[4th Gen : 01-07]: Sliding door rattles when operating
#1
11-16-2014 | 05:53 PM
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Sliding door rattles when operating
My driver side sliding door works fine if you open/close it slowly or with the motor.
When I operate it manually, much faster (which is why I almost always open/close it manually) it makes a loud rattling/ratcheting sound as if the rack and pinion are not operating properly. This happens both opening and closing. The other side door does not do this.
I can't see any damage to the rack or pinion teeth or anything else unusual in there. Any ideas?
When I operate it manually, much faster (which is why I almost always open/close it manually) it makes a loud rattling/ratcheting sound as if the rack and pinion are not operating properly. This happens both opening and closing. The other side door does not do this.
I can't see any damage to the rack or pinion teeth or anything else unusual in there. Any ideas?
#2
11-17-2014 | 05:59 PM
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My driver side sliding door works fine if you open/close it slowly or with the motor.
When I operate it manually, much faster (which is why I almost always open/close it manually) it makes a loud rattling/ratcheting sound as if the rack and pinion are not operating properly. This happens both opening and closing. The other side door does not do this.
I can't see any damage to the rack or pinion teeth or anything else unusual in there. Any ideas?
When I operate it manually, much faster (which is why I almost always open/close it manually) it makes a loud rattling/ratcheting sound as if the rack and pinion are not operating properly. This happens both opening and closing. The other side door does not do this.
I can't see any damage to the rack or pinion teeth or anything else unusual in there. Any ideas?
I'm sorry to hear about your sliding door issue. Has the noise become more of an issue recently? Or has it become progressively louder?
In some cases dirt or debris can result in louder operation. Is the affected door used more often than the passenger side?
#3
11-18-2014 | 02:33 AM
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No it hasn't become progressively louder, it started happening a few months ago and it has stayed at about the same loudness level. The faster you open or close the door, the louder. If you open/close it real slow it doesn't make any noise.
There is no dirt or debris on the rack or pinion The affected door is probably used slightly more than the other, but not by much.
There is no dirt or debris on the rack or pinion The affected door is probably used slightly more than the other, but not by much.
#4
11-18-2014 | 06:07 PM
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Problem found, posting for others with a similar problem.
If the sliding door is hard to open/close and/or makes a rattling noise, it is the clutch in the motor.
The motor has a clutch that engages only when the motor is opening/closing the door. When you operate the door manually, the clutch is disengaged. The clutch plate does wear and can also get contaminated. Mine was both worn and contaminated. This causes the clutch to be engaged permanently so when you operate the door you're back-driving the motor.
You can replace the motor or, if you are mechanically proficient, fix it. Take the motor assembly apart and clean the clutch plate and adjacent contact surfaces with acetone. Then FLIP the plate so that the unworn side of it now becomes the active clutch face. You have now just doubled the life of the motor.
If the sliding door is hard to open/close and/or makes a rattling noise, it is the clutch in the motor.
The motor has a clutch that engages only when the motor is opening/closing the door. When you operate the door manually, the clutch is disengaged. The clutch plate does wear and can also get contaminated. Mine was both worn and contaminated. This causes the clutch to be engaged permanently so when you operate the door you're back-driving the motor.
You can replace the motor or, if you are mechanically proficient, fix it. Take the motor assembly apart and clean the clutch plate and adjacent contact surfaces with acetone. Then FLIP the plate so that the unworn side of it now becomes the active clutch face. You have now just doubled the life of the motor.
Last edited by tscaravan; 11-18-2014 at 06:10 PM.
#5
11-19-2014 | 12:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,085
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Problem found, posting for others with a similar problem.
If the sliding door is hard to open/close and/or makes a rattling noise, it is the clutch in the motor.
The motor has a clutch that engages only when the motor is opening/closing the door. When you operate the door manually, the clutch is disengaged. The clutch plate does wear and can also get contaminated. Mine was both worn and contaminated. This causes the clutch to be engaged permanently so when you operate the door you're back-driving the motor.
You can replace the motor or, if you are mechanically proficient, fix it. Take the motor assembly apart and clean the clutch plate and adjacent contact surfaces with acetone. Then FLIP the plate so that the unworn side of it now becomes the active clutch face. You have now just doubled the life of the motor.
If the sliding door is hard to open/close and/or makes a rattling noise, it is the clutch in the motor.
The motor has a clutch that engages only when the motor is opening/closing the door. When you operate the door manually, the clutch is disengaged. The clutch plate does wear and can also get contaminated. Mine was both worn and contaminated. This causes the clutch to be engaged permanently so when you operate the door you're back-driving the motor.
You can replace the motor or, if you are mechanically proficient, fix it. Take the motor assembly apart and clean the clutch plate and adjacent contact surfaces with acetone. Then FLIP the plate so that the unworn side of it now becomes the active clutch face. You have now just doubled the life of the motor.
Excellent, I'm pleased to hear you were able to isolate noise.