Puzzling Noise Back Driver's Side

[NicolePhippard]

Today our L300 started making a strange rattling sound that appears to be coming from the back, driver's side. At first we thought it was a loose muffler, but there isn't any constant, excessive vibration noise when the van is idling or on a smooth road. In fact, there isn't any constant vibration noise at all in this area, rather the rattling seems to happen intermittently when the road is bumpy...the degree of bumpiness doesn't seem to matter. It appears that everything under the van, including the muffler and spare tire, are pretty solid. I then thought that perhaps the back door/hatch was the issue, that the wire/cable for the locking mechanism was rattling. Or maybe the E-brake cable? Ugh. Not sure. Everything looks and feels solid but still this persistent noise. The noise sounds like a "shunk", like a window or part of the body was loose...again, everything appears solid. Hmmm. Any thoughts? Help appreciated.

-Nicole

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

I would check rear suspension spring bushings or rear suspension stabilizer bar link.

Steven

[NicolePhippard]

Thanks for getting back to me Steven. I'll check this out. Luckily we have a maintenance appointment on Friday, so we'll probably get a bit more info then.

[jessef]

grab each rear shock firmly and try to move them. If either/both have movement, then you will get a heavy knocking noise coming from the rear.

The tailgate is prone to making a similar sound if the latch is not adjusted properly.

If you can have someone back there where the noise is more prominent. May be easier to pin point.

[nxski]

Check your lug nuts, mine were loosened off in whistler and I had a knocking / vibration from the rear.

[username]

I had a similar weird noise from the back end. turned out to be the mudflap. I backed into some hard snow and it bent the mudflap in towards the tire. when they rubbed it made a very sketchy sound.

[norisan]

I had a similar mystery and it was the rear sway bar links. They are about four inches long and have what looks like a little tie rod at each end, and are very easily replaced.

[Morganizer]

"The noise sounds like a "shunk", like a window or part of the body was loose..."

Once I opened the rear hatch and there was a bolt on the carpet. It was from the vent latch on the left rear window. Had completely unthreaded itself. I think I may have heard a noise developing in the back before it happened.

I put it back in with some blue locktite.

Easy way to check: watch to see if the window bounces (from air pressure) when you close the rear hatch. If the window doesn't stay tightly shut, the latch is loose.

[Pajero]

I had a rattle, turned out to be a exhaust hanger that was loose, well the hole was worn oblong so it had to be replaced. On a truck I had one the baffles can loose inside the muffler and mad a terrible rattle at idle.



Joe