Hatch Rattle, Latch Adjustment?

[Colorado S14]

I have had a super annoying rattle from my rear hatch area and after quite some time of not knowing what the cause was (I checked the license plate, jack/tools, spare tire, etc.) I finally took a little electrical tape and wrapped it around the striker for the latch and, voilà, that solved it.

But as you can imagine that tape just gets torn up pretty quick and the problem shows back up. I think that the latch/striker needs to be adjusted to hold things a bit tighter. On my old jeep you could loosen the striker screws and slide the striker to adjust but this does not appear to be the case on the 4Runner.

So, question is, how to adjust this? Or, alternatively, how else to solve this latch rattle?

Thanks!

 

[IanB]

I'm not around my truck to look, but is there an adjustable stopper on each side of the hatch that could be backed out a bit to provide more pressure when closed so it wouldn't rattle?

 

[arehman11]

I'd like to know this as well. I had the tape working for a couple of weeks and now the rattle is back.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

I'm not around my truck to look, but is there an adjustable stopper on each side of the hatch that could be backed out a bit to provide more pressure when closed so it wouldn't rattle?

This would usually be the case if the striker isn’t adjustable. It really has to be one or the other. Haven’t had to look at mine yet.

 

[Colorado S14]

I have not noticed an adjustable stop on mine as of yet... Anyone know of a digital FSM floating around for the 5th gens online?

 

[Soccer13]

I noticed the rattle when temperatures dropped and tore everything apart till I tried the electrical tape on the striker and it worked. Would love to hear if anyone figures anything else out as a longer term solution

 

[sn_85]

I have not noticed an adjustable stop on mine as of yet... Anyone know of a digital FSM floating around for the 5th gens online?

I'm assuming this means service manual? I have one if you want me to email it to you.

 

[Colorado S14]

I'm assuming this means service manual? I have one if you want me to email it to you.

Heck yes, thanks, I'll PM you.

I will report back to the group if I can track down a solution.

Thanks!

 

[Colorado S14]

Well it looks like there is an adjustment procedure and that perhaps it just requires a bit more gusto than I gave it the first time.

Looks like you loosen the latch on the body and use a brass rod (although anything hard and unmarring would work I assume, hammer handle, etc.) and give it a whack with a mallet to move the latch. I will try when I get a chance but here is the FSM page describing the procedure.

 

[bleaches]

Well it looks like there is an adjustment procedure and that perhaps it just requires a bit more gusto than I gave it the first time.

Looks like you loosen the latch on the body and use a brass rod (although anything hard and unmarring would work I assume, hammer handle, etc.) and give it a whack with a mallet to move the latch. I will try when I get a chance but here is the FSM page describing the procedure.

No bueno on the link to the service manual

 

[Colorado S14]

No bueno on the link to the service manual

Just updated to a different host, hopefully it is working now.

 

[bleaches]

Just updated to a different host, hopefully it is working now.

Thanks! It shows fine now. Have you done your adjustment yet? I am curious which direction to whack it to get more pressure on the latch.

 

[Colorado S14]

Thanks! It shows fine now. Have you done your adjustment yet? I am curious which direction to whack it to get more pressure on the latch.

I've not done my adjustment yet, however, you would move the latch towards the front of the truck to hold the hatch with firmer pressure.

 

[nb rob]

my buddy from the body shop mentioned repositioning the striker with a 2x4 and hammer-- it's nice to see the equivalent toyota instruction on this thread.

I've been down some bumpy roads since 2015, and I was surprised to find every aspect of my lift gate loose over the last summer. First the striker with the electrical tape, and then the top hinges, and most recently the spoiler (very easy to tighten-- just 4 bolts behind some rubber plugs).

I'm probably going to remove the tape from the striker later today, loosen it with the T40, and give it a whack forward. I'll report back afterward.

Although I must say, my last effort used a small amount of gorilla tape, and it has been holding up VERY well. If you're new to taping the striker, there's a balancing act between "just enough" and "my liftgate won't open". It's hair-raising when you add too much.

 

[sn_85]

I've not done my adjustment yet, however, you would move the latch towards the front of the truck to hold the hatch with firmer pressure.

Any update on this? My striker hatch is acting up like crazy again despite using gorilla tape and greasing the latch.

 

[Colorado S14]

Any update on this? My striker hatch is acting up like crazy again despite using gorilla tape and greasing the latch.

Yep, I used a fine tip sharpie to mark the original location and then followed the directions in the FSM. I had to wack the shit out of it but it moved forward a little bit. I don't have any tape on mine right now and it is definitely better but not totally cured, I may try to move it again or just use a really think layer of tape.

 

[Ellis_McPickle]

Thanks for posting this. Just adjusted mine per your instructions and its quiet now.

 

[armartinez]

I have been having the same rattle from the rear hatch. I vaguely remember slamming something hard it it recently and assume I bent the striker? Anyway, took it off and turned so the back is now the front. No more rattle.

 

[nb rob]

I have been having the same rattle from the rear hatch. I vaguely remember slamming something hard it it recently and assume I bent the striker? Anyway, took it off and turned so the back is now the front. No more rattle.

that's a pretty good idea! I'm going to try turning the striker around.

I wacked the shit out of mine with a deadblow hammer and a piece of 2x4. But whenever I tighten the bolts back up, the striker assembly seems to center on the bolts again. I've tried a couple times, and I went back to electrical tape on the striker, which works well for a few months generally.

 

[T4Ronner]

Flipped the latch around. Problem solved. It was driving me insane. Thanks for starting this thread. Thought for sure it was something inside the panels.