Rear deck rattle fix...kinda ghetto but works wonders
Rear deck rattle fix...kinda ghetto but works wonders
Ok, even after sound dampening was done to the trunk and rear deck, there was still an annoying buzzing rattle in the back.
I decided to fix it once and for all yesterday and the final result will prolly surprise you's. It turns out about 90% of the rear deck rattle is located where the deck insert meets the glass. In the middle... under the 3rd brake light. Even if you have all the factory clips in place, with sound deadener, it will still vibrate, also causing the 3rd brake housing to even hit the rear glass. SOLUTION: 1 big cable tie and a cordless drill.(yes drill puss...you want the sound gone or what?)
What To Do
take off rear floor sills
remove brake light housing
unclip wires to light
fold down seats
take off 6 bolts holding seat to frame
pull seats toward front and take off side pillar covers
lift off rear deck insert and slide onto seat backsupside down ( mine is held down remember-no pic)
It might be a good idea to remove most of the plastic skeleton underneath insert around the area and replace with some 3m foam thingys on the edges. I didnt, but just an after-thought.
If you havent put any sound deadener on your rear deck you can do it now.
Fun part now.... Put the insert back in place without securing it though. In the center of the brake light opening on the insert there will be a "bar" in the middle. You will drill a small hole on either side of this "bar"
but first...
open the trunk and remove the liner. Line up by sight or touch where the holes will come into the trunk part and you will see exactly where holes should be drilled.
If you drill the holes too close to the glass you will not be able to catch the cable tie from inside the trunk, as there will be a metal shroud in the way.
After drilling the holes, insert the cable tie into the hole from the trunk and into the opposite hole from in the car and secure it closed with pliers in the trunk
you might need to push on the deck liner to get a good clamp on a shorter cable tie.
All in all this will keep your rear deck from flapping against the deck(rattle) and keeps the brakelight from hittling against the glass and insert(mucho rattle)
after I put the joint back together ALL rattles are gone!! Can any 6th gen say that? Problem I have now is taillight rattle, but Im being VERY picky since nobody else hears it! My amp is turned up the way it should be, whereas before, I turned it down because of too much rattle. Um also my rear glass now looks like its gonna shatter from SPL. But NO rattle.
Im tired now...just thought Id share my experience. if you need pics let me know and I will go take a couple.
I decided to fix it once and for all yesterday and the final result will prolly surprise you's. It turns out about 90% of the rear deck rattle is located where the deck insert meets the glass. In the middle... under the 3rd brake light. Even if you have all the factory clips in place, with sound deadener, it will still vibrate, also causing the 3rd brake housing to even hit the rear glass. SOLUTION: 1 big cable tie and a cordless drill.(yes drill puss...you want the sound gone or what?)
What To Do
take off rear floor sills
remove brake light housing
unclip wires to light
fold down seats
take off 6 bolts holding seat to frame
pull seats toward front and take off side pillar covers
lift off rear deck insert and slide onto seat backsupside down ( mine is held down remember-no pic)
It might be a good idea to remove most of the plastic skeleton underneath insert around the area and replace with some 3m foam thingys on the edges. I didnt, but just an after-thought.
If you havent put any sound deadener on your rear deck you can do it now.
Fun part now.... Put the insert back in place without securing it though. In the center of the brake light opening on the insert there will be a "bar" in the middle. You will drill a small hole on either side of this "bar"
but first...open the trunk and remove the liner. Line up by sight or touch where the holes will come into the trunk part and you will see exactly where holes should be drilled.
If you drill the holes too close to the glass you will not be able to catch the cable tie from inside the trunk, as there will be a metal shroud in the way. After drilling the holes, insert the cable tie into the hole from the trunk and into the opposite hole from in the car and secure it closed with pliers in the trunk
you might need to push on the deck liner to get a good clamp on a shorter cable tie.
All in all this will keep your rear deck from flapping against the deck(rattle) and keeps the brakelight from hittling against the glass and insert(mucho rattle)
after I put the joint back together ALL rattles are gone!! Can any 6th gen say that? Problem I have now is taillight rattle, but Im being VERY picky since nobody else hears it! My amp is turned up the way it should be, whereas before, I turned it down because of too much rattle. Um also my rear glass now looks like its gonna shatter from SPL. But NO rattle.
Im tired now...just thought Id share my experience. if you need pics let me know and I will go take a couple.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
If the rattle is in the deck itself, drastic measures (such as swowlinc's) may be necessary.
My only rattle was the third brake light against the rear window. I put two tiny clear round plastic 'tab-cushions' (available at Home Depot, Lowes, WalMart, hardware stores, etc) on the bottom two corners of the brakelight housing, where it was tapping against the glass, and have heard not a peep in the two years since.
As it turns out, that has been the only rattle in the two years I have owned my '04 SL. It is as quiet as a tomb in this car.
My only rattle was the third brake light against the rear window. I put two tiny clear round plastic 'tab-cushions' (available at Home Depot, Lowes, WalMart, hardware stores, etc) on the bottom two corners of the brakelight housing, where it was tapping against the glass, and have heard not a peep in the two years since.
