Wagon owners, chasing rattling noises

[1 Lucky Texan]

Anyone have any suggestion for chasing down rattles from the back? I
hate to just 'assume' it's the wiper linkage in the hatch.

What have you guys found or what's the most common source and fix?

My WRX is worse than the Outback - likely due to the SPT springs and
the way I drive, but any guides to taking stuff apart and
investigating would be helpful too.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[Stewart DIBBS]

Anyone have any suggestion for chasing down rattles from the back? I
hate to just 'assume' it's the wiper linkage in the hatch.

The usual culprits are
#1 the hatch latch striker / clip needs to be adjusted;
#2 the hatch hinges are worn, causing #1

#3 might be the rear strut insulators

#4 Check the sway bar U links. These have a central steel bush for the M8
bolt, and it wears.

SD

 

[John]

Anyone have any suggestion for chasing down rattles from the back? I
hate to just 'assume' it's the wiper linkage in the hatch.

What have you guys found or what's the most common source and fix?

My WRX is worse than the Outback - likely due to the SPT springs and
the way I drive, but any guides to taking stuff apart and
investigating would be helpful too.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

Interior rattles? I find mine are from the rear cargo shade cover. I
periodically have to tighten down the screws, this helps some but when I
have that shade rolled up I don't get any rattles. I hate having the
shade rolled up though...

 

[none]

Interior rattles? I find mine are from the rear cargo shade cover. I
periodically have to tighten down the screws, this helps some but when I
have that shade rolled up I don't get any rattles. I hate having the
shade rolled up though...

I had a strange rattle on my outback wagon.
It turned out to be part of the exhaust.
Coming out of the left of the muffler was a strange looking pipe.
This had a "cap" which had been attached by bolts that had broken.
The "cap" was completely loose, just sitting in place, and rattled when
driving.

Under the "cap" appeared to be some sort of small tower, possibly a heat
sync, not sure of it's intent.
I took it to the dealer to reattach the "cap" and they said it wasn't
necessary at all.

So, we discarded it, and the rattle is gone.

The cap looked like a small "top hat".

 

[StephenH]

Anyone have any suggestion for chasing down rattles from the back? I
hate to just 'assume' it's the wiper linkage in the hatch.

What have you guys found or what's the most common source and fix?

My WRX is worse than the Outback - likely due to the SPT springs and
the way I drive, but any guides to taking stuff apart and
investigating would be helpful too.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

sometimes its the trim panels on the rear hatch too.

 

[1 Lucky Texan]

sometimes its the trim panels on the rear hatch too.

I think I'll just go around all the little 'buttons' and see if I can
push them in some more. thanx

The car(s) do not have a lot of miles so broken/worn stuff seems less
likely - not impossible though., and my WRX wagon went in once under
warranty for a noise very similar to the recent one. I THINK they
rerouted or wrapped a harness with foam or???? I don't recall.