2012 Yukon Denali rattling (with video)

[jyi786]

On my new 2012 Yukon Denali XL, it's developed an annoying rattling toward the rear. It's on the left side (driver side), but I don't know where. Oddly enough, it ONLY rattles when the vehicle reaches 60+MPH, most audible when between 75-80MPH. The strange thing is that it never rattled before I bought it. Only after driving it about 1000 miles it started.

I've already tried padding and securing the seats and making sure there was no loose trim anywhere. I added felt everywhere I could. I am thinking two possible culprits are the rear window hatch or possibly the two rear seats (they kinda rattled when I banged on them from the bottom).

I'd appreciate any thoughts, suggestions, or pointers. Thanks everyone!

Edit:

While someone else was driving, I was able to go toward the back and find the source of this particular rattle. Here it is much closer to the source. It is not any of the jack equipment; I removed it and it still makes the noise.

Closer to the source (wheel well). It sounds like something metallic is hitting up into the wheel well. I checked the wheel well cover outside, and it's perfectly secured.

Any thoughts on what it could be before I go tearing into the wheel well?

 

[sk1dm4rk]

It could be anything. You will likely find it quickly by having someone roam around back there to locate it as it truck is driven.

Good luck.

Regards,

Mark

 

[bowtiefreak]

Check the door locks on the rear doors. That was where mine was, really easy fix if that's the case

 

[jyi786]

It could be anything. You will likely find it quickly by having someone roam around back there to locate it as it truck is driven.

Good luck.

Regards,

Mark

Will do. Thanks man. I'll probably have my Mom drive it and then I'll try to find the cause.

Check the door locks on the rear doors. That was where mine was, really easy fix if that's the case

I've actually got this on my to do list for later this evening. Putting Velcro strips on them; there's a video and some how-to's that I found.

 

[iamdub]

Check the automatic climate control aspirator. It's the small (quarter size) vent looking thing in the headliner above your head towards the left. I swear I was hearing something rattling/buzzing in the one of the lefthand doors. Turned out the sound was actually above my head. The tiny fan motor was wearing out.

 

[jyi786]

Alright. While someone else was driving, I was able to go toward the back and find the source of this particular rattle. Here it is much closer to the source. It is not any of the jack equipment; I removed it and it still makes the noise.

Closer to the source (wheel well). It sounds like something metallic is hitting up into the wheel well. I checked the wheel well cover outside, and it's perfectly secured.

Any thoughts on what it could be before I go tearing into the wheel well?

 

[jyi786]

The rattling is now getting worse. The doors are all rattling to hell.

When I get time, I'm going to take them apart and Frost King them. How about the rear wheel well liners? Can I Frost King those as well?

 

[sk1dm4rk]

OK. I watched the vids. I think you need to repeat the procedure and this time use your hands to feel around touch everything and see if you can muffle or change the pitch of the sound and thus identify the actual piece making the noise. Then we can figure out a way to secure it or workaround the issue.

I know nothing about Frost King in this application, sorry.

 

[jyi786]

OK. I watched the vids. I think you need to repeat the procedure and this time use your hands to feel around touch everything and see if you can muffle or change the pitch of the sound and thus identify the actual piece making the noise. Then we can figure out a way to secure it or workaround the issue.

I actually did. I stuck my hand into the recess and touched the metal sheeting (the side of the vehicle). The pitch didn't change at all. The odd thing is that I couldn't feel it either when it was hitting (making the sound).

There was a harness cable I felt inside the recess as well. I tried to hold it to see if it would change the pitch. Didn't make an iota of difference.

 

[sk1dm4rk]

In my experience, if you can't change the pitch or muffle you are not in the right spot and the noise is "travelling" to this spot from its source.

That said, if your noise is getting worse (in the doors now as well), it may be a good idea to find out what is exacerbating it. Are your tires out of balance? Does it happen just when you hit bumps in the road?

I'm not sure you can reasonably expect the cabin to remain completely silent, but I can definitely understand how a rattle would drive you nuts. I'm just running out of ideas since I am not there to actually see/hear what is happening.

Good luck.

Regards,

Mark