Tailgate Rattle

[Veg_Ian]

My tailgate has developed an annoying rattle when going over rough ground (yes it is the tailgate, nothing else, not even the dog's teeth chattering). The striker plate is back as far as the adjustment will allow and the actual lock bolt holes don't have any adjustment. Any ideas of how to make the door close tighter to try and stop the rattle?

[westonwarrior]

I am guessing here but

does it have a double catch like the doors do ie they catch but not nompletly closed as there is a second click to close it completly.
as I once had a remault trafic that would not close properly on the side door and I did as you have and move the catch as far back as I could but it would still not close properly. then I thought and moved the catch out again and it caught perfect, the problem was the catch was too far in for the second part of the closing so was not closed properly

my meaning is move the striker plate back out a bit and see if it was too far away to catch properly

I hope that makes sense

[mister munkey]

My taligate has reached the stage that unless it gets a firm slam shut, it shakes & rattles just to annoy me.

At some point I guess it'll be that stick on foam draught excluder stuff to damp it until someone comes up with a fix. (which they will of course, they always do!)

[scanner]

Get some of those little self adhesive rubber pads that you get a card full of in £Shops and stick 1 of the round ones about the size of a 2p coin in each of the 2 buffer holes in the rear trim panels.
They are just thick enough and have just enough squash to take up any slack between the buffer and the body and stop the tailgate moving.


Pictures to follow.

[nigelginny]

Ive got the same problem , on the bottom corner of the inside of the door theres a rubber stopper, one of mines missing, i think that its why mine rattles, anyone know where i can get a replacement?

[scanner]

Get some of those little self adhesive rubber pads that you get a card full of in £Shops and stick 1 of the round ones about the size of a 2p coin in each of the 2 buffer holes in the rear trim panels.
They are just thick enough and have just enough squash to take up any slack between the buffer and the body and stop the tailgate moving.


Pictures to follow.

[Peg leg Pete]

Very good tip Scanner

[stringman]

Just turn the radio up a bit and you won't hear it any more

(Sorry but years ago I worked in a car dealership and actually heard the service manager tell a customer to do this )

[Veg_Ian]

does it have a double catch like the doors do ie they catch but not nompletly closed as there is a second click to close it completly.
as I once had a remault trafic that would not close properly on the side door and I did as you have and move the catch as far back as I could but it would still not close properly. then I thought and moved the catch out again and it caught perfect, the problem was the catch was too far in for the second part of the closing so was not closed properly

my meaning is move the striker plate back out a bit and see if it was too far away to catch properly

Hmm I see your point WW but I don't think so on this occassion. The door actually closes fine and appears to be firmly shut. However if you grab one of the handles in turn the tailgate appears to flex at the edge (thin metal again) but remains firm in the centre so I reckon the lock is doing its job properly.

Get some of those little self adhesive rubber pads that you get a card full of in £Shops and stick 1 of the round ones about the size of a 2p coin in each of the 2 buffer holes in the rear trim panels.
They are just thick enough and have just enough squash to take up any slack between the buffer and the body and stop the tailgate moving.

I think you may be onto something there Scanner. Either that or add an extension to the two cone shaped rubbers. Pads on the door frames sound a better prospect though and should stop the flexing at the edges. I'll give it a go.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

[ex25er]

I was interested to see this thread as my rattle's been bugging me since I picked up the bongo a couple of weeks ago.

The catch does have a 'double click', and with the striker plate as far forward as posssible mine wasn't getting to the second of the two 'click' positions, causing it to rattle around, and generally not feeling very secure.

I the moved the plate / hook back, towards the bumper, and now the tailgate closes much more securely and is rattle free, although because of it's flimsyness it does take a bit more of a shove to close, with my hand near the bottom of the tailgate, not the middle.

[Veg_Ian]

Well I tried Scanner's tip and although I've only had the one short trip so far, it appears to have cured the problem. Well done Scanner, top tip and one for the archives I think Mr Maynard.