LS1Hawk

PROBLEM SOLVED!

It is definitely the door strikers. Today I was vacuuming the car and decided I would put some WD-40 on the door strikers and inside the latches. Figured what the hell, at this point it can't hurt. Sprayed them really good. Drove to my girlfriend's and back going over areas and around turns where I always hear the noise and DID NOT HEAR A THING! I'm telling you it's like an f-ing miracle! The noise must originate from the strikers and latches and somehow the sound is being thrown throughout the rear of the car. I can't believe two years of putting up with this and all I needed was a can of WD-40. Don't know how long the WD-40 will keep the noise at bay, but there's your source of the noise.

ninja44

iTrader: (1)

If this is the fix then I will buy you a case of E-beer

LS1Hawk

Lol, thanks. I drove to work today (25 miles) and still no noise, so it's working! I have a feeling though the WD-40 will wear off at some point and the noise will come back. In that case I would probably try grease on the strikers and in the latch (I did both doors)...I think that would last longer. But for now, the WD-40 is working.

Staged07SS

iTrader: (25)

awesome find !!! i'll be trying this when i get home from work

ninja44

iTrader: (1)

I'm not sure why grease would stop it from rattling, if anything I would thing it would make it "looser". I'll try anything to get that **** to stop.

LS1Hawk

I don't think anything is actually loose. I think the door latches and strikers are moving/hitting against each other when driving (probably due to body flex like some have mentioned on here) causing the sound. The added lubrication from the WD-40 seems to be eliminating the friction that causes the noise.

I'm really curious to see if this works for the rest of you guys, so please post up as soon as you try it.

rukkee

iTrader: (3)

Mine sounds like someone didn't shut the door all the way. Is that what yours sounded like?

Gene Culley

iTrader: (1)

I'll have to check, but on some GM cars, maybe all, you're able to adjust the striker, so that is what we might need to do.

LS1Hawk

Yes, I guess you can say it kind of sounds like that.

Before I sprayed the strikers I checked to see if they were loose, but they were very tight. But if you can adjust the position, than that might be a solution.

rukkee

iTrader: (3)

I've tried to adjust them but they don't want to move . The hex bolt if cone shaped at the head so when you tighten it up it moves the plate back to the original position. I loosened the striker and tried to tap it over with a plastic hammer to try and slide the backing plate one way or the other ......no dice. It doesn't want to change position much if at all.

Gene Culley

iTrader: (1)

I see. It was just a thought

samijo0703

i had the popping/creeking noise as well.. took her up to the dealership complained about it.. they went for a drive here it was the back seat latch.. they said because i never move the seats they had no more grease... they used some wd40 and ta-da haven't heard the noise since.

the only noise i hear now is my exhaust bouncing around... can't win i tell ya..

ninja44

iTrader: (1)

I applied some heavy red grease and it seemed to make it a wee bit better but the noise is still there.......grrrrrr!

Gene Culley

iTrader: (1)

Someone help us lol.

395 plus

iTrader: (1)

If you open your passenger door and look at the stricker that the door latches onto, the center sections(Its the black part in the picture below) moves slightly if you wiggle it. When the door is latched shut and the chassis flexes it makes that peice move or bind and that causes the pop noise. I sprayed WD-40 on the stricker and latch and have not heard the noise for a week now!!!

LS1Hawk

I can tell ya it's been over 3 weeks now since I sprayed WD-40 on the strikers and inside the door latches and the noise has not come back.

jhw82

When I had my car I tried this (WD-40) and it still made the noise...I also tried some electrical tape and it still made the noise.

I really think (after reading some posts) that the back rear deck lid is the reason for the loud, thunking noises in the rear when you go over a bump at an angle. I think the rear deck lid moves out of place and hits against the rear window. As anyone tried to correct this?

Mr_Slobalt

iTrader: (1)

foam under the deck panel is one option....never heard of it hitting the window

jhw82

What kind of foam did you use?

395 plus

iTrader: (1)

some cars its the back seat pivots and other its the strikers. The back seat one there is post about how to fix it but you have to remove the rear seat which isnt bad. Take them out and drive the car and see if the sound disappears.

jhw82

I've done that...taken the seats out and the noise is still there. Same with the strikers, had them replaced, lubed, everything and still noise exists. I had the rear deck out and the c-pillars and still the noise is there. I even had the head liner down and the noise still is there.

phillips01

i got the fix !!!!!!!!!!!!!i work at a chevy dealer and this cobalt pissed me off with a pop noise intermitting on turns and over bumps /finally when i test drove it with another tech i opened the door and the noise went away /we stoped i open the door and pulled up and down on the door striker and found the popping noise /so i called tech assist /suggested i r-r the striker and spot weld the door striker from behind and grind flat after /noise is gone !!! /now i can fix my intermitting pop noise on my 09 balt /so dont just replace the striker /it will come back becouse of a design flaw

jhw82

Glad that worked for you, but it doesn't for me...My striker plate is not loose at all, it is tight on there. I cannot wiggle it and make the noise.

phillips01

its not the plate that is loose, its rod that is loose /if thats the problem? if you grab the striker rod and pull up and down you will here the mystery pop noise/ive seen alot of balts with this issue

outtamymind

picture of fore mentioned rod for the rest of us that are too tired to think at the moment