Let's just say first... I have been living with this obnoxious annoying little rattle for most of this year! The first time I heard it I was going on a long trip... and actually pulled over because I thought something was loose outside! I thought I must have disturbed or forgotten something while preparing for my trip. I didn't find the problem.
The rattle seemed to get worse over time. I thought it could be something loose in the suspension... so I checked shocks, ball-joints, and control arms, all the usual stuff. It was a real minor rattle you'd expect from a worn shock bushing (or similar) .. but was not the case.
I went as far as checking the custom body lift mods, but found nothing. Rattle continued.
I finally ruled out suspension or lift when I finally barely heard the rattle while idling... and not moving.
I then assumed it must be something that had either worked itself into the fender and was possibly laying and rattling against the interior wall... or it could be something inside the vents... or a problem with the climate doors inside the A/C system. It was definitely coming from the passenger side, seemingly higher up like it was in the dash.
Not a heavy rattle... but just light enough to be annoying... and always there! Never on hard bumps... just the gentle ones.
Well, this week I decided to realign the hood release latch, so I didn't have to hit the hood with my hand for it to lift and open. This was simple, and was something I wish I had done a long time ago. A simple adjustment and now the hood pops open easily and perfectly!
Well, while I was hitting the hood... I finally re-created the rattle! I hit around a few more times... and found it rattled strongest in front PS corner by hood and fender.
Turns out... it was the passenger-side hood hinge!!!
While there, I found a bolt missing from one of the hinge points, but turns out this was not the issue. It was a slight looseness in the hood hinge pin itself, which had gotten a little sloppy with age. I can't say if the missing bolt would have helped, but since it was stripped off and still in the hole, I needed another simple and easy fix.
I layed a piece of rubber heater hose in the fender valley to add pressure to the hood arm when closed, and low and behold... the rattle is gone! I wound up putting a piece of hose on both sides, just to preemptively firm things up on the other side too! The hose piece will easily stay in place... and solved my issue.
Rubber hose fix!!
Rattle gone!
Happy camper!!!
Just thought I'd share.... :mrgreen:
The rattle seemed to get worse over time. I thought it could be something loose in the suspension... so I checked shocks, ball-joints, and control arms, all the usual stuff. It was a real minor rattle you'd expect from a worn shock bushing (or similar) .. but was not the case.
I went as far as checking the custom body lift mods, but found nothing. Rattle continued.
I finally ruled out suspension or lift when I finally barely heard the rattle while idling... and not moving.
I then assumed it must be something that had either worked itself into the fender and was possibly laying and rattling against the interior wall... or it could be something inside the vents... or a problem with the climate doors inside the A/C system. It was definitely coming from the passenger side, seemingly higher up like it was in the dash.
Not a heavy rattle... but just light enough to be annoying... and always there! Never on hard bumps... just the gentle ones.
Well, this week I decided to realign the hood release latch, so I didn't have to hit the hood with my hand for it to lift and open. This was simple, and was something I wish I had done a long time ago. A simple adjustment and now the hood pops open easily and perfectly!
Well, while I was hitting the hood... I finally re-created the rattle! I hit around a few more times... and found it rattled strongest in front PS corner by hood and fender.
Turns out... it was the passenger-side hood hinge!!!
While there, I found a bolt missing from one of the hinge points, but turns out this was not the issue. It was a slight looseness in the hood hinge pin itself, which had gotten a little sloppy with age. I can't say if the missing bolt would have helped, but since it was stripped off and still in the hole, I needed another simple and easy fix.
I layed a piece of rubber heater hose in the fender valley to add pressure to the hood arm when closed, and low and behold... the rattle is gone! I wound up putting a piece of hose on both sides, just to preemptively firm things up on the other side too! The hose piece will easily stay in place... and solved my issue.
Rubber hose fix!!
Rattle gone!
Happy camper!!!
Just thought I'd share.... :mrgreen: