Help diagnosing a noise in hatch

[kinger]

Hello guys

My car is a very solid car for as old as it is however when I get on a stretch of road that has a lot of repairs in the expansion cracks (my commute is about half this) I get this noise that I can't explain so I took a video. I have been playing with removing plastic and isolating panels, the whole thing is lizard skin, etc and I can't figure out what it is. The pillow balls are new 6 years ago and maybe have 3000 miles. The Koni/GC suspension is same age and set to full soft.

It sounds like plastic and hatch but I have adjusted all those and no change. I thought it was maybe the hatch struts so I isolated those with a zip tie and no change.

I know I'm being picky and turn up the sound and it goes away but it's my dream car and I want it to be as solid as it can.

Turn up your sound and listen for the repetitive old school typewriter sound.



Thank you!!


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[kinger]

All of those noises are coming from expansion cracks in the road, on a smooth road it is quiet as a mouse. 

Koni/GC set up (maybe its suspension noise?)
Bushings are all new OEM mazda pillowballs, poly joints, etc 6 years ago with very few miles on them
It doesn't sound like metal on metal in person
It doesn't make the noise on slow speed bumps like a speed bump
The noise gets harder and louder the faster I am going. 
I have pressed on the glass while driving no change
I isolated the hatch with foam where ever it contacts the car and no change

I have no clue at this point 

[65imp]

check your rubber bumpers that compress on the L and R side of the hatch when the hatch is latched.  The rubber gets hard and shiny over time and allows the hatch to load/deload over bumps and sound similar.  Sometimes they squeak, but yours don't seem to.  Cheap enough to get 2 new ones from Mazda for like 20 bucks they should help.

[wickedrx7]

It is hard to tell but I had very similar sound coming from my car. It turned out to be the top nut on my ohlins coilovers had lossened up. This was causing the shock shaft to "bounce" up and down.  It only made noise under minor bumps like you are describing.

I lock-tightened them and haven't had an issue since. You will probably need to pull them out to do this.

[kinger]

check your rubber bumpers that compress on the L and R side of the hatch when the hatch is latched.  The rubber gets hard and shiny over time and allows the hatch to load/deload over bumps and sound similar.  Sometimes they squeak, but yours don't seem to.  Cheap enough to get 2 new ones from Mazda for like 20 bucks they should help.

I grease mine and I have 1/4" foam on top of them to test (makes getting the hatch closed tough!) and no change. Maybe some new ones will be better if I can get them. 


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[largeorangefont]

check your rubber bumpers that compress on the L and R side of the hatch when the hatch is latched.  The rubber gets hard and shiny over time and allows the hatch to load/deload over bumps and sound similar.  Sometimes they squeak, but yours don't seem to.  Cheap enough to get 2 new ones from Mazda for like 20 bucks they should help.

I grease mine and I have 1/4" foam on top of them to test (makes getting the hatch closed tough!) and no change. Maybe some new ones will be better if I can get them. 


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If you did all that, new ones won't help.

[kinger]

Are these bolts holding the glass in supposed to have nuts?  It doesn't appear that my rear glass is held in at all?!? 

Of the 5 factory locations I have 3 studs with no nuts on them.




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[largeorangefont]

Those studs are for something else I'd imagine. Locating the hatch trim maybe? The rear hatch glass is held in by the seal and possibly adhesive. It is not bolted in.

[kinger]

No plastic anywhere now and its less but still present.  It sounds like its my tailights maybe?  Its right next to my latch.  I'll find it LOL.


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[BlackEuropa]

No plastic anywhere now and its less but still present.  It sounds like its my tailights maybe?  Its right next to my latch.  I'll find it LOL.


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Let me know when you find it. Mine makes a clicking sound too. Hard to tell from the video if it's the same noise, but it's about the same frequency.

I think I saw a TSB for hatch hinges that were redesigned because of noise? I wanted to look into that, but got too busy with the conversion, repairs, bodywork...

[kinger]

I found a bunch of sources and isolated them,  test ride tomorrow to find out!


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[kinger]

Found them!  Turns out it was he taillight, I had to shim underneath it with foam/felt to get it more solid.  Also the add on actuator for the trunk pop that Halfspec added so I could open the trunk with the key, was really plastiky sounding (not sure if that is the best way to spell it).  I took some foam and wrapped it and zip tied it tight and it took care of most of that.  After that about 15' of felt tap all through the hatch to keep the plastic panels quiet and voila! 

Its not a 2016 by any means but now sounds like a newer hatch back car.  I also have the EHS rear privacy cover coming and I plan to add insulation to that and help create more 'squish' on the hatch when closed.  That should hide any remaining noises. 

Car is so much better!  Thanks for the help!