Hi, I have a 2002 FD3S and the rear hatch rattles ALOT, it sounds like the entire hatch is going up and down while I'm driving. And yes I had read all the threads about this issues and also looked here: Hatch Rattle Fix But I dont know how you "re adjust the rear latch mechanism" I dont see anything I can play with.

Any help is appreciated!

 

It's been about 8 years since I fixed my own hatch rattle, so forgive me if I'm not perfectly accurate. From what I recall you aren't adjusting anything in the hatch itself. Instead you slightly loosen the mechanism that is bolted onto the body of the car itself, and shift that downward.

DO NOT completely remove the bolts that hold the mechanism in place!! Rather just loosen them enough that you can shift it downward.

You will probably need to remove the rear plastics to see the bolts. I'll try to remember to take pictures tonight when I get home.

 

I replaced the rubber feet on either side with new ones from my mazda dealership.

FD01-62-681C - that's the part number

I also covered them in a little grease.

 

Don't think I would not use grease on the bump stops. It it's squeaking there's something else wrong.

 

Thanks all for the reply, It was kind of common sense but I like to be sure before working on the car and have my doubts since my fd is a 2002 and hasn't read any thread about taking the interior plastics. Thankfully it was just readjusting the rear latch mechanism and the rattle inmediately disappear! Now I can finally enjoy the FD without any annoying sound

The rubbers looks Ok and have no cracks, also there is no squeaking sound just the rattle.
I spray them with white lithium grease anyways for maintanace reasons.

 

Mine rattles, and I tore all plastic apart and found my touring spoiler has a majority of the bolts broken from the plastic spoiler. The whole spoiler is rattling.