Rattling swing-gate door, PLEASE HELP!

lpd235 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:47 am

Our Liberty has developed a very distracting rattle in its rear swing-gate door. The best comparison I can make is that the rattle sounds similar to the sound of having a metal door-lock actuator rod loose inside the door, kind of a metal tick. I eliminated the glass lift-gate and the door’s plastic trim panel as being the source of the noise and there is not an actuator rod or loose item, that I can find, in the rear swing-gate door. Driving on a bumpy road, over a speed bump, or just quick side-to-side maneuvers, can produce the sound. Opening, closing, shaking or slamming the swing-gate does not produce the sound.

In an attempt to locate the source of the noise, I first drove with the glass lift-gate open, sound still there. I then removed the swing-gate’s interior plastic trim panel and drove the Jeep with the glass lift-gate open then again with it closed, sound there in both instances. Then, with the trim panel still off, I removed the spare tire (235/70R16 Bridgestone Dueler AT693 on a factor aluminum rim, incase someone thinks it matters). With the spare off, the noise was either nonexistent or very much reduced. I attempted to tighten the nuts holding the spare tire carrier, little to no movement, and drove the Jeep again. Since the spare was still off, I saw the same results as my previous test drive, little to no noise. At that point I replaced the door’s plastic trim panel, drove the vehicle and experienced very little of the noise. I reinstalled the spare tire, making sure to evenly distribute the load among the three lug nuts and drove the car. The noise is BACK! This is my wife’s daily driver. She cannot take the noise (and I cannot take the “noise” I get from her about it) and she will not let me remove the spare tire and carrier; “it looks stupid that way”.

It is a 2004 model and the mileage is under 20,000 so I can take it to the dealer, but experience tells me they will not be able to “duplicate the problem” or will simply make it worse. Has anyone else experienced the same or similar issue with his or her Liberty? If so, how did you address it?

Thanks,
JB

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

They all rattle a little because it is heavy and the spare tire adds even more weight. The gate starts to sag a little over time. If you adjust c-shaped cup piece on the gate, the locking mecanism, and the plastic guid/bump stop (next to the tail light) you can make it a heck of alot better. Just have to play around with the adjustments.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:19 pm

take a real close look at your tire carrier mounts. Mine rattled like mad, took it in and turned out I had been hit in a parking lot, and it was just hard enough to push in the door and pop loose the inner frame from the door skin.

I had the holes filled, and the door painted smooth, because it was cheaper than buying a new tailgate. Bad part is now that heavy tire is on the roof... at least until I get my rear bumper built.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:35 pm

That is strange... My tailgate doesn't rattle 1 bit. If you took the door trim off, you could have used some felt tape to eliminate any loose pieces that might be causing the noise.

Are you sure the noise is coming from the tail gate?

lpd235 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:18 pm

Until this evening, I was sure the rattle was coming from the swing-gate. As we drive I began to wonder of I have a suspense issue. It might be something as minor as debris in the spring or shock or an unseated spring or it might be something more serious like a broken suspension part. We attended the Jeep Jamboree in Hot Springs, Arkansas October 21 and 22 and spent a great deal of time on our skids and rails with a few knocks to the rear lower shock mounts. But, I inspected everything very closely before returning to Texas and again when I cleaned the undercarriage the following day. The noise did not start until a few days after returning from the trip.

I am sure it is not coming from the trim panel; I removed it and still heard the noise. I tried riding in the rear of the vehicle while my wife drove but the noise did not occur, this is what leads me to think it might be a suspension issue.

Keep the ideas coming and I will keep you posted. USAFCOP, I would appreciate seeing photographs of your Jeep without the tire carrier, both up-close and from a distance so my wife can see it.

yazhi · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:35 pm

I have an ugly rattle coming from my gate too. It's driving me nuts. I noticed that not to long after the rear glass stopped squeeking the gate started rattling. I would gladly take the squeek over the rattle any day. Maybe when I have a day I can do without transportation, I'll take to the dealer to have the gate adjusted. :roll:

The speedo just turned 21000. It should be covered...ya think?

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Nov 05, 2005 1:32 am

well, as soon as it is easier to type (wrist f'd up) I will open a new cardomain site with pics... I am locked out of my current cardomain site, and will make a new one.

Maybe I will try to talk the wife into helping me tomorrow night....

Topper 1 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 05, 2005 9:39 pm

My tailgate rattles too -- from the same issue as with USAFCOP. The local body shop said the only way to fix it is to cut a hole large enough in the inner panel to get a spot welder inside to re-attach the loose panel. In the mean time, I've been looking for a replacement tailgate from a salvage yard.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:18 pm

Quote:

it was just hard enough to push in the door and pop loose the inner frame from the door skin.

