It's driving me INSANE! My car is as solid as many new cars (even more). But as I roll down the street, there is a clickity-clack noise back there, and I have no idea what's causing it.

The hatch pins are adjusted so there is NO play in the hatch...when it closes, you can't budge it from the outside. The spare tire and pump are secure, as is the jack.

The noise happens with the hatch OPEN (I tried it briefly before realizing the glass could crack under the strain). So I assume it's not the hatch mechanism.

It sounds like the rear cargo shade is rattling around...not a loose hatch glass creak. But I've removed the shade...to no avail.

I guess nobody can tell what it is without seeing the car or hearing it themselves...but it annoys the hell out of me!

Hey Dave, Marc, Ken, Damian...wanna ride in my hatch to help me figure it out? Only mild gas fumes back there...!? Just kiddin, of course!

 

play with the snaps on the carpet. worked for me.

 

I tried that Tom! Those snaps rattle around a lot--from age? It's not a high-pitched sound, like the snaps would make. It has a deeper tone...the sound a roll up shade makes when you let it go, and it rattles around and around.

You can hear it for yourself if/when you pop into NNJ!

 

Check your rear brake pads. I was missing a clip to hold them in place. Rattled like a bastard.

edit - I see now you have a later model, they may be different.

 

It's definately an inside noise...not outside (brakes, muffler, etc). I thought it might be the rear seatback latches, loose and shifting, causing a rattle. Don't think so though.

 

I assume you have checked the usual suspects first?:

Tools
Spare
Jack

Any other crap that you may have in the back cubbyholes?

On a whim, take a look at the bolts at the top and bottom of the rear shocks and ensure they are tight.

 

just called, he gets it back today according to the wife. she sounded like a nice lady with kids in the background. will keep you updated.

i had to tighten the two screws holding the shade to the seat a few times. the back of the seat is wood! i got used to a little rattle from back there because i always used the shade to protect the carpet from fading, and the shade rattled a little bit.

is your rear wiper tight? on my first generation rx7s i had to tighten the screws holding the latch for the glass hatch every so often. the hatch was all glass.

 

Are you sure its not the CV joints? Does the nooise only happen under power? Does it happen while costing in neutral? My left side startied clicking the other day.

 

As Tom mentioned, check the rear wiper assembly. Pull the cover and make sure everything is tight.

 

No rear wiper, so that's not it! And it's not the CV joints, or the shocks...this is something INSIDE, feels like it's right inside the hatch somewhere!

I took the damned cargo screen out of the car, to test that theory. Nope.

Question: Can the receptors in the back that the hatch pins go into cause a rubbing or rattling noise, even if the hatch itself seems tight and doesnt move if I press on it?? Open your hatch, then close it almost all the way, till the pins hit the receptors. Then move the hatch up and down very fast--
That's what my noise kinda sounds like...

 

put some grease down in the hatch clip holes, and maybe check the jack handle, i had that rattle once. It only clips in behind the spare.

 

The jack wont budge...it's in there tight.

What kinda grease should I use for those pin holders??

 

Doesn't the rear hatch trim up by the hinges delaminate from the glass? This started happening to me last year. I squirted some silicone lubricant up by the black trim at the top of the glass and it stopped squeking. If you do a search you will find it does happen.

 

I squirted some silicone in there myself. It COULD be the top of the glass rattling when the car body flexes from movement...I guess the true test would be to take the hatch off...and see if the noise stops?

 

It is definately the hatch!!! Have fun pinpointing it on the hatch i have the same Crap....