Tailgate Rattle (Window)

[mrrab]

Does anyone else have issues with rattles in the rear tailgate area? My rattle seems as though it's coming from the window, but I have no way of confirming this unless I take the interior paneling out.

I'm thinking about doing it, but I'm afraid that if I do I won't find the rattle and I'll potential break a clip that holds the interior paneling in.

Anyways any help would be great.

Thanks,

Alex

 

[scottm]

Probably going to have to pop the interior panel. Places like Autozone sell cheap prybars made to go around the clips, saved me a lot of broken clips over the years, and I'm less reluctant to do work like this before it gets really bad. Hoping to grease my power window slides this weekend.

 

[Iron Clad Lou]

be sure its not the latch...mine drove me crazy...I ripped the rear of that thing apart till I finally figured it out...I believe there is a TSB for it and I found out how the dealer fixes it...they hammer the latch forward...nice eh?

 

[mrrab]

Thanks scottm. Didn't know Autozone sold such tools. Figured I'd have to go to Toyota to get a clip prying tool.

In another post I read someone suggested using a plastic putty knife...Think I'll check Autozone first.

 

[mrrab]

be sure its not the latch...mine drove me crazy...I ripped the rear of that thing apart till I finally figured it out...I believe there is a TSB for it and I found out how the dealer fixes it...they hammer the latch forward...nice eh?

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually read a post that you replied to stating your aformentioned problem. I'm pretty sure it's not the latch because the rattle is most noticeable when it's cold out and will subside once the cabin warms up.

I'll check for this nontheless.

 

[scottm]

Thanks scottm. Didn't know Autozone sold such tools. Figured I'd have to go to Toyota to get a clip prying tool.

In another post I read someone suggested using a plastic putty knife...Think I'll check Autozone first.

I did upgrade mine with some electrical tape at the bend to prevent scratching the paint. I used it to pull the rear wiper arm off my Land Cruiser last night.

 

[jonz]

You may want to check the knobs on the rails of your roof rack. If they aren't tight, they will rattle going down the road and it's hard to tell where the noise is coming from. I thought mine was coming form the tailgate, turns out it was the roof rack. I had left the knobs loose after moving the rails to wax the roof. Nearly drove me crazy.

 

[4RunnERD]

be sure its not the latch...mine drove me crazy...I ripped the rear of that thing apart till I finally figured it out...I believe there is a TSB for it and I found out how the dealer fixes it...they hammer the latch forward...nice eh?

I have noise definitely coming from the rear, but mine is less of a rattle and more of a chirp/squeak. I have check the knobs on the roof rack, the back seat latches and jack/jack area. Thought I figured it out last night. The spare tire when cranked up under the truck rubs on some metal pieces. I thought the chirp or squeak was the tire rubbing on the metal so I dropped the tire and drove around without it and still have the noise. Might try wrapping some electrical tape around the lift gate latch before I try hammering it.

 

[aha2988]

I usually say
"silence is golden..
Duck tape is silver"

But in this case...
"Silence is golden!
Electrical tape is black!"
lol just put some electrical tape around the rear hatch latch, and no more door rattle!!

 

[ryangab]

Just a thought....I had a rattle too and found out it was my license plate and frame rubbing against the car. I took come rubber bumpers used to keep cabinet doors from slamming and stuck those on the back of the plate. No more rattle. Hopefully its nothing too serious for ya. Good Luck!

 

[aha2988]

yeah I took care of the license plate I had (well my wife had) a rubber cooking pot mat for setting a boiling pot of water on I cut a small 3/4" strip from the mat and then cut the 3/4" into squares, then placed two squares behind each mounting hole and screwed the the mounting bolts through the rubber squares.

The bad thing was the door itself was still rattling it took me a while to figure it out, some days it sounded like the glass, some days it sounded like something loose inside the door, I striped my rear interior down to the metal and folded the seats down to determine the door itself wasn't latching tight enough. Just put some electrical tape around the latch and no more rattle..

 

[4rs]

Just like in the tell tail heart.... Rattles get louder and louder. That's when you have to turn up the radio.