Thanks guys, ill check the handbrake cable situation at the weekend - it sounds like a common thing for it to be the handbrake cable thats the cause so fingers crossed its that.

Do i need to fully jack up the car to get access to the handbrake cable or could i just squeeze under without?

Anyone got any pics of how to fix it from moving about? cable ties, foam was suggested etc.

Also another silly question - is the banging section of the cable more towards the front or nearer to the back? Any pics of its location for reference so i know what to look for on saturday?

Thanks all

Adam

I think it will be at the back in between the tank and the floor

Did some more work on the car today and its a lot better.

Seeing how everyone seems to come up with a different solution ive tried to cover all the bases.

I plugged in all the rear seat belts.

Ive put some tape on both seat back connectors.

Ive checked under the car and pulled / bent any heatshields out of the way.

Also checked the handbrake cable - not sure if im looking at the correct cable cause the one i found was metal - and was securely attached to the car.

Ive fixed my squeeky clutch pedal - wd40!

Ive temporarily packed some foam into the boot ( hard to explain ) to reduce the tailgate's movement.

Ive also taped up the rear boot nub thing that hold the boot closed.

Reduced the pressure's in the tyres ( they were pretty much all at 50 PSI ) and the rides much smoother - also the car doesnt seem to skip around when going over bumps like it used to!

So all in all im much happier with the car now im sure that these things have been checked and fixed.

Adam

50 psi !

I refer you back to what I said before:-
"wouldn't surprise me if the garage has stuck way too much psi in."

That's a mad tyre pressure. Surprised they just didn't go bang! Have you only just checked them?

50

To be honest ive only had the time to check the tyres today - after i get home from work i just cant be arsed messing around with the car after working my ass off all day!

Also i know its not an excuse but i get something called SAD in the winter months - so after i finish work i just want to come home and do nothing.

Its definately a lot better now though - surprised Ford's get away with doing that as it seems quite common from what you chaps have said.

I even noticed on the tyres ( falken z somethings - cant remember ) that the max pressure was 50 psi! so they must have thought - sod it - just fill em up to full.

Adam

I know all about SAD too, I get horrid in the winter too. I can't wait until the summer.

50psi is the most I've ever heard of a garage popping in a car's tyre. I must check mine tomorrow.

Morning all, took the car to Fords yesterday to get them to check a suspected oil leak ( couldnt find one ) and i asked them to sort out this rattling noise - lo and behold they cant hear any noise and couldnt find anything wrong!!

So im back to square one i think - looks like ill be spending another weekend messing around with the car to try to solve this. Although saying that maybe im just getting too over cautious - its a hatchback, its got hard suspension and tyres - its gonna make some noise, it wont be completely quiet. And i cant even hear the noise when i have the radio on.

I think the only other thing left to check is the handbrake cable thingie - i had a quick look last time i was under the car but could only just see the cable from one side of the car - maybe i need to get under from the other side and see whether anythings loose.

Anyone got any pictures of the fix that i need to do on this possibly loose handbrake cable?

Thanks

I apologise if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but have you tried looking behind the glovebox?
I had a metallic tapping noise coming from my glovebox area and I couldn't for the life of me locate it.
It wasn't until I went to check my fuse box and pulled out the glovebox that I found a can of Gillette Men's Anti-Perspirant Deodorant rolling around there!!! (Thanks previous owner).

Matt

The only difference is - your noise was coming from the glovebox area, my noise is actually coming from the rear of the car.

I'll check inside the car again but im not gonna hold my breath.

Thanks