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Porsche 993: Why is My Interior Rattling?

If you hear interior rattling noises emanating from your Porsche 993, don't ignore them. These important sounds provide vital diagnostic information about the health and condition of your vehicle.

By Charlie Gaston - April 15, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 993 (1993-1998).

No one wants to hear rattling noises emanating from the interior of their vehicle. While not all rattling noises warrant making a trip down to a local garage for professional repair work, any noise that occurs more than once should be checked out. By being aware of the noises as well as the exact location from which they emanate, including the frequency by which they occur, you can get ahead of a larger (and, oftentimes, more costly) problem later on down the road. Here are a few simple things you can do to both identify and stop the sound of interior rattling in your Porsche 993.

Materials Needed

  • Can of compressed air
  • Flexible wire brush
  • Liquid electrical tape
  • Screwdriver (or angled shaft)

Step 1 – Check the sunroof

It might be loose.

Inspect the sunroof, starting at the sunroof trough, which you can find just inside the rubber seal. If water has become trapped inside, noises can occur. Next, focus on the sunroof drain tubes (located just under the seal). Using a can of compressed air, blast away any dirt, debris, condensation or trapped water from the drain tubes. Follow with a flexible metal wire to unseat any trapped particles. Finally, check for cracks along the seal. The most inexpensive way to repair cracks is with liquid electrical tape. It's also suggested to lubricate the latch and steel plate, as well as checking that the metal roller hasn't loosened. If it has, you'll need to have a mechanic repair it.

Figure 1. The most likely culprit for interior rattle noise is the sunroof.

Step 2 – Check the aftermarket speakers

The specs might not be right for your vehicle.

If the noise is coming from your aftermarket speakers, don't fret. The issue is most likely due to poor installation. You have two main options here: You can open the door panel and check for signs of misalignment (i.e., your stereo is not seated snugly in place or the back of your stereo is crammed against the door panel) or you can have a mechanic check the specs for your aftermarket speakers versus the specs for your door. The worse case scenario is you or your mechanic will need to add insulation to the interior of the door panel to shelter the stereo while you're driving, or you'll need to cut out a piece in the door to make more room for your stereo.

Figure 2. Aftermarket speakers might be installed improperly.

Pro Tip

You can also re-intall your original factory speakers in the mean time.

Step 3 – Check the center dash speaker

It might be bad.

Remove the center dash speaker grille cover and check for damage such as noticeable tears on the cone or the rubber surrounds. Visit a local auto repair store or a local Porsche dealer for replacement parts, which could run you around $50 and up.

Pro Tip

Use a screwdriver or angled shaft to remove the grille cover.

Step 4 – Check the C-pillar covers

They might not be properly insulated.

According to a number of owner complaints published across online forums, interior C-pillar rattle vibration noise is common in Porsche vehicles. However, a quick visit to a local garage can have this problem fixed in no time. The repair should run you around $120 or more, including the cost of materials and labor.

Figure 3. Rear passenger C-pillar cover.

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