My 96 Sunfire would make loud rattling noises while it was idling and when I would go over bumps. The rattling noise was driving me crazy!!! I fixed it after two weeks of going insane. The rattling noise sounded like it was coming from the front of the dashboard right under the windshield, I thought that some panels were loose but that was not the case. The culprit behind this annoying noise was the hood hinges. The bolts that hold the hood to the hood hinges were loose allowing the the hood to rattle against the hinges. I tightened the hood hinges and the noise has went away......thank goodness. No more annoying noises at idle. Just thought I would post this for anyone who is having mystery noises from their Sunfire/Cavalier.

oh man and I was hoping for a story with a BFH !!

lol, glad you got it, I hate when it s the obvious, and its tough to find.

hmm mine is def the dash, cuz when you press on the dash it doenst make the sound anymore.....but i might still check it anyway