Air filter box and resonator rattling

[vnmo]

Hello everyone!
After changing the air filter, I have noticed a rattling of the filter housing and resonator, that is severe at idling RPM. Now, I am not sure, if it was present before i changed the filter as it is not very audible from within the car with the hood and doors closed.

I have noticed that the sound stops I press very gently on the box, especially close to the screw below the resonator box. The screws are indeed tight, but i have noticed that there is a minor play on the the whole thing that causes the rattling.

See the image below. The play is in/near the bolts marked with arrows, particularly on the right one below the resonator.

1. Do you know if the play in near these bolts are intentional?
2. What would you suggest? A removal refitting of these bolts?
3. Do you know the right method to insert the rubber bushed marked number 6 in the image?

Note: I have temporarily removed the rattling by putting a rubber tape near the bolt/grommet 18.

[Westy36]

Welcome to the forum.

Of the options you list, I would go for no2. One of the bolts might need a little tighten. That said, as long as the box is secure and you can't hear it inside the car, I wouldn't worry too much. Being an older car, any bolts would benefit from a little penetrating oil on them to soak in before working on, and cleaning up if there is rust and it's possible to do so due to access.

[embee]

Don't know the details of your model but I've come across a handful of cases where airboxes or similar rattle due to the rubber grommets appearing to have shrunk a bit. The fixings are usually either a steel sleeve inside the grommet or more usually these days a shouldered bolt, either way they won't tighten down any further than the metal allows.
I have cured some by simply fitting an extra rubber washer which I usually make out of old inner tubes (which is generally good quality rubber although not oil resistant).
Depending on the design you can also use thin steel washers as long as the hole is big enough to fit over the part which limits the nip so it adds extra clamping on the rubber part.

[Brendan976]

Hi
I had a similar rattle that I totally believed that it came from the clip that holds the stay which keeps the bonnet open when working on the engine. I put a cable tie around it which solved the problem.
HTH
Ben

[Lord Voltermore]

As long as you are sure the box etc are secure and cant fall off ,and you have been able to stop the rattle using rubber tape  I'd say its job done  , especially on a car this age.

 It may be aging rubber washers , sleeving etc,designed to absorb  slight movement,  was distorted when you dismantled  it, or you may have reassembled it slightly wrong.  ( Plastic parts held rigid   would be at risk of stress fracturing unless there was some 'give' to absorb engine vibrations. )

Your fix using rubber tape may have eliminated the following possibility  but I will mention it anyway as it may help others.-

  I would also suggest  checking the replaced filter element.  These sometimes incorporate a rubber sealing gasket that makes an air tight seal when the lid is clamped closed.  The lid might rattle if an  after- market filter has a poor quality seal or if its possible to put the  filter in upside down .  (The rest of the air intake might always  rattled  bit anyway.)        If you suspect this as a possibility you may be able to check by running the car briefly  with no filter installed at all. If the rattling gets worse it might point to the cause.

[vnmo]

SOLVED!

Thanks a lot everyone for your responses. As suggested I had temporarily reduced it by rubber tape.

However, last week I tried to refit, when I found the problem! Here is the details for completeness and future use.

The round rubber bush/washer near the mounting point is  slotted on opposite ends in such a way that the air filter goes in though the slot and in that position you can move it up or down towards the metal body and the rubber bush/washer is practically useless.

Now, you have to rotate the bush/washer ~90 degrees such that this slot is perpendicular/misaligned with the air-filter and thus the bush blocks the filter from touching the upper or lower metal parts, thereby removing the any vibrations and serving its purpose.

This misalignment might have been very little and might have aligned during my airfilter change by mistake, causing rattling.

-Vishnu