Mystery Tailgate rattle... help??
Discussion
Hi,
I'm really hoping someone may be able to help me here. 2 months ago I purchased a 2014 plate Aston Martin Vantage V8 4.7L with 13,000 miles on the clock. On the day of collection I drove away from the AM dealer and within seconds heard this horrific rattle coming from the tailgate behind my seat above my head, it was like a metal on metal sound. I drove it straight back and they spent 15 mins opening the tailgate and re-fitting foam behind my seat. I drove off and the rattle had gone! 1 week later, I drove to work and it was back. The car went back to the dealer, who said it was now sorted. 4 days later the rattle was back!!
The car went back 2 more times and they finally told me that they had stripped everything out the tailgate, front seat, roof etc and just re-padded, found a few lose things but it was all back together ok and no noises at all on many test drives. Got the car back and it seemed fine. 1 week later I drove to Wales, after 2.5 hours driving I came off the M4 in Wales and I could hear the rattle again, just not as loud, but it was there. I had a meeting for 4 hours, then drove home again but could not get the car to make any noise at all, it was perfect.
Drove back to Wales today and the car was perfect, yet coming back, within 2 mins of my journey starting, the rattle was back!!! It lasted 15 mins or so and then seem to resort to a very slight muffled noise of the metal on metal sound. This time I got my colleague to drive the car and I put my head right up to the tail gate window, there I could clearly hear a knocking/chattering noise coming from the black frame of the tailgate that touches the window. I squeezed my fingers in-between the black frame and window and pulled downwards towards the parcel shelf. INSTANTLY the noise stopped!! I let go and the noise reappeared, pulled it down again with slight pressure and it stopped.
So I have located the rattle but still have no idea what's causing it. I bang the black frame of the tailgate where I pulled down, but no noise or knocking, just a hollow sound, so was the noise resinating from another part of the tailgate frame? I'm not sure if the rattle is from inside the tailgate or maybe outside, is it aligned correctly?
I contacted the dealer who said they would book it in again and see if they can resolve it. But I'm losing faith with this dealer as its now been over 2 months since I bought the car and I'm still having the same issue as I had on the day I purchased it. I know its really hard for the dealer when the noise seems to appear whenever it wants to, but I'm just not sure what to do. There appears to be nothing else wrong with the car at all and its an amazing car and an amazing drive. But this noise is driving me mad and I never really enjoy driving it as I have now become so tuned in to this rattle. The other issue I have is that the dealer is 90 miles away, so my car is clocking up a lot of miles with so many trips back there.
Does anyone know anyone or any dealer that could get to the bottom of this rattle? The car has a 12 month warranty on it, although I would pay for someone to cure this!! Any suggestions will be very welcome.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for reading!
I'm really hoping someone may be able to help me here. 2 months ago I purchased a 2014 plate Aston Martin Vantage V8 4.7L with 13,000 miles on the clock. On the day of collection I drove away from the AM dealer and within seconds heard this horrific rattle coming from the tailgate behind my seat above my head, it was like a metal on metal sound. I drove it straight back and they spent 15 mins opening the tailgate and re-fitting foam behind my seat. I drove off and the rattle had gone! 1 week later, I drove to work and it was back. The car went back to the dealer, who said it was now sorted. 4 days later the rattle was back!!
The car went back 2 more times and they finally told me that they had stripped everything out the tailgate, front seat, roof etc and just re-padded, found a few lose things but it was all back together ok and no noises at all on many test drives. Got the car back and it seemed fine. 1 week later I drove to Wales, after 2.5 hours driving I came off the M4 in Wales and I could hear the rattle again, just not as loud, but it was there. I had a meeting for 4 hours, then drove home again but could not get the car to make any noise at all, it was perfect.
Drove back to Wales today and the car was perfect, yet coming back, within 2 mins of my journey starting, the rattle was back!!! It lasted 15 mins or so and then seem to resort to a very slight muffled noise of the metal on metal sound. This time I got my colleague to drive the car and I put my head right up to the tail gate window, there I could clearly hear a knocking/chattering noise coming from the black frame of the tailgate that touches the window. I squeezed my fingers in-between the black frame and window and pulled downwards towards the parcel shelf. INSTANTLY the noise stopped!! I let go and the noise reappeared, pulled it down again with slight pressure and it stopped.
So I have located the rattle but still have no idea what's causing it. I bang the black frame of the tailgate where I pulled down, but no noise or knocking, just a hollow sound, so was the noise resinating from another part of the tailgate frame? I'm not sure if the rattle is from inside the tailgate or maybe outside, is it aligned correctly?
I contacted the dealer who said they would book it in again and see if they can resolve it. But I'm losing faith with this dealer as its now been over 2 months since I bought the car and I'm still having the same issue as I had on the day I purchased it. I know its really hard for the dealer when the noise seems to appear whenever it wants to, but I'm just not sure what to do. There appears to be nothing else wrong with the car at all and its an amazing car and an amazing drive. But this noise is driving me mad and I never really enjoy driving it as I have now become so tuned in to this rattle. The other issue I have is that the dealer is 90 miles away, so my car is clocking up a lot of miles with so many trips back there.
Does anyone know anyone or any dealer that could get to the bottom of this rattle? The car has a 12 month warranty on it, although I would pay for someone to cure this!! Any suggestions will be very welcome.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for reading!
I think you can solve this yourself in 5 minutes - hopefully.
There is an adjuster screw on the tailgate hinge as shown in the photo below. Turn it anticlockwise (maybe half a turn at a time) until the noise stops. I also put a small pad of road bike handlebar tape on it but I'm not sure if this actually adds anything. Mine started rattling a little again a couple of weeks ago so I suspect it is temperature dependant which may explain the intermittent nature of your rattle. Another half turn anticlockwise (and some new bar tape) and it's completely gone again. I very much hope this solves your problem as, like you, these things drive me completely mad and whilst they shouldn't, they really do detract from my enjoyment of our fantastic cars.
