Springy rattle making me nuts! But I know where it's coming from...
 

Over sharp bumps there is this springy rattle/jiggle coming from the area indicated, I HAVE TO solve this as it's all I hear now when driving my 2000 Boxster and ruining what is otherwise a very enjoyable car. Any ideas what can be causing this and also how easy is it to dismantle the interior trim in front of this section to see what the devil is causing this rattle/jiggle? Appreciate any help thanks!

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1736199321.jpg

That panel holds the rear defrost plug on the top surface. Take a look and if you can't see the plug, it probably fell down and is banging around. That panel has a screw in the carpet and a snap and hook. I have an extra panel I can take a pic of if you want. I also had a rattle in a similar place. It turned out to be my convertible top transmission arms. One of the arms was missing a rubber grommet and the arm would bounce a little over bumps and rattle.

Thanks for the info! Any help in steering me towards solving this further would be highly appreciated (especially how I might investigate the transmission arms, and if you can include a pic of the panel so I understand how to take apart that would be amazing too cheers)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1736208901.jpg
Here is the arm for the convertible top transmission
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1736208918.jpg
I'm pointing to the rubber piece that can be broken or missing and cause a rattle
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1736208937.jpg
If you look at the top of that piece you circled in your picture there should be a cover. If you remove that cover you should see the plug for the rear defrost. It might have broken off and is rattling around in there.

What a fantastic bit of help, thank you so much! I'll endeavor to root around in the car this weekend cheers.

I have been looking for my rattle for a long time and only found it when my convertible transmission broke and I rebuilt it.

We are clearly brothers from another rattle. :p

Does your convertible top work correctly? The only other thing behind that carpeted corner panel is the micro-switch for the convertible top.

Yes top works properly, I need to push it a bit to be totally closed to be able to have the latch clamp on and lock things up though

There are a lot of things that can rattle in these cars. I recently fixed a rattle by replacing the latches for the windscreen. I had been trying to track down a similar rattle on the passenger side of the car when I accidentally grabbed the windscreen which stopped the rattle.

Welp, good news - I found the cause of the rattle/chatter - it's coming from the driver side window. Now this is the part I can't understand so hopefully someone out there can help me figure a way to resolve.

If I pulse the window from its fully closed position REALLY quickly so the window only opens say 1/16" the rattle is gone. What does that mean in terms of fixing this aside from pulsing the window (which works fine and I'm OK with but one day I'd like a true fix). Does this suggest the window mechanism should be set so the max setting is a 1/16" less high? Can that even be done? Or does this suggest the motor/window assembly is loose? It's a weird one!

Welp, good news - I found the cause of the rattle/chatter - it's coming from the driver side window. Now this is the part I can't understand so hopefully someone out there can help me figure a way to resolve.

If I pulse the window from its fully closed position REALLY quickly so the window only opens say 1/16" the rattle is gone. What does that mean in terms of fixing this aside from pulsing the window (which works fine and I'm OK with but one day I'd like a true fix). Does this suggest the window mechanism should be set so the max setting is a 1/16" less high? Can that even be done? Or does this suggest the motor/window assembly is loose? It's a weird one!

Edit: I should add the window can be open at any height and the noise disappears. I pulse it just so I can keep the window "closed" and eliminate the rattle.