Rear Window Mayhem!

FastTRX · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 1:16 am

Anyone else besides me get a loud rattling sound from the rear window going down the highway at around 60-70 MPH? I find once I get up to speed....even on most smooth roads, it just starts rattling like crazy. I'm thinking either the weather-stripping is getting bad...or the hinges are starting to loosen up on me? I've tightened the bottom bracket that locks the window....didn't help any. Just wanted to know if I wasn't the only one experiencing this....its MIGHTY annoying....

Most of my passengers think my KJ is falling apart...agh!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:32 am

Sorry man, I haven't heard that kind of noise from my rear window. You should try closing the window and crawling into the cargo area, from the back seat, and push on the 4 corners of the window. That might help you locatate where the window is loose

Just be carefull not to damage the rear window defronting elements by rubbing up-down over the thin wires.

valvestem · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 222

Try this: put a large dollop of white grease on the square black button that gets pushed in when you close the glass. The black plastic material of the button and the black coating on the glass do not like each other and need a lubricant. Apparently the body of the Liberty has enough flex to cause this rubbing friction which I believe causes the noise. It worked for me, I have posted this before on other groups, but the thread was hijacked and sort of got lost in the mix. I tried all the current fixes that were suggested, but none worked, so I tried this.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:56 am

valvestem wrote:

Try this: put a large dollop of white grease on the square black button that gets pushed in when you close the glass. The black plastic material of the button and the black coating on the glass do not like each other and need a lubricant. Apparently the body of the Liberty has enough flex to cause this rubbing friction which I believe causes the noise. It worked for me, I have posted this before on other groups, but the thread was hijacked and sort of got L.O.S.T. in the mix. I tried all the current fixes that were suggested, but none worked, so I tried this.

Interesting...I will definitly have to try this. My rear window creaks during extreme flex (for a stocker anyway... :oops:

) or when I'm wheeling...maybe its just gotten loose from the flex. I'll see what I can do about it tonite....its really annoying when it starts up....

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:17 am

There is a piece of hard rubber on the top of the glass. Open the glass and you will be able to see it. Clean that really good and put a coat of oil on it. Clean the surface on the jeep that it touches also. It will usually wear the paint away after awhile and cause it to rattle like that. :wink:

Check that out and see if thats the problem. Have you tried opening the glass then getting up to speed just to make sure its the glass? Of course you may not be able to hear the rattle then if it was still doing it.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:21 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

There is a piece of hard rubber on the top of the glass. Open the glass and you will be able to see it. Clean that really good and put a coat of oil on it. Clean the surface on the jeep that it touches also. It will usually wear the paint away after awhile and cause it to rattle like that. :wink:

Check that out and see if thats the problem. Have you tried opening the glass then getting up to speed just to make sure its the glass? Of course you may not be able to hear the rattle then if it was still doing it.

It's really wierd because it sounds like its where it connects to the rear tailgate, the hinge part thats loose...but it just sounds like the corners of the glass are flexing and rattling on the sides of the KJ. I dunno...its been happening for a while and I've tried numerous times to find the culprit of the problem.

I'll have to try what you said Blake, thanks for the help.

Topper 1 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:47 am

It's quite possible it's not the window at all that's making the offensive clatter. I developed such a rattle that materialized only at highway speeds. Turns out the culprit was inside the tailgate -- a spot weld had failed on an internal brace and allowed it to rattle inside. I could see the spare tire vibrating at the same frequency as the rattle. If your spare contacts the ground on a steep climb or gets tapped by another vehicle parallel parking behind your Liberty, there's a pretty good chance of that internal brace failing (at least where its spot welded).

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:35 am

Topper 1 wrote:

It's quite possible it's not the window at all that's making the offensive clatter. I developed such a rattle that materialized only at highway speeds. Turns out the culprit was inside the tailgate -- a spot weld had failed on an internal brace and allowed it to rattle inside. I could see the spare tire vibrating at the same frequency as the rattle. If your spare contacts the ground on a steep climb or gets tapped by another vehicle parallel parking behind your Liberty, there's a pretty good chance of that internal brace failing (at least where its spot welded).

Yup, Ive seen this happen on other doors on vehicles before. Actually, it happened to our Grand Cherokee. The Drivers side door would rattle like crazy. We always though it was the window but found out that it was a mount for the window. I think we just stuck some duct tape between the door and the brace that had broken off. :lol:

tulsa · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:14 am

You might make sure the window is not making contact with the paint at the top of the door.

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 5:57 pm

Topper 1 wrote:

It's quite possible it's not the window at all that's making the offensive clatter. I developed such a rattle that materialized only at highway speeds. Turns out the culprit was inside the tailgate -- a spot weld had failed on an internal brace and allowed it to rattle inside. I could see the spare tire vibrating at the same frequency as the rattle. If your spare contacts the ground on a steep climb or gets tapped by another vehicle parallel parking behind your Liberty, there's a pretty good chance of that internal brace failing (at least where its spot welded).

After further inspecting the rear portion of my jeep...and after having a couple second opinions from a friend and my girlfriend...I think I've discovered that you're suggestion is VERY correct. I've even wiggled the spare and was able to make the same noise with the KJ parked. I dont believe that it's been hit/bumped since I've owned it...but I am the second owner and it may have developed this problem before I purchased it in October 06'. How did you go about getting it taken care of? It seems like you may be able to remove the rear plastic on the inside of the tailgate....would that expose the inside of it where the weld is? We may be able to take care of this...I'm guna run out to check real quick. thanks again Topper 1.

Topper 1 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 11:47 pm

Actually, fixing the problem is still on my "to do" list. I did take the inside cover off the tailgate to see about accessing the interior -- no luck. The factory openings are too small to get hands/tools inside. I was going to try carefully cutting a larger opening, weld the broken joint and then weld the cut-out piece back in place.

desertkj · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:24 pm **Posts:** 677

I've got the rattling you explained and the dealer informed me it is body flex around the spare tire. I think I could take it to a body shop and get it fixed, but not worth the money, so I've gotten used to it, think of it as a Jeep thing, and turn up the stereo. We think somebody lightly backed into it and left.

lucas/liberty · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:50 am

jump in the back and have somebody drive it, so you can pinpoint the exact problem...

Metrowest_Kev · **Posted:** Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:54 am

Easy suggestion: I had a nasty rattle after I got a flat and had to involve the spare tire. The lugs on the re-mounted spare tire were loose. I took off the spare cover, tightened them up and no rattle since.

jeepboy79 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 17, 2014 8:28 am

I have a very similar rattling noise that seems like it's coming from the tailgate window. I thought I tracked it down to the rear gas struts which had become quite flat over the years but now seems like it could be something else as I've replaced them and still have a slight rattle. Was going to have a look at the mechanism and see if I could see something that could be causing it....

Rear Window Mayhem!

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