As it turns out, that has been the only rattle in the two years I have owned my '04 SL. It is as quiet as a tomb in this car.
Yeah....suction cups might do it. Im pretty sure it depends on what audio setup you have. My sunglasses holder is rattling so crazy even after putting a lil deadener in there,I leave it off. My friggin quarter panels, hood, spoiler and roof heaves in/out with the bass. Its kinda alot of work but most of it is just taking the seats n crap off.
Originally Posted by swowlinc
Ok, even after sound dampening was done to the trunk and rear deck, there was still an annoying buzzing rattle in the back.
I decided to fix it once and for all yesterday and the final result will prolly surprise you's. It turns out about 90% of the rear deck rattle is located where the deck insert meets the glass. In the middle... under the 3rd brake light. Even if you have all the factory clips in place, with sound deadener, it will still vibrate, also causing the 3rd brake housing to even hit the rear glass. SOLUTION: 1 big cable tie and a cordless drill.(yes drill puss...you want the sound gone or what?)
What To Do
remove brake light housing
unclip wires to light
fold down seats
take off 6 bolts holding seat to frame
take off rear floor sills
pull seats toward front and take off side pillar covers
lift off rear deck insert and slide onto seat backsupside down
It might be a good idea to remove most of the plastic skeleton underneath insert around the area and replace with some 3m foam thingys on the edges. I didnt, but just an after-thought.
If you havent put any sound deadener on your rear deck you can do it now.
Fun part now.... Put the insert back in place without securing it though. In the center of the brake light opening on the insert there will be a "bar" in the middle. You will drill a small hole on either side of this "bar" but first...
open the trunk and remove the liner. Line up by sight or touch where the holes will come into the trunk part and you will see exactly where holes should be drilled. If you drill the holes too close to the glass you will not be able to catch the cable tie from inside the trunk, as there will be a metal shroud in the way.
After drilling the holes, insert the cable tie into the hole from the trunk and into the opposite hole from in the car and secure it closed with pliers in the trunk
you might need to push on the deck liner to get a good clamp on a shorter cable tie.
All in all this will keep your rear deck from flapping against the deck(rattle) and keeps the brakelight from hittling against the glass and insert(mucho rattle)
after I put the joint back together ALL rattles are gone!! Can any 6th gen say that? Problem I have now is taillight rattle, but Im being VERY picky since nobody else hears it! My amp is turned up the way it should be, whereas before, I turned it down because of too much rattle. Um also my rear glass now looks like its gonna shatter from SPL. But NO rattle.
Im tired now...just thought Id share my experience. if you need pics let me know and I will go take a couple.
I decided to fix it once and for all yesterday and the final result will prolly surprise you's. It turns out about 90% of the rear deck rattle is located where the deck insert meets the glass. In the middle... under the 3rd brake light. Even if you have all the factory clips in place, with sound deadener, it will still vibrate, also causing the 3rd brake housing to even hit the rear glass. SOLUTION: 1 big cable tie and a cordless drill.(yes drill puss...you want the sound gone or what?)
What To Do
remove brake light housing
unclip wires to light
fold down seats
take off 6 bolts holding seat to frame
take off rear floor sills
pull seats toward front and take off side pillar covers
lift off rear deck insert and slide onto seat backsupside down
It might be a good idea to remove most of the plastic skeleton underneath insert around the area and replace with some 3m foam thingys on the edges. I didnt, but just an after-thought.
If you havent put any sound deadener on your rear deck you can do it now.
Fun part now.... Put the insert back in place without securing it though. In the center of the brake light opening on the insert there will be a "bar" in the middle. You will drill a small hole on either side of this "bar" but first...
open the trunk and remove the liner. Line up by sight or touch where the holes will come into the trunk part and you will see exactly where holes should be drilled. If you drill the holes too close to the glass you will not be able to catch the cable tie from inside the trunk, as there will be a metal shroud in the way.
After drilling the holes, insert the cable tie into the hole from the trunk and into the opposite hole from in the car and secure it closed with pliers in the trunk
you might need to push on the deck liner to get a good clamp on a shorter cable tie.
All in all this will keep your rear deck from flapping against the deck(rattle) and keeps the brakelight from hittling against the glass and insert(mucho rattle)
after I put the joint back together ALL rattles are gone!! Can any 6th gen say that? Problem I have now is taillight rattle, but Im being VERY picky since nobody else hears it! My amp is turned up the way it should be, whereas before, I turned it down because of too much rattle. Um also my rear glass now looks like its gonna shatter from SPL. But NO rattle.
Im tired now...just thought Id share my experience. if you need pics let me know and I will go take a couple.
Kam
Originally Posted by jamaxin97
You might want to check with your dealer, there was actually a recall on that. The dealer fixed mine, free of charge and I haven't heard anything since. 
MadMax in The City
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 414
Originally Posted by swowlinc
yea the recall info... and they say to cover the ribs on the underside with some adhesive foam or something. It wouldnt work for me. Do you have subs in your trunk ?
Originally Posted by jamaxin97
Actually, I do. For some reason I'm now getting a rattle in the front over the glove compartment.
