I just dropped off the Z today for my 3750 mile check up tomorrow. I also explained this problem to them and they said they would check it out. I pick it up tomorrow, so I guess we'll see if my service department can figure anything out. I pick her up tomorrow. I'll follow up tomorrow with a post on what they find.

 

I did the same thing. Checked the spare tire, tightened it too. Played with the foam. Even stuck tissue between the licensce plate frame and the car. Swore it was the license plate frame rattleing. Sounds like a loose rattle or ticking. Not a thud noise. The thud noise your having sound different. This is like creaking styrofoam or license plate frame rattleing in the wind. The one guy said above that is the exhaust bracket. I am going to look at that tomorrow. mine is also built 4/03

 

Mine is still there. It's wierd, sometimes it's not there and most times it is. I have reshuffled stuff in the back...spare tire, foam pieces, etc. A part of the plastic finisher on the hatch was loose. I repositioned it, placed a piece of foam in there to dampen it....didn't fix it. Still have not gone to dealer yet.....I am on a mission to find this noise.

 

Well this is what they found....NOTHING.

They drove it a few times in the morning and did not hear it. They called me at work and told me this.... I told the to leave it out in the sun, let it run for a while, and go drive it for a half hour or so.... the sound WILL happen.

I go in to pick it up this afternoon and they told me they didn't hear anything. So I accepted the answer b/c it doesn't happen all the time. I pull out of the parking space drive once around the parking lot at the dealer and the noise/ticking is louder than ever. I stopped walked back in to get the head of the service department. He was aware of the situation.... I had him get in the car with me and took two laps around the parking lot. Guess what he said.... "Oh you mean that tapping/ticking"

I couldn't leave her there over night again so I had to make another appointment for next week. He tighten the spare but that didn't do anything.

I just wanted to make sure someone there hear the noise before I left so they didn't think I was smokin' crack.

 

For those of you who have experienced the unpleasant tick/rattle emminating from the rear of your Z read on. For those who haven't, turn your radio down on a bumpy road and see if you need the following repair also. I've had the pleasure of charging around in 7 Z's, and at speed over bumps (radio off, just enjoying the beautiful rev's) they all had this anoying ticking/rattle. After many miles, some of them spent contorted in the cargo area of our hatches, I located my noise maker. It's not in hatch as the dealer thought. And it's not a spare tire/jack issue either. What it is, is the manual release(located on the underside of the rear brace) pull cord either bouncing around in the rear brace or the cord's velco coming apart fiber by fiber. I took a small rivet to secure the velcro to the pull (the standard glue had lost the battle with the TX heat, and then stuffed a lint free polish cloth up in the hole. Noises gone, and I always have a polich cloth with me. Hope it helps.

 

Think you may be right I went in the back and tap my finger and it sounds like the right noise. But I can't tell unitl I get to drive my car. Since it has been on blocks fro 2 weeks becuase I can't find tires 275/35/19's

 

Took the Z to the dealer on Tuesday, picked it up today, the rattle is gone. Service adviser said they retorqued the rear suspension components, I suspect the right rear shock mount was the culprit. HAPPY DAYZ!!!

Have a great 4th of July weekend!

 

I think you nailed it. When I pull the release from the velcro and let it hang the noise disappears. Stuffing cloth in the hole didn't seem to work. Sounds like its definately one velcro type material against the other.

 

on mine it sounds like theres a loose piece of metal or something coming from the hatch. Some times when i lift up my hatch to get to the trunk i can hear something metal moving (like it moves down).. So i think that could be the cause or something. Anyone have any other solutions?

 

I had the same problem. I had a rattle that drove me nuts. Then once I got the Nismo suspension on it got worse. I would hear a rattle and loud slapping noise every time I went over a bump in the road. I decided to try and fix it myself, and it worked. Total cost to fix was 75 cents. Basically, I just snapped off the plastic parts on the rear strutt and put some thin foam padding that I found at an art supple store called Michaels. I am now rattle and noise free.

 

Here are some more pics

 

Pics

 

Getting the p[latic cover off was not very hard at all. I used a screwdriver (very carefully, or else you will scratch the plastic) to slowly and gently pry the pieces off. Whole thing took me about 45 min to complete, and I am now rattle free.

 

Took mine in today for oil change (1300 miles). Dealer tech fixed two rattles in rear. It had gotten progressively worse over the last 3 weeks. The "ticking" was fixed with foam under the hatch panel. SM didn't give me much more detail. Rear bumper squeaking was fixed by placing a urethane piece between some metal-to-metal contact in the driver's rear bumper. Tech told me that was the second one he had to fix for that. Again, not a lot of details on the actual fix, tech was not there when I picked up the car. Good thing is I am now "noise free". Let's hope it stays that way. Gotta say Courtesy Nissan treated me and my Z with great care.

 

Spoke too soon. Got in car this morning and the "ticking" is back. Darn, have to take it back in again. This sound is EVIL.

 

I have the same "metallic" sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The sound is pronounced over bumps and when the hatch is closed. Is this related to the rear strut or is this different? It is pissing me off, but it does sound better than the Bose system. ~

 

Well i still havent got that rattle fixed. I give up on it for now

 

I have the same noise coming from the rear hatch area, I'm going to try to fix the problem, can someone clarify the whole manual release and velcro deal on the rear strut bar, thanks

 

Seriously, this is the SAME EXACT PROBLEM FOR ME. I swear it is the most annoying SHI* i have to deal with every morning. I notice that it is the worst when I drive my car for the first few minutes and is not as bad when Im driving straight, but is still present. I dont see any relevance to the noise when im going fast or slow however. Im not exactly sure if I have the same problem as you guys but the sound is DEFINITELY not from any plastic material hitting against each other. The only way I can describe it is like this: It sound like hundreds of hail or stones hitting the rear of my car or a metallic 'clinking' in the rear of my car that makes it sound like some piece of metal is hitting around in there. Does anyone have this problem and has had it fixed, ive only had my car 700 miles and it is driving me NUTS.

 

Believe its the same problem.. Sounds like theres a metal screw (or object) in the rear hatch some were (u cant get to) thats bouncing around and making a noise ..
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Ive tried EVERYTHING except for retorquing the rear suspension components...