cthom

I've had my car back from the dealer for a few days now. I complained of startup clatter, poor fuel mileage, and a rattle in the rear deck. They perfomed some test to check the fuel consumption and pronounced it fine. Big surprise. But I get 25 hwy. and 19 city, though it has been cold and I make short (less than 5 mi.) trips in the city. They perfomed the TSB for the clatter by replacing a swirl valve and recalibrating the ECU. It's much quieter now on cold mornings, though the noise isn't completely eliminated. It's been said before, but if you go in for this TSB expect to wait a few days for the valve to come in. Service at this dealer was pretty poor. I got my car back with scuff marks all over the sill plate and door and grease marks on the rear deck. But they're the only dealer in town.

gcs118

I don't think start up clatter can totally be eliminated with our cars, because it will always function and therefore always make some audible noise. Don't sweat the gas mileage, wait til the summer. There are extra additives in the gas to prevent freezing, etc. in the winter. This hurts everybody's gas mileage. lol and my rear deck rattles too...just gotta live with it I guess.

hughes412

Ash far as the rear deck rattle goes, if any one knows how to stop it PLEASE tell me. I think Ive tried everything. Im almost to the point of taking the subs out.

cthom

The service advisor told me there was a bushing missing in the rear deck which was causing the noise. Sure enough, when I left the dealer the noise was gone. But I had the car tinted and now it's back, though not as bad as before. I think the 3rd brake light cover is the source of some of the rattle.

As to the gas mileage - I heard winter additives will hurt fuel milage but I filled up in South Florida before my last highway trip and I'm in north, central Fla. right now. I wonder if there are additives this far south?

And the clatter - I'm going to switch to the OEM oil filter and Mobil 1 next week. We'll see if it helps at all. Interestingly, if you open up the oil fill cap after the car has sat for a few hours you can see the cam lobes are bone dry. This can't be good.