Steelman ChassisEar Squeak and Rattle Finder Multi-Mic Stethoscope

Check license plate or its frame. It's a known culprit.

 

I've had rattles that were illusive, especially in the hatch area. I tore off all the inside panels looking for what sounded like a tool left in the hatch framing. Not so, it turned out to be those plastic spacers in the rain track. I removed each one and surrounded them with felt. That rattle was solved.

So then I moved on to the other 57 rattles about the car. I now think I'm close to finding one under the plastic "tub" that covers the spare tire. To find it, I need a driver while I poke around back there to discover the cause.

 

I am having the same rattling issue in the hatch area. Would you mind posting some pics of what you have done?

 

SmogSlide, here's the original thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/68184-rattle-tailgate.html

Look at post #23 and note the pictures of the felt tabs on the plastic spacers on the sides of the hatch. They meet alignment spacers mounted in the rain track and rub causing what sounds like a rattle. I found by putting the felt tabs on the hatch pieces, the rattle went away.

As a permanent solution, I purchased sheets of black felt at Micheal's (arts and crafts store). I then removed each spacer (1 10mm bolt per spacer) and surrounded it with felt. I cut a round hole in the felt so I could re-attach the spacer putting its bolt thru the hole. Since the felt was now also behind the spacer, the modification was "locked" in place. So far, no problems even if the felt gets wet from time to time.

 

You're welcome! I've had to solve dash squeaks, clicks, ticks too. I ultimately had my dealer remove the dash and add felt strips to quiet it. The only thing they could not solve was the "buzzing" sound from the passenger side A pillar. I found that was caused by a hole from the A frame window directly into the engine compartment. I have a post here somewhere too on how to solve that one.

 

Have a passenger put his/her ear next to the A pillar that originates from the in-dash speaker that also says "air curtain" on it. If they can hear the buzzing, it's originating from the engine compartment and being transmitted up that pillar. Open your hood and with a mag-light, look for the small hole just above and to the left of the strut cap. That's how the engine noise is getting into the cabin. I just shoved small rags up there and the noise is now gone. Good luck with your dealer - mine did not know about this common problem.

 

Thanks for the tip!

I bought a shiny new Prius v Five (no ATP, unfortunately, they're pretty much unobtainium), and at about 100 miles in, I started getting this rattle. Turns out it was the license plate frame. The dealer plate is also just cardboard, so it doesn't really have enough weight to fill out the frame and hold it in place. I solved this rattle by using the felt dot trick, on the back of the dealer plate.

When I finally got my real plates, I also applied felt dots to the bottom of them. Now it holds on solidly, and no more rattle!

 

You sir are a god! I was going insane with the rubbing sound from the hatch, see this, go out to walmart and buy a yard of felt and a hot glue gun then proceeded to fully cover the rubber stoppers in felt and made them stick with the glue. Noise is just about gone, I can hear it here and there but almost 90% gone unless I hit a big dip or pothole.

I almost cried of joy, almost, haha, thank you! THANK YOU!

 

Glad I could help out - above are the original pictures I took of the mod.