Buzzing Noise from Rear Area

KingZee

I FINALLY found the exact location of this buzzing noise. I had tried everything from trying to fasten all the wires in the headliner, cushioning the plastic around the rear hatch, and going to two different dealerships to have it looked at, both of which completely ignored what I said about it coming from WITHIN the headliner.

The noise would stop every time I would push up on the headliner so I knew for a fact it was either the headliner itself or something inside. I could also replicate the noise when I tapped on the rear hatch glass. I took the headliner apart probably 8 or 9 times from the back just like in Schrute's journal and looked inside. It wasn't until I closed the hatch while in the trunk with the headliner open and my arm inside. I would blindly hold things inside the headliner and with my other hand tap on the glass to see if I could hear the noise. Doing this I finally figured out exactly where the noise was coming from...There are two metallic canister/capacitor looking things (anyone know what these are for?) right at the crease where the roof bends upwards, one on the drivers side, and one on the passengers. The one on the passengers side seemed to be loose and it was rattling against its own hinges. I just secured it as tightly as I could to the roof with double sided tape, not the cleanest thing but I haven't heard the noise in months! I seriously lost sleep over this and I'm glad it's over with. If the noise comes back It'll be because the double sided tape broke or came loose, at that point I'll take it to the dealer and tell them exactly what it is and have them fix it.

Hope this helps all those who still have to deal with this.

It being metallic also explained why I could hear it in the morning or when the car was cold but it would go away after 20-30 minutes. The metal was expanding as the car got hotter and it would tighten it up against the hinges stopping the rattle.