Damn squeak in rear tailgate--anyone else?

[94EclipseGST]

A few weeks after I purchased the car (about a year ago now) everytime I hid some bumps in the road, there is an annoying squeak from the rear (trunk area). It is not anything with the suspension. Its somewhere in the hatch or the plastic coverings. If I place thicker rubber around the edges of the hatch, it is not so loud and only screeches if I hit a serious bump.

I'm sick of this now, and wondering if anyone had this problem and found out where it is actually coming from. I removed the hatch cover, that wasn't it. I took out the spare tire and jack, that wasn't it. Anyone?

 

[dsmtalon91]

yea-
In my 1993 eagle talon the same thing happens to me. I dont know how to fix it either... I believe the hatch just isnt resting tight enough. The best fix is to just turn up the radio louder.

 

[Defiant]

IF that's where it's really coming from -and it's damnedably hard to pinpoint sources on a unibody chassis- you might try some silicone spray on the rubber bumpers and gasket of the hatch for starters. But there's every chance it's really coming from your sunroof.

 

[94EclipseGST]

Well, I tore apart the entire hatch area, removing all the plastic trim pieces and panels, took out all of the flooring and removed the spare. It's bare to the bone in there, and I finally found that it is the hatch latch. If I put a piece of rubber behind the bottom portion, there is no squeak what so ever.

Now that I have everything torn out of there, I guess I should go to the track for a run.

 

[CurtTSI]

My 91 Talon had a rear hatch squeak when I bought it. Discovered that it was caused by the hatch rubbing against one side of the body. Centered the hatch and the squeak went away.

 

[DSM90AWD]

I delt with "the squeak" issue for years before I finally had someone ride in the back (not too comfy back there mind you) and pinpoint it.

Turns out was the hatch / mechanism was loose and rubbing due to the deteriorated weather-stripping.

Shoved some cardboard to fill the gap (until I get around to replacing the stripping) and all's squeak-free