Rattle in Rear Over Bumps?

[stinger541]

Hi, this usually happens when it is really cold outside, but not always (can be warmer). I thought it was coming from the headliner area, but now I think it has to do with the hatch/trunk cover being loose. When I close the hatch, it makes the same rattle noise, like it is bouncing on the string that holds it attached to the hatch. Sometimes if I mess with the string or take it off completely, I no longer hear the rattle over bumps. Wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this issue and if so, was there any permanent fix? Do not want to just have to completely remove the cover. Thanks

 

[Snicklefritz]

I don't think that hatch cover moves when the hatch is closed, it just rests on the shelves - unless you have something tall enough to poke it up. Just make sure you don't put said tall item under the cover hinges or you will end up snapping them loose/off. Check out your cover hinges to make sure they are still solidly attached.

Otherwise, I would suspect a hatch lid adjustment is in order. Try turning out the stops first to see if that changes the noise, it might go away entirely. There are lots of stories on here of people experimenting with washers under the side stops, that of course don't adjust at all.

 

[stinger541]

I don't think that hatch cover moves when the hatch is closed, it just rests on the shelves - unless you have something tall enough to poke it up. Just make sure you don't put said tall item under the cover hinges or you will end up snapping them loose/off. Check out your cover hinges to make sure they are still solidly attached.

Otherwise, I would suspect a hatch lid adjustment is in order. Try turning out the stops first to see if that changes the noise, it might go away entirely. There are lots of stories on here of people experimenting with washers under the side stops, that of course don't adjust at all.

Thanks, but mine moves a bunch and the hinges are tight. But even closed, the cover moves/bounces easily when I get in back seat and mess with it. Really, the string bounces up and down too, as it is slack while closed. But the whole thing is loose.

 

[Snicklefritz]

The strings raising the cover are absolutely loose and hanging when closed. They dangle down into the hatch. By the way, be careful that they do not get caught on anything heavy when dangling, or else you risk having your interior hatch side panels pulled out/off when you open the hatch. Has happened to me TWICE!

By "the whole thing is loose", what do you mean exactly? You watch this "looseness" happening? Is your hatch cover warped by any chance? I've never heard of that, just wondering if that's possible. I've never seen the hatch cover move, even when held up by say an ice chest, which is when I have the hinges out and the cover hangs by the strings with the hinges sitting on top of the hinges ledges - to prevent them getting broken.

 

[GT Elite]

To me, it sounds like the pins on the front end of the cover have not be pushed into the slots on the shelf ledges. Which is to say, the pins are just sitting on top of the ledges.

 

[stinger541]

The strings raising the cover are absolutely loose and hanging when closed. They dangle down into the hatch. By the way, be careful that they do not get caught on anything heavy when dangling, or else you risk having your interior hatch side panels pulled out/off when you open the hatch. Has happened to me TWICE!

By "the whole thing is loose", what do you mean exactly? You watch this "looseness" happening? Is your hatch cover warped by any chance? I've never heard of that, just wondering if that's possible. I've never seen the hatch cover move, even when held up by say an ice chest, which is when I have the hinges out and the cover hangs by the strings with the hinges sitting on top of the hinges ledges - to prevent them getting broken.

I mean that when I get in the back seat and bounce the cover, it rattles. It is tightest at the pins/hinges, but loose everywhere else, and the strings rattle too when I just tap them.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Ima still not understanding what you are talking about. It isn't possible for the hatch cover to move at all when the hinges are in place. I told you, I only unhinge the cover when something tall like an ice chest needs the room, and I don't want to go without the cover - which is any time that I can fit in what I want under the unsecured cover with the hinges out of their sockets. With everything closed the hatch raising strings are loose, for sure. You can reach back there and move them with your fingertips, there's a lot of slack when closed. When I slap the cover with my open palm it vibrates like the skin of a kettle drum, sort of sounds like that too, but nothing shifts. You can see how the inside of the hatch lid forms a snug fit all the way around the back sloping edge of the lid, and there are two rectangular stops to further hold the lid down. Maybe you need to share some pictures, open and close the hatch lid, etc.

I reread your OP, and it looks like when you remove the cover strings from the pegs that "the noise" goes away. This is just weird. How could loosely hanging strings make any perceivable noise at all?

I mean that when I get in the back seat and bounce the cover, it rattles. It is tightest at the pins/hinges, but loose everywhere else, and the strings rattle too when I just tap them.

 

[stinger541]

Ima still not understanding what you are talking about. It isn't possible for the hatch cover to move at all when the hinges are in place. I told you, I only unhinge the cover when something tall like an ice chest needs the room, and I don't want to go without the cover - which is any time that I can fit in what I want under the unsecured cover with the hinges out of their sockets. With everything closed the hatch raising strings are loose, for sure. You can reach back there and move them with your fingertips, there's a lot of slack when closed. When I slap the cover with my open palm it vibrates like the skin of a kettle drum, sort of sounds like that too, but nothing shifts. You can see how the inside of the hatch lid forms a snug fit all the way around the back sloping edge of the lid, and there are two rectangular stops to further hold the lid down. Maybe you need to share some pictures, open and close the hatch lid, etc.

I reread your OP, and it looks like when you remove the cover strings from the pegs that "the noise" goes away. This is just weird. How could loosely hanging strings make any perceivable noise at all?

All of what you just said is exactly why I have been pulling my hair out trying to find a fix....it does not make sense. But that is what happens...and yes, the noise stops when I remove the strings.

 

[Stingersus]

Hi, this usually happens when it is really cold outside, but not always (can be warmer). I thought it was coming from the headliner area, but now I think it has to do with the hatch/trunk cover being loose. When I close the hatch, it makes the same rattle noise, like it is bouncing on the string that holds it attached to the hatch. Sometimes if I mess with the string or take it off completely, I no longer hear the rattle over bumps. Wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this issue and if so, was there any permanent fix? Do not want to just have to completely remove the cover. Thanks

When I bought my Kia Stinger in Australia I had a clunk when going over certain bumps. It would only happen now and again. I spent a few hours over a week or so trying to find out what it was. It drove me crazy. I finally found out what the issue was after all the stuffing around. The rear fold down seats was moving around on the hinge over certain bumps and causing a "clunk" I also had other annoying rattles from the trunk area which I sorted. I sold the car after 12months due to all the clunks and rattles.