Hello everyone. I recently put in a sound system in my car and I'm very pleased with it except for one thing; the trunk rattles.

I have a 1999 Dodge Neon sedan.

My sound system:

Head Unit: Pioneer DEH-P3800MP
Front Speakers: Pioneer TS-A1780R
Front Amplifier: Pioneer GM-3200T
Subwoofer: Alpine SWR-1242D
Sub Amplifier: Kenwood KAC-8152D

I'm pretty sure the rattling noise is coming from the trunk lid itself. My specifically, the area around the keyhole. Just to test it out, I stuffed a big towel in the area all around the trunk lid but it didn't help at all.

If you close the trunk lid and apply pressure to it pushing downward the rattling seems to stop completely. I was wondering if anyone knows how to get rid of the trunk lid rattling.

Thanks,
Drunkship

 

Probably start with DynoMat and a bit of it.

 

Yeah I figured I'd buy some Second Skin as from what I've read I like it it better than Dynamat. I don't really know how to apply it though. Can you just stick it to the metal of the trunk lid?

 

A cheaper route would be truck bedliner. You might need 2-3 cans though.

 

For starters, you need to identify WHERE exactly the rattle is coming from. There are a variety of ways to reduce rattle from a trunk.

1.) Make sure everything is bolted down nice and tight. This is everything from your trunk hinges to your license plate. The simplest things can be the biggest issues.

2.) Place a bit of foam padding on the back of your license plate to get the metal off the car body. Often the metal will rattle and cause alot of noise.

3.) Make sure your spare tire and tire jack are bolted down securely. These can rattle really loud considering the closeness of the subs to them.

4.) Consider dynomating the lip of the trunk. The area where the trunk overlaps the body is where you get most of the rattle. Lining that area with some dynomat or sound deafening material can seriously reduce the rattle. Start with a small amount and slowly work up to a large amount. You may not need alot.



Using Line-X or other truck bedliners are decent sound proofers....but they are also very messy and time consuming. Dynomat and other foam is easy to do and usually alot less messy. It's still a good idea if you are going to do custom work in the trunk.

 

1) I went around the trunk and tightened everything I could find to tighten (including the license plate). This didn't help at all.

2) I sat right next to the license plate while the bass was blasting and it wasn't making any rattling noise.

3) Only the lid is producing the rattling. I pulled down the back seats and stuck my head in the trunk while the music was playing and I didn't hear any rattling coming from the spare tire area.

4) I think I'm going to have to sound deaden the trunk lid. I have no idea as how to apply it though. Do I just stick it directly to the trunk lid or what?


Thanks for the input!

 

Yes, you just apply it directly to the inner groove around the trunk. The area around the black seal that lines your trunk. You can go the route of additional liquid foam that expands and hardens or you can go with dynomat.....either works....

If you still are unsure, ask a local audio shop about how to apply it...

 

what you need to do to help is lower the trunk latch....not the piece on the trunk lid but the hoop part thats on the car...if you lower loosen the bolts and move the latch down about a 1/4 inch then tighten it up...that will always apply a little pressure to the lid...you will just have to close the trunk a little harder....

use the dynomat and place it over the third brake light and the latch on the lid...that should eliminate almost all of the vibrations....

if you do use dynomat, make sure to use the silver aluminum coated stuff and not the black.....the black is stiffr and made for floors..it wont stick well to the bottom of panels

 

I know this will sound very stupid, but I'm still not sure as how to apply the Dynamat to the trunk latch and brake light. Do I just cut it out as a similar shape to the latch and put it directly on? Won't this cause the latch not to shut properly or something?

 

no it will still work fine....just dont cover the bottom of the latch.....just slap it on there