adjust the rear glass run and problem solved. My wife just doesn't understand this stuff well enough to diagnose noises across the car for me. Get an experienced buddy to ride with you! It will save a lot of time. Thanks for everyone's help. Edited July 29, 2023 by Rockable (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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