It sounds like it's coming from the strut bar or something only behind the driver's side..I can't isolate exactly where the location is, and it doesn't tap more with increased speed...it just seems to do it at random times...anyone, help!

 

I believe that would be the brake light cover. Open the hatch and tap it lightly to confirm.

 

I opened the hatch and tried to tap on the brake light cover (you did mean the red plastic right?) and nothing seemed out of the ordinary, unless I did somethign wrong.

I hate unexplained noises in the car...what else can it be? Does anyone know if the strut bar is solid? I can't help imagine that something inside it may be loose or chipped or soemthing, making that slight tap/clicking noise...it's kind of sounds like if you drive over a real gravel-y surface and the little rock particles are clanging around in the wheel well...

 

The black plastic piece that covers the 'stop' or 'brake' light.

...or it could be gravel hitting the wheel well

 

I understand what you mean, since I have the same noise as well.
The noise seems to appear when the surface of the road is not stable. And the noise seems to have 'echo' coming from the back right? As for now, i still don't know where it is coming from. I checked the brake light cover, and noise still appears. I checked the spare tire and tighten it, noise still appears. I taped the two hangers under the strut bar, the noise still appears. If you do some how find the noise, please post it up.

 

Do you have the seltbelts secured? The metal clip has to fit in the holster...not the belt itself. If you don't insert it in the holders the metal clip will beat against the side panel on bumpy roads.

 

nope, is coming from the back
-not the seat belt
-not the rear brake light cover
-not the passenger side visor
-not the stereo
-not rocks
-not the spare tire or the tools inside
-not the hangers under the rear strut...
what could it be?

 

christurismohk, check the plastic around the brake light cover again. The way you describe the noise is exactly what I was experiencing and it was the brake light cover. You can almost reproduce it by opening the hatch and pounding on the glass wifrom the inside, but other than that if you only inspect the brake light cover you will not discover a problem as such. If nothing else, eliminate it as a possibility by shimming it with something. I did, using a plastic "wobble" wedge on each corner and my noise disappeared.

 

Thanks a lot JN350z, I will double check that again....and if it still exists, is gonna be plan B for me: Tell my dad to drive my car and I go behind and check.....but hopefully not plan C: going to the dealer.