Ok, I know it's not the latch itself because I already adjusted that some time ago, this seems to be more of a clanking rattle coming from the hatch area, definitely inside the car. I was convinced it was the hatch struts until I took them off, and it's still there (the struts needed to be replaced anyway, since they were pretty tired after 15 years)...any more ideas? The rear shock mounts are tight, so is the spare tire

 

It may not be the hatch, but suspension noise. Slight wear on the rear pillow-ball bushings can make similar noises. My first suspects would be those in rear upper 'A' arms.

 

welcome to FD ownership

 

Are there 'hard stops' or pads or anything like that that might be worn down and allowing the hatch to bounce off of?
One would think that in a normal situation, the hatch should locate tight and hard against some sort of stop(s), in order to keep movement out.

Have you checked all the things in the jack stowage area?

 

http://fd3s.net/hatch_rattle.html

 

Check in the compartment that holds the jack. Sometimes stuff in there will rattle if not tightened down and/or padded.

 

spoiler,gt wings?

 

+1
old documented problem
best fix is to get new rubber pads

 

I've had broken baffles in my fuel tank that clunk around and sound like something in back rattling.

Dave

 

I've had both also. The hatch rattle was easily identified while driving over bumps.


The gas tank baffles made the most noise when stopping for a light. You'd here the gas sloshing around and the baffles clanking around.

 

i have this problem too.. but it seems to be comming from inside the car i was thinking something is loose with the inside hatch plastics

 

my understanding was the upper A arm bushings were fairly slow to wear out, my car has 75k miles

I like adam c's suggestion about the jack, haven't checked that yet

 

mine is more of a metal-on-metal clank/rattle

 

I like that suggestion too. Always try the cheap things first. Hope it works. Unfortunately it didn't for me.

I had similar noises coming from my car when I bought it and it had alot fewer miles on it than yours. Part of it was the latch mechanism for the hatch. I adjusted it down, IIRC < 1/8 inch. That solved part of it w/o having to really slam the hatch each time. The rest of the noise as eliminated when I replaced the rear pillowballs. Since I replaced just about all of them, I can't tell you exactly which one finally made things quiet. Just based on your description I suspected the upper 'A' arm.

 

I already replaced the pillowballs, so I know that's not it

 

Put the new hatch dampers on. I bet it will go away.

 

We'll see if it helps, just ordered new ones from Ray for $200

 

dam 100 each.

 

That's cheaper than Mazdatrix.

 

There was a service advisory way back in 1993 on the hatch hinges "creaking." They have nylon hinge bushings which get dry and creak. Maybe yours have worn enough to "clank."

 

interesting...I'll look into it, after I get the new struts installed

 

I am aware that this is the 3rd gen section, yet there isn't any info I can find relating this to 2nd gens. Can anyone chime in? I have an extremely irritating rattle/ creaking from the hatch and am at a loss at how to rid myself of it.

 

You bumped a 5 year old thread to ask for advice on a problem with your second gen???


on your hatch, slightly loosen the bolts that hold the latch in place. Adjust its location up a little to remove any extra play. Retighten bolts, squeak fixed.

 

Bumped due to lack of any other threads and I didn't want to clutter the forum with another thread.

Thanks for the info though, that MOTHER******* squeak was driving me insane.