barjon

For the past couple of weeks I have been noticing an intermittent "creeking" noise coming from my car's trunk area. I taped down some hanging wires, taped the emergency trunk release pull handle, but still the noise.

Now that the weather has turned much colder, the noise has become constant, and seems to be coming from the passenger side rear quarter panel area. On the highway, at 60+ MPH it stops, but on local roadways, the best way I can describe the noise is like a bag of microwave popcorn being heated.

Any ideas?

38special

If you have the Shaker1000 stereo, you may have an issue with that making noise? [The component in the trunk.]

I find that stuff in my trunk moves around a lot since I drive my ride pretty hard. I have since resorted to putting milk crates in there to hold everything.

barjon

Nope, I don't have the Shaker 1000, and the trunk's completely empty.

b_btrick

I know this might sound a bit silly, however, perhaps its the seatbelt on that side. Had the same sort of sound in my car forever. Then one day giving a friend and his little boy a ride home it didnt make that sound, because he had buckled up his little boy in the back seat on that side. Just a thought, you might try simply buckling all the seatbelts to see if the noise stops.

barjon

Thanks, Butch, I appreciate that. Unfortunately, I've already tried the seat belt, and that wasn't it.

jay_wx

A couple of possibilities here: I'd check the spare tire/jack area under the carpet in the trunk, and then I'd check underneath the car to see if maybe the air moving under the car while driving could possibly be causing some brake line/hose/bracket/muffler, etc. could be banging about...take your hand and try to move any parts like that in or near that area you hear the sound coming from. In the past I've had a part of a seatbelt get closed in the door on the passenger side and it made that popping sound, and on another car I discovered a loose bolt on a muffler hanger.

rex

try WD-40 on the trunk lid hinges

kevinb120

take it to the dealer

barjon

I will have to take it to the dealer. In the meantime, I checked for loose wires and bolts, checked the spare and jack, pulled out the trunk carpet and put it back, and still the noise (even while the carpet was pulled back and driving with the trunk lid open). Wind is not causing the noise; it's definitely from stress on the frame or body of the car. It makes the noise when going around a tight turn at 5 MPH and when going over a speed bump at 2 MPH. And of course, when driving down a not-perfectly-smooth road.

I got a buddy to sit in the back with one of the seat backs down to give a good listen as I drove. Seems like the sound is coming from the area of the passenger side rear strut. Could it possibly be a bad weld, or maybe just a bad strut?

Mongoose

Get in the rear seat or trunk and let someone else drive and you will find it. Wish my dog could drive as there is a rattle in the rear seat area of my Explorer.

montreal ponies

I'll do the driving, he seats in the back, and hang on......

tekman13

Take crazy glue to every joint and opening on the vehicle...that oughtta get it

HairyCanary

My thoughts exactly. The car is brand new, and this is a perfect example of what warranty coverage is for.

Dave

icemant180

Check the moldings above the doors around the edges of the interior roof. If its loose it will chatter, just give it a thump with your palm to secure.

Faber

I have the same thing!

the rattle can come at different times but usually shows up at right aroun 1800 rpms (just the right vibration) also something seems to be loose in some compartment of the body and when i turn hard it will rattle all the way accross the vehicle from one side to the other. I took it to the dealer, and they could not find the rattle but they DID decide that my suspension MIGHT be the culprit and they also decided to void my suspension warranty because I had the eibach pro kit springs on my car.

the tech that tried to find the rattle left my trunk completely shredded (carpet pulled up, panels removed and pop rivets jammed back into the holes all the way)

Little rattle turned into a HUGE nightmare.

I mentioned the magnussen moss act to the service manager, and reminded him that they coulldnt prove that my suspension mods caused the rattle, and had no right to void any warranties based on unsubstanciated claims by a tech who was obviously in a hurry on a friday. the service manager backed off on the warranty voiding, but I still have a rattle nobody seems to be able to find......