Quote:

The local body shop said the only way to fix it is to cut a hole large enough in the inner panel to get a spot welder inside to re-attach the loose panel.

How bout sticking the nozzle from a can of spray insulation in there and squirting it in. Wouldn't that seal the panel into place? The stuff weighs next to nothing and if u r going to replace the gate anyway it may be worth a try.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2005 12:15 am

I tried that cacher, but it didn't work, I fixed it for a little while, but the rattle came back.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:58 pm

here is a pic of mine with the gate w/o the spare as promised

lpd235 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 08, 2005 10:44 pm

Without the spare tire it looks like a completely different vehicle. My wife does not care for the cut out in the bumper, so if I want to loose the spare, I need to find the rattle or find replacement bumpers for the front and rear (they would have to match).

I am taking a couple of days off this week and plan to tear the KJ apart. I will find and fix the noise or die trying.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:10 am

Quote:

My wife does not care for the cut out in the bumper,

Put a big yellow smiley face back there!

Dutchy · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:39 pm

Have the same ratle for over a year, tried everything but could not fix it, dealer had a look at it, changed the setting of the u- shaped plate and it got even worse.
I fiddled oround with the U shape thingy until I found a comprimise, it now only rattles at certain outside temps.
It drove me mad in the beginning especially as my 2003 CRD is rattle free, but now I just think it is a Jeep thing, if this is the only problem I have with my KJ I can live with it.
I drove brand new Range Rovers at $80.00- $100.000 a piece and they even rattle more than my KJ, I'm just happy my rattle costs less :lol:

lpd235 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:57 pm

It took me longer to find enough time to post this reply than it did for me to quiet the rattle. Being so loud and high-pitched, I never considered the rattle was coming from the heavy swing-gate door itself.

When I re-read Eddo’s post while staring that the Jeep it all made sense.

Eddo wrote:

They all rattle a little because it is heavy and the spare tire adds even more weight. The gate starts to sag a little over time. If you adjust c-shaped cup piece on the gate, the locking mechanism, and the plastic guide/bump stop (next to the tail light) you can make it a heck of alot better. Just have to play around with the adjustments.

The first time I read his post I visualized the latch mechanism and the metal catch loop it locks to, I did not see a simple and safe way to adjust either. The “c-shaped cup” mounted to the door’s edge has angled ends that ride on the “plastic guide/bump stop” and guide the door into proper alignment. The “plastic guide/bump stop” is your adjustment point.

There is a slotted metal shim behind the guide and the bolts holding both into place are 1/3 the size of the hole in the guide. I tried putting the guide in several different positions before finding the right one, which for me was centered top to bottom and as far to the rear of the vehicle as possible. The door shuts like new and does not rattle, regardless of the size of the bump or hole we hit.

I realize this will not be a permanent fixed; as soon as the door sags more I will need to find another adjustment.

This solution worked for me and I hope it would work for others as well. If I am not making this clear enough for someone, please email me and I will gladly send pictures. Thanks to all, especially Eddo!

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:08 pm

lpd235 wrote:

There is a slotted metal shim behind the guide and the bolts holding both into place are 1/3 the size of the hole in the guide. I tried putting the guide in several different positions before finding the right one, which for me was centered top to bottom and as far to the rear of the vehicle as possible. The door shuts like new and does not rattle, regardless of the size of the bump or hole we hit.

I've had to make tha adjustment several times. I'm looking at designing a rear bumper with a swingaway tire and gas can carrier. Hopefully removing the weight from the door will eliminate the issue.

DispatchedKJ · **Posted:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:20 am

I have the exact same problem you described lpd235. I cleaned my jeep gate area by the latch and plastic bump stop and after that is when I started hearing the rattle. If that is how you fixed yours I will see if I can do the same with mine. Great information people. I would have to take it to the dealership and have them fumble with it to tell me they cant duplicate the problem, now I can hopefully fix it myself.

DispatchedKJ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:32 am

I fixed the rattle with a simple rubber band. I looked at the plastic stop and it appeared to have some material scraped off the top of it. I thought that maybe that was causeing a loose fit with the door. I put a rubber band around the plastic and the rattle stopped.

DougBenn · **Joined:** Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:35 pm **Posts:** 2

I had an annoying rattle as well coming from "somewhere" in the back. I suspected to rear gate, tire carrier, seat latches. Finally took it back to my dealership when the tranny pan started leaking and had them look at the rattle while they had it.

Turned out to be a defective taillight assy. Replaced it and all is fine. Nothing broken or loose inside of it, just made a horrible vibration and ratttle.

Who would have thought?

Rattling swing-gate door, PLEASE HELP!

Who is online