Strange noises in back of 03 4runner.

[kayaknva]

Hello, I am getting a strange noise coming from the rear(rear hatch?) of the vehicle. One sounds almost like a bottle rolling around inside the hatch, the other is like the hatchlock is loose and makes a noise when I go over speedbump etc. The bottle sound only happens when I hit a bump or take a left turn (can only barely hear it when you make a turn). Took it to the local toyota dealership so I could get it fixed and they said they heard it but couldnt find what was doing it. Does anyone have the same problems I am? I would like to give them an idea of what it could possibly be.

Thanks

[Brian R.]

I bet if you took off the inside panel, you would find the problem...

[corbinwaterski]

I once had an old Chevelle(my first car) and was toying around in the trunk one day and noticed an old pair of overalls that were stuffed in the rear quarter panel. They were from the manufacturing plant (I assume) and when I removed them I soon found out why they were there. One horrible rattle. They quickly went back in place. Just a good story. Never hurts to check your panels...

[Oscarz]

Drive around with the rear seats down. If the noise is gone, do the following:

With the rear seats down, wrap a piece of tape (electrical or masking) around the front of the metal hoops that the seats latch onto. Put seats back up. The seat-latch mechanism tends to get loose and move around. The tape will last a good while unless you keep moving the seats up and down.

[kayaknva]

Thanks for the replies. Just got my 03 back yesterday from the toyota dealership and they still cant find the noises. It stayed there for 2 weeks and they said they put those microphones all over it and heard the noise (louder) but could not figure out what it was. One sounds like a ball rolling around inside of the panel(they claim they took all the panels off), and it seems they found the sharp metal to metal noise. They finially said that the squeak is from Body Flex. I call BS, what y'all think?

[Brian R.]

If other vehicles of the same model don't do it, you shouldn't have to live with it. Make them fix it.

[kayaknva]

Thats what I think, but there seems to be no more help avail. at this dealership.