2015 Honda Fit 98k miles
 

Hi all,
New here, I've been watching for awhile but finally jumped in and made an account. As the title states I have a 3rd gen 2015 Fit EX-L, it's been a really great car in general since I bought it brand new but I've recently run into a problem I'm stumped on. I recently took a road trip to BC, Canada and wound up going down a pretty rough gravel road. After driving on it for awhile a rattling noise started on my passenger side front wheel. It only happens at speeds under 15 mph. My first thought was that a rock was trapped in the wheel well ( that's what the sound resembles most ) that gets caught in one spot at higher velocity. That doesn't seem to be the issue as I've jacked it up and inspected the wheel well and tire for anything basic and nothing there. While it was up I gave a basic shake test ( no pry bar ) to the suspension components I could see and gave the wheel a front and pack and top to bottom shake. All of the parts I could check seemed tight. when I push down on either side of the car the shocks seem to be tight and don't make a noise. Has anyone got an idea for the next thing to check ?
Thanks!
Stumped in SD

PS. Will post a video of the sound when I'm back home.

Welcome. First thought was the splash shield, what Honda calls the engine undercover - what you need to remove to access the oil filter. The fasteners for the splash shield fall out easily and parts of the plastic start to separate, which can cause strange noises.

Have you inspected the splash shield all around?

I had a similar issue a few years ago. It turned out to be a stone hidden very well. It fell out after a few days before I did anything about it.

yea, the control arms have alot of hidden compartment"...thank godyou knowits probably 99 percent chance just a rock flying around....maybe check swaybar end links?

Hey! Thank you, glad to be part of the club. I checked that all our the other day, replaced a few of the plastic clips ( the screws were astronomically priced at my dealership and amazon sent the wrong size :violin:) . While it didn't solve the rattling problem I think it made my gas mileage go up a few digits.

I tried to check all around the controller arm, popped the tire off today and gave it a closer look but couldn't find much. I will definitely give it a 3rd try next time I get under there thank you! That would make me so happy to find a rock lol that was my original thought on what it was

I checked the suspension / steering stuff just by hand. I think I may go back in there with a pry bar and see if there's any play in those areas. Thank you!

I couldn't get a good recording by myself today - my friend that would usually help was out of commission lol. Here's a post from someone else that had the same exact sound again it only happens at 15 mph or less.

my first thoughts on that sound is the wear indicators on the front disc brakes
OR
a rock caught between the spalshshield around and close to rotor....i think we probably have that..... and the rotor