Manhattan streets vs Solara: Streets cause rattles!!!!

[slingshot]

I took a ride into Manhattan for fun and to check out how well the NAV system works. The buildings confused it for only a minute and addresses on streets were dead on accurate which was impressive.

As I was leaving the city, I started hearing many rattles coming from the rear deck for the first time. Even afterward, while driving on pretty smooth highways, there is a constant rattling going on. It now sounds like an old rattletrap for god's sake!!!! This is all with the radio off. It had to be all the very rough bumpy, holey streets that started it. Now I have to have to radio turned on and at sound volume of mid20's at least to drown out the constant rattling sound. Has anyone had the rear deck rattles fixed and if so, how? HELP!

Dave

[bigpow]

Dealer fixed mine by replacing the whole speaker panel trim.
TW85 fixed his using some foam. Go check his post

[TW85]

I'm still going to have the dealer replace the rear deck lid at the first oil change. There is a highly muffled rattle. The rattle I fixed with the foam padding was in the headliner, though I have foam stuffed everywhere from trying to find it...even the spare tire cover/tools.

[slingshot]

The odd thing is today driving around on local roads I didn't hear a whisper coming from the rear deck. Perhaps it was stuff in my trunk the day before. I had moved around some stuff in the trunk last night. We'll have to see if that was it.

[mattyboyl]

That's what happens in these cars. One day it's rattling, the next it isn't. Don't worry, it will be back. That's what makes tehse noises so hard to diagnose.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

wasn't someone complainging about a strut mount rattle a while back (i remember in my gen 4 camry, i complained like little girl all the time..and finally the dealers listened after a tsb came out).

[mattyboyl]

Was this strut mount rattle an inconsistant noise or something you heard daily? My problem is that it is very inconsistant and would be hard to diagnose unless the suspension was taken apart fopr inspection.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Was this strut mount rattle an inconsistant noise or something you heard daily? My problem is that it is very inconsistant and would be hard to diagnose unless the suspension was taken apart fopr inspection.

At first..the dealership ignored my problems. The rattle was noticible (if the radio wasn't blasting) and when i was on NON SMOOTH surfaces...on newer roads..it wasn't there...Since most dealership have smooth driveways, they first refused to honor it (BTW: i have extended warranty)...so when i finally wanted their tech to accompany me on a ride..did HE hear what i was talking about all along. I am on my THIRD set of strut mounds on my gen 4 camry (all changed thanks to extended warranty). Its a common prob. for 97-99 camrys. I've decided NEVER to buy a new car in its first two years of a new gen.

[mattyboyl]

Thanks man.

[slingshot]

That's what happens in these cars. One day it's rattling, the next it isn't. Don't worry, it will be back. That's what makes tehse noises so hard to diagnose.

It disappeared totally once the dealership fixed it by putting more padding under the rear deck.

[mattyboyl]

Got the car back from the dealer. They said it was a loose lug holding the spare in place. We'll see. Also, I am having a new sunroof motor installed due to the rubbing sound when I tilt and open it.