Over 10K miles, my hatch had started to rattle, and I tracked it to the threaded clip that snaps into the sheet metal under the plastic panel. The clip is the anchor point for the grab handle built into the plastic panel.
After removing the screw and popping the panel off, I realized the issue with the clip. There was a large amount of free play between it and the sheet metal once snapped into place. No amount of tightening the screw was going to solve the rattle because of this.
I went to Lowes and purchases a package of rubber washer to put over the clip, hoping that one or both together would fill the gap and keep the clip from rattling against the metal of the hatch.
I slipped them over the clipped and realized one would be enough.
Installed the clip back into the hatch and now there is no free play at all.
Popped the panel back on, reinstalled the screw and took it for a drive. The hatch rattle is completely gone.:banana:
After removing the screw and popping the panel off, I realized the issue with the clip. There was a large amount of free play between it and the sheet metal once snapped into place. No amount of tightening the screw was going to solve the rattle because of this.
I went to Lowes and purchases a package of rubber washer to put over the clip, hoping that one or both together would fill the gap and keep the clip from rattling against the metal of the hatch.
I slipped them over the clipped and realized one would be enough.
Installed the clip back into the hatch and now there is no free play at all.
Popped the panel back on, reinstalled the screw and took it for a drive. The hatch rattle is completely gone.:banana: