My car creaks so badly from all the plastic used in the interior. Can any of that stuff be replaced? The car sounds like a bucket of bolts when ever I go over a bump.

 

it being a vert doesn't help....sure it's not the bushings?

 

Sub frame connectors will help that. It's not a mercedies, get used to it

 

cool some else that can't spell..I'm not alone

 

SFC's will stiffen the chassis quite a bit.

As for the rattles, you should find someone to drive your car while you ride shotgun or in the backseat to locate all the rattles so you know where to start.

I did this, got home and put 3m double stick tape on everything that rattled and now my interior is silent. [8D]

 

you've never been alone as far as bad spelling goes on here! LOL

 

Bushings? Subframes connectors, SFC's? What are you talking about?[&:] Speak English from a woman's standpoint please. What does having a convertible have to do with it? I do know there is extra bracing to compensate not having a solid roof. Is this what you are trying to tell me? This is my first convertible and Mustang so I have a lot to learn. So please excuse my ignorance.

How do I check whatever you have recommended to look at?

All I know is that whenever I go over a speedbump or off my driveway, the car makes a lot of noise and it sounds like the plastic rubbing against each other. I was hoping maybe there was something I could change out, like remove the plastic insides on the doors with carpet or the dash????? Oh my gosh, should I say it "Like my Honda". LOL!!

I absolutely hate all that plastic used in today's cars, they look so cheap. Are there alternatives?

 

yeah, the sfc (sub-frame-connectors) are a form of extra bracing for the chassis. they are welded (hopefully) on metal pipes that run along the bottom of the car to add rigidity. I have a vert as well so i know what you mean and where you are coming from. i plan on getting the sfc's sometime soon as well, i hope -

and DAN02 - thanks for the 3m advice, i will need to try that too- though i think one of my rattles is coming from the passenger sunvisor - im not sure how i would tape that - but good advice anyway.

anyway, leadfoot - there are other forms of bracing as well aside from teh subframes - there things called 'strut tower braces' that connect the sides of the car together in the front, over the engine area. that also could help stiffen up the body (though im not sure about rattles, since i dont have one so out of sheer lack of experience i dunno if itd help. ) they also have taht type of brace to go in the trunk but i dont know if that is always needed...

anyway good luck.

ps. you can always just pump up the stereo to block out the sound, or put the top down and let the wind-noise block it out

 

getting some subframe connectors installed under your car will definitely help reduce body flexing and make the ride more secure too, especially in corners as they greatly reduce body roll in turns. next best thing you can do is get a philips head screwdriver and go over every panel on the interior that you can see and tighten all the screws that hold the panels to the chassis or doors, etc. sometimes they work loose or were left loose at the factory and this lets the panels move and make noises. some of the trim panels like on the doors are held in by hidden plastic clips on the back side around the edges, so go along the edges with the palm of your hand and bang them down to make sure they are tight. and bushings are like hard rubber donuts that are used to separate the metal pieces in the suspension and steering to cushion the joints and prevent metal to metal contact among the various parts like the control arms, sway bars, shock absorbers, etc. that make up the steering and suspension parts. they wear and can dry out and cause the sqeaking noise of metal on rubber that sometimes pops up after the car gets lots of miles on it. they can be sprayed with a rubber lube like WD-40 or replaced with new ones if the wear is bad enough to merit replacment.
You're going to need to learn a new vocabulary based on technical automotive terms so you can keep up with us guys on cars! LOL

 

The factory bracing is a joke, it barely stiffens the frame at all. Since you have a convertible, rest your left knee on the door panel and turn into a driveway that goes uphill, you'll feel your car twist and bend...This is where all the creaks are coming from....If it bothers you, you'll need to install SFC's and if you have any other odd rattles or creaks, locate them and try some double stick tape...