There is this rattle in the back of my 99, right behind the rear seats. I can't hear it going over normal stuff, but if there's some really rough road it gets pretty loud. It sounds like there is something inside the compartment in the cargo area (there is nothing inside in reality). It doesn't sound like something is loose, but rather something that it held down. It's a very controlled thump. The weird part is it comes from both sides of the vehicle.

If I drive over something with my right rear wheel its going to rattle on the right, same for left side, and happens on both sides at the same time. The body mounts and shocks are bolted in tight, I checked. What else can it be?

 

Have you checked your spare tire? May be its loose.
Just a thought.

 

is there still a compartment under the rear seats in 3rd gen? (for the jack, etc...)

 

Pretty sure it's not the spare tire cause I don't have one

It's definitely coming from the walls in the cargo area. Which is odd. All the panels are clipped in nicely. And the sound is almost identical from both walls.

 

yes. passenger side.

 

My 99 does the exact damn thing and is driving me crazy. I cannot find the source... If you do, please post up, this thing is driving me nuts!

 

Might be the rear seat latches. Give them a wiggle and see if they are loose when in the upright position. Drop the rear seats and drive around to determine if this is the cause. If it is you can just wrap a piece of hockey/elctrical tape over the recieveing part.

 

I think I have been hearing this in my truck as well. I have been thinking it might be the seatbelt hangers.

 

got any way to put someone back there to listen a bit? check out bob's writeup on sound-insulating the whole deal if you want to see behind the vinyl. there's really not much there. you could drive off curbs or something to try to slosh it around a bit.

 

maybe fender rear flare endcaps??? mine rattles sometimes on rough rodes...

 

“Might be the rear seat latches.”

Tried it, they are very secure. The sound is definitely coming from the panels in the cargo area. Very distinct sound.

“I have been thinking it might be the seatbelt hangers.”

Yup, that would definitely produce the sound I’m hearing, except the rear belts are buckled in all the time.

“maybe fender rear flare endcaps???”

That’s a good theory. The sound is coming from that area too. Might be worth putting some rags in there to test it.

 

Urban, when I said seatbelt hangers I meant the part that the belt hangs from. Where the shoulder part of the belt goes up over and back down. Just clarifying because it sounded like you misunderstood from your last post. Good luck.

 

I'll have to look at it again I thought the soft belt just comes out of the C column.

 

I have this exact same problem.

It's been driving me crazy.

Happens on my 99 Runner, but not on my 97.

It's not the seat latches or seat belts, it's like something behind the side rear cargo panel. I guess this spring I'll try to yank it off and see what's behind there.

I wonder what toyota did different between 97 and 99 to cause this problem??

 

I used to have a weird noise coming from back there somewhere... nothing too crazy though. I thought it was far in the back but in reality it turned out to be the rear headrests. Take them out just for kicks. I leave mine up one notch now so they shut up.

 

I have this problem as well , seems like it happens more in the winter cold. In the summer I dont notice it much.

 

I also have this problem, and it does happen more in the winter (and seems increas the colder it is). It also goes away (mostly) as the vehicle warms up when taking a longer trip (over 20-30 minutes).

hupptoy

 

Yes, I notice the same with the cold thing. What is going on back there?!

 

so any thing new here any one solve the mystery

 

This doesn't sound like your problem, but I used to have a rattle in the rear of my 96, it turned out to be the exhaust pipe hitting the cargo area floor, right above the rear axle.