Ok so Ive been having this rattle or clicking noise basically since the car was new. Took it into the dealer where the service rep acted as if he's never seen this problem before
rolleyes
and said they could swap the seatbelt height adjuster sliding panel to see if it helps. It didnt, and actually made the rattle much more loud and frequent... so I decided to crack the panel open myself and see what I could do.
So from reading numerous threads here about it, heres what I did:
1) Pry off the "AIRBAG" plastic logo (be careful not to break off any of the clips/legs)
2) Use a Torx screw driver and undo that one screw underneath (be careful not to let it drop inside the panel)
3) Pull the cloth covered panel off, starting at the bottom. Its basically just clipped on. You'll see this behind the panel:
I decided there wasnt really anything there that would be making the noise, so I worked on the cloth-covered panel instead.
4) It seemed like it was the plastic height adjusting clip thing (the one you press on to slide the seatbelt) hitting the panel that was causing the nose. So I unhooked the spring on the backside of the panel, to release the height adjuster clip thingy. Then I slid it off of the panel (you sort of have to force it through at an angle). Then I padded the clip with some hockey tape.
5) I also padded the backside of the panel (where the clip slides/rubs) with some hockey tape.
6) Then I just reassembled everything... heres a picture of the sliding clip thing back on the panel with the spring
7) I also added some tape to the seatbelt height adjuster for good measure. Dont add tape where the red X is. I had originally put tape there but realized it shows with the panel back on
8) Put the cloth covered panel back on by first sliding the top section on first (you'll know when you have it apart), then the bottom. Make sure to line everything up properly.. i.e. the plastic panel clips with the height adjuster
So in the 5 minutes of driving I did afterwards, the rattle seemed to be gone (or at least it was much less noticeable), so it seems that it IS the height adjuster clip thingy hitting the panel that causes the noise. Ill let you guys know if this ACTUALLY gets rid of the noise after a lot more driving, but even if it doesnt I hope these pictures will help out some of you that do plan to take the panel apart.