Faaaakin car I tell you, oh well at least it aint an Avalon.
Kam
I've done socks, foam around the rear brake light and I was fine until I got my new box and then all whole new group of rattles came on board. As swowlinc said it's where the deck insert meets the glass for me at least...
Thats alot of work. But its a good idea. The only rattle I hear and thats only when I am outside the car is the plate. I put some rubber back there and it helped a little. Any ideas how to fix this.
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
Originally Posted by ramberg
Thats alot of work. But its a good idea. The only rattle I hear and thats only when I am outside the car is the plate. I put some rubber back there and it helped a little. Any ideas how to fix this.
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
I've tried to take off the license plate piece (the whole oval piece) and I couldn't get to all the bolts, a definite rattle culprut.
And as for Nissan not "knowing" that people were going to add systems is BS in my opinion. They have to know this, look at the history of the Maxima, it's defnitely an enthusiast car as well as a 4 door cruiser. If anything they should have taken extra steps just to make the cabin nice an quite either way...
Originally Posted by ramberg
Thats alot of work. But its a good idea. The only rattle I hear and thats only when I am outside the car is the plate. I put some rubber back there and it helped a little. Any ideas how to fix this.
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
You really can't blame Nissan. They didn't know that ppl were were going to put all this extra audio equipment in the trunk.
swowlinc how many amps are you pushing?
Originally Posted by jsmithsole
I've tried to take off the license plate piece (the whole oval piece) and I couldn't get to all the bolts, a definite rattle culprut.
And as for Nissan not "knowing" that people were going to add systems is BS in my opinion. They have to know this, look at the history of the Maxima, it's defnitely an enthusiast car as well as a 4 door cruiser. If anything they should have taken extra steps just to make the cabin nice an quite either way...
And as for Nissan not "knowing" that people were going to add systems is BS in my opinion. They have to know this, look at the history of the Maxima, it's defnitely an enthusiast car as well as a 4 door cruiser. If anything they should have taken extra steps just to make the cabin nice an quite either way...
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
When I first got my '07 SL, closing the trunk sounded like a death rattle because of the license plate. I bought a plain standard black plastic plate frame, applied small round soft plastic 'bumpers' to both bottom corners (on the side facing the car), and haven't heard the slightest sound since. Tight as a tick.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 185
I bought one of those clear plastic license plate covers. I had to force the plate into the notches, but it holds the plate secure once it's in. I also bought the security bolts for the license plates (really because they look cool with a pointed tip). The thread doesn't match the original screws, but it will screw in. I just tightned down the plastic cover flush against the car and there is absolutely no rattle.
I need to stop buyng mods so I can get a digital camera and take pics of these things...
I need to stop buyng mods so I can get a digital camera and take pics of these things...
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
gec - Yeah! I'm really digging this new '07 Maxima! . . . in my dreams.
That slip-up will teach this senile old geezer with a one-track mind to never post about one model year when his feeble brain is dreaming about another model year.
Speaking of the '07, I realize those 'in the know' say it will be July before we see them on dealer lots, but I would not be surprised to see them begin straggling in next month. We will see . . .
That slip-up will teach this senile old geezer with a one-track mind to never post about one model year when his feeble brain is dreaming about another model year.
Speaking of the '07, I realize those 'in the know' say it will be July before we see them on dealer lots, but I would not be surprised to see them begin straggling in next month. We will see . . .
what the hell are you guys running in your trunks? i've got a 15 with a kilowatt going to it and my rear deck doesn't rattle that bad. it's pretty damn solid back there. 
but interesting fix non-the-less.
but interesting fix non-the-less.
Originally Posted by AscendantMax
what the hell are you guys running in your trunks? i've got a 15 with a kilowatt going to it and my rear deck doesn't rattle that bad. it's pretty damn solid back there.
but interesting fix non-the-less.
but interesting fix non-the-less.
Shoot, mine rattled a bit when it was stock...
I'm running the 10" JL's off a JL 300/1 amp.
Originally Posted by ramberg
Thats alot of work. But its a good idea. The only rattle I hear and thats only when I am outside the car is the plate. I put some rubber back there and it helped a little. Any ideas how to fix this.
Put 1 - 3 layers of sound deadener on the back of the plate.
Oh, and Warren...I wanna start get things rolling for your LED tails, hit me back.
Originally Posted by AscendantMax
what the hell are you guys running in your trunks? i've got a 15 with a kilowatt going to it and my rear deck doesn't rattle that bad. it's pretty damn solid back there.
but interesting fix non-the-less.
but interesting fix non-the-less.
Originally Posted by Metal Maxima
Why would you drill those parts together when you could purchase a barrier loader such as Second Skin Roadkill and use it to fill the gap?
Originally Posted by swowlinc
I have no idea what you are talking about. What is a barrier loader. Is it like the foam stuff in a can? I can see some suggestions working for those with no system or a small one... but not everyone, so you might as well fix the whole damned thing.
Originally Posted by Metal Maxima
Miriam Webster is still on the jizzob
Originally Posted by Metal Maxima
Yeah...I just need a donor tail in order to get this going, though... 
post pics when youre done...
