Model Y rattle - rear quarter

[200sx]

Hello all

I'm at my wits end...

I own a late 22 MYLR with a very annoying rattle.

It's been to the service centre a total of 5 times over the last 14 months for days-weeks at a time, the car has covered 17k and the problem started at 4k.

This isn't a mild trim or seat rattle, most of those have been sorted on previous visits; a new tailgate hinge, adjustment and copious amounts of felt tape and foam.

The problem rattle sounds more structural in nature, metal to metal. At lower speeds up to 15mph it's a rattle, hitting a short bump at 20mph+ it is very very loud! It sounds like something wants to fall off the car. What's odd is the noise isn't made on bump, it's more as the suspension rebounds. Almost like a heavy nut or bolt is running loose somewhere.

Out of sheer desperation I've carefully removed all the tailgate/trunk trim and sat in the trunk while my friend drove the car. I've pinpointed the location of the noise but now sure what could be causing it?

 

[200sx]

Forgot to add, the noise is emanating from the the holes in the white and black metal sections shown in the photo

 

[DrDiesel1]

Leave it apart and tell Tesla what you have found. Keep your parts at home
so you can reinstall them when it's fixed. Otherwise, they may warp from the
heat of the sun, if left laying in the car.

 

[200sx]

Thanks for the reply

Would Tesla take issue with me removing the trim?

 

[DrDiesel1]

Thanks for the reply

Would Tesla take issue with me removing the trim?

IDK of any reasons ???

 

[200sx]

I've made some small progress. I've looked inside the holes using a worm camera, it's actually quite shallow in there. Can't see anything that could be rolling around.

Tapping the various fixings in that area I've found what could be the culprit. All fixings in the trunk are solid - except for the one in the centre of photo. Simply tapping it with my knuckle produces a high pitch noise that sounds very different to the dull thud on the rest. The nut/bolt is actually inside the cavity so not sure how to access it

 

[200sx]

Forgot the photo

 

[200sx]

 

[DrDiesel1]

Take it to the SC and show them. Leave your trim parts off and at home.

 

[mborkow]

Your second photo is so close up it’s hard to see what it is…can you zoom out for context?

 

[200sx]

 

[200sx]

The photo is the area under the lower left hatch bump stop. The tailgate trim usually covers it, the photo is taken from inside the car. The bracket at the top supports the bump stop when closed.

I think the white and black metal structures are rubbing/rattling against each other but how to tighten them?

 

[200sx]

*UPDATE*

All rattles and knocks from rear are now fixed! The sounds were travelling through the car structure and presenting at the point in the photos. Nothing to do with that area, although I did tighten the exposed bolts to correct torque.

Here's what worked and in order of effectiveness.

4mm thick high density foam pads inserted between body and black plastic plates above rear lights - near the middle hatch stops. This fixed the high frequency rattle/vibration when traveling on uneven surfaces.

New rear shocks (OEM) resolved the thunk/knock and metal sounding noise from rear left quarter. SC did the work (only one was faulty)

Careful adjustment of hatch stops to even the liftgate against seal, very small window to get this right. Essentially keep lengthening the upper hatch stops until exterior panel alignment is even from hinge to lights, then optionally lengthen lower stops using paper method. This fixed buffeting.

Thick felt tape on all wires under rear bench. As well as light density foam wrapped around larger wires. This fixed an intermittent tapping noise when rear seats not in use.

Used cable ties and bases to secure all cables in liftgate. Fixed intermittent tapping noise that changed depending on weather/temperature.

3 layers of electrical tape on centre seat latch bar. Much more secure.


I also tried the vinyl tube but when the hatch stops are adjusted correctly there's insufficient pressure on the seal to really make any difference - no benefit.

 

[DrDiesel1]

*UPDATE*

All rattles and knocks from rear are now fixed! The sounds were travelling through the car structure and presenting at the point in the photos. Nothing to do with that area, although I did tighten the exposed bolts to correct torque.

Here's what worked and in order of effectiveness.

4mm thick high density foam pads inserted between body and black plastic plates above rear lights - near the middle hatch stops. This fixed the high frequency rattle/vibration when traveling on uneven surfaces.

New rear shocks (OEM) resolved the thunk/knock and metal sounding noise from rear left quarter. SC did the work (only one was faulty)

Careful adjustment of hatch stops to even the liftgate against seal, very small window to get this right. Essentially keep lengthening the upper hatch stops until exterior panel alignment is even from hinge to lights, then optionally lengthen lower stops using paper method. This fixed buffeting.

Thick felt tape on all wires under rear bench. As well as light density foam wrapped around larger wires. This fixed an intermittent tapping noise when rear seats not in use.

Used cable ties and bases to secure all cables in liftgate. Fixed intermittent tapping noise that changed depending on weather/temperature.

3 layers of electrical tape on centre seat latch bar. Much more secure.


I also tried the vinyl tube but when the hatch stops are adjusted correctly there's insufficient pressure on the seal to really make any difference - no benefit.

Thanks for the update and detailed information.

 

[Hank101]

Great info - thanks!. How do you remove the black plastic plates above rear lights for foam insertion?

 

[200sx]

Great info - thanks!. How do you remove the black plastic plates above rear lights for foam insertion?

No need to remove the plates, they're sufficiently flexible to lift up and slip the foam in. I used a large piece around 100x80mm, around 4mm thick