Q&A

Rattles can be very hard to pinpoint. It may take some time and the right technician to fix your problem. I would suggest that next time you bring your car to the shop that you ask for a road test with the "squeak and rattle" tech. That way he/she can here the same noise you are trying to get fixed. Hearing exactly the noise you are trying to fix will help a great deal in getting to the cause of you noise.

I have lived with the rattle behind the dashboard since I bought the car used (12000)miles. When still under warranty, they took the dashboard off, put it back together and shrugged. Mystery unsolved. Took it to another dealer - dismantle, shrug, mystery unsolved. I've come to terms with it by loud music (sometimes when I turn on the air blower with or w/o the AC and set it on 3, it stops it, but not always. Oh, and it's worse when it's cold out (but I live in a warm climate so not an issue). Good luck. Let me know if you find anything out. I tried!

I bought my Malibu Maxx used as well - I had the same Rattle - that was an unsolved mystery for anyone that I showed it too. I did my own investigating and it is the cowel. (This is the area right below the windshield wipers). This plastic was not sealing/sitting right and vibrates and makes tremendous noise. I took it to the dealer but I am not willing to pay $300 + to get it fixed so like you the loud music kinda drains it out. :o)

The plastic cowl under the wipers has a rubber leading edge that vibrates in the wind. I cleaned mine and laid a ribbon of clear silicone across the edge with about 3/8" overlap on the windshield glass and the rubber edge. No more noise and the silicone is easily removed if need be.