There is an adjuster screw on the tailgate hinge as shown in the photo below. Turn it anticlockwise (maybe half a turn at a time) until the noise stops. I also put a small pad of road bike handlebar tape on it but I'm not sure if this actually adds anything. Mine started rattling a little again a couple of weeks ago so I suspect it is temperature dependant which may explain the intermittent nature of your rattle. Another half turn anticlockwise (and some new bar tape) and it's completely gone again. I very much hope this solves your problem as, like you, these things drive me completely mad and whilst they shouldn't, they really do detract from my enjoyment of our fantastic cars.
Hi V8V Pete, thanks so much for your kind reply, it's really appreciated. I will try your suggestion on both the adjusters and see if it makes any difference then let you know. You would think the dealer would have been able to resolve this by now, it's become so frustrating that I don't even enjoy driving the car. I do agree with you though, that this does seem temperature related. I will let you know how I get on.
Thanks again for your reply and your help!!
Thanks again for your reply and your help!!
Possibly I had the same problem, but it was more a screechy sound. I tried screwingforementioned screws anti clockwise in small steps to no avail, then I turned the screws clockwise (multiple little steps) and managed to get rid of the noise. It was temperature dependent and mostle audible when going through potholes, on rough roads or while spirited cornering.
Maybe this helps you, worth a try anyhow.
Good luck
Christian
Maybe this helps you, worth a try anyhow.
Good luck
Christian
Thanks Gday2. Yes my noise appears when going over bumps of rougher roads where the car is up and down, on smooth motorways I don't hear anything. I'll certainly try the adjusters turning, then see what happens. It sounds like the tailgate is definitely hitting something metal on the car, or its flexing with metal on metal. Thanks again for your kind reply!! Cheers!
Gday2 said:
I screwed the stops at the hinges in until the noise was gone and then adjusted the gap between hatch and bumper with the springloaded bumpstops on the hatch. Never heard anything from the back again, ok the beautiful exhaustnote is still there - god bless 
Great thanks, do you have a photo of what stops you screwed in the hinges? Or do you mean the adjuster screws? I'm so hoping this works for me! Cheers!V8V Pete said:
Have you not tried it yet?!
No as I had to leave early this morning to attend a client meeting, I only use the Aston 2 or 3 days a week and don't like taking it to clients in case they get the wrong impression. So I'm in my other car today. I am going to do the adjustments as soon as I get home and try it! Fingers crossed!! 
That you're overcharging them?
My first step was to turn the screws at the hinges counter clockwise, no change so I turned them clockwise (about have a turne in each step) testdrive searching for potholes I did that repeatet times until the bad noise was gone. then I adjustet the gap with the bumpstops. Sorry I got no pictures but the bumbstps are the rubber thingies with a spring loaded bolt in the middle at the hatch ( fare more back then the hinges). The whole procedure took me severel testdrives but it is worth the effort. I forgot to mention that you can turn the bump stops inwards and outwards to get the right gap between bumper and closed hatch.
I did that repeatet times until the bad noise was gone. then I adjustet the gap with the bumpstops. Sorry I got no pictures but the bumbstps are the rubber thingies with a spring loaded bolt in the middle at the hatch ( fare more back then the hinges). The whole procedure took me severel testdrives but it is worth the effort. I forgot to mention that you can turn the bump stops inwards and outwards to get the right gap between bumper and closed hatch.Gday2 said:
My first step was to turn the screws at the hinges counter clockwise, no change so I turned them clockwise (about have a turne in each step) testdrive searching for potholes I did that repeatet times until the bad noise was gone. then I adjustet the gap with the bumpstops. Sorry I got no pictures but the bumbstps are the rubber thingies with a spring loaded bolt in the middle at the hatch ( fare more back then the hinges). The whole procedure took me severel testdrives but it is worth the effort. I forgot to mention that you can turn the bump stops inwards and outwards to get the right gap between bumper and closed hatch.
OK great thanks. Yes I know what you mean now. The strange thing about this is I actually think you and V8V Pete are bang on right with this, as when the car went back to the dealer the last time for this issue, I noticed that the drivers side adjuster had almost all its thread showing, but the passenger side adjuster bolt was much lower down and only 1/3 thread showing, the main noise was coming from behind the drivers seat and was a very loud metal on metal noise. When I got the car back, this noise was 80% better, but the dealer said they could actually find the fault so just stripped the tailgate and repacked it with extra foam padding. Then the noise seemed more on the passenger side but more muffled. After reading V8V Pete's advice, I have since noticed that the adjuster on the drivers side is only showing 1/3 thread, and the dealer told me they did a very slight adjustment on the tailgate, which must be what they did. So Hopefully now that I have turned the passenger side down a touch more and the drivers side down a full turn, plus covered the adjusters in felt tape, I'm preying the noise is finally gone!! I went out tonight and heard nothing... but its so intermittent and has gone before only to re-appear a few days later, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed so tightly that you guys have found the issue!! Thank you both so much! I did that repeatet times until the bad noise was gone. then I adjustet the gap with the bumpstops. Sorry I got no pictures but the bumbstps are the rubber thingies with a spring loaded bolt in the middle at the hatch ( fare more back then the hinges). The whole procedure took me severel testdrives but it is worth the effort. I forgot to mention that you can turn the bump stops inwards and outwards to get the right gap between bumper and closed hatch.V8V Pete said:
I think you can solve this yourself in 5 minutes - hopefully.
There is an adjuster screw on the tailgate hinge as shown in the photo below. Turn it anticlockwise (maybