[jfdelacruz]

My almost 1000km i30 1.6 CRDI has developed a new rattle. It sounds as if there's a ball bearing running up/down a channel inside the center console (just where the ash tray is). The sound only occurs when I lift off the gas and when I hit the gas. It only occurs once. So if you gas-brake-gas-brake-gas-brake constantly, you can make it rattle on and off. The rattle isn't constant. It's like a ball bearing running up (due to inertia) when hitting the gas and it's a wall or edge which makes it rattle and then when lifting off the gas (car engine brakes and due to forward momentum) sounds like a ball bearing runs down and hits another wall or edge which makes it rattle.

The thing is, i have NOTHING inside the ash tray, the multi purpose box below and over the radio, only the manuals inside the glove box, nothing on any door's trash bin and a few receipts inside the center console storage bin.

Anyone know what this could be?

[eye30]

Could it be something in the exhaust?

[Shambles]

Loose screw. The centre console comes off easily enough to be able to check.

Does yours have the flip-down compartment above the ashtray? You could probably get away with simply removing that and having a feel around...

[jfdelacruz]

@Shambles, yes I have the flip down multibox just below the climate controls. How do I remove this? Also do you have a guide on how to remove the center console so I can check if there's a screw there.

Funny thing is coming home awhile ago, the rattle wasn't there...when I started up the car a few hours later to drive the GF home, the rattle started. Thought it was coming from the Glovebox, GF thought it came from under my seat...When she left I tried putting my ear nearer to the Glovebox (sound is supposed to get amplified) but it got muffled the moment my head was centered on top of the gear lever - this means the sound is below my head. So it might just actually confirm Shambles theory!

[Shambles]

Not hard to remove the flip down box

Have a read here. Just two screws to remove (tho the pics don't show it)

https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=3264.msg30816#msg30816

[jfdelacruz]

Thanks for the great help. I now know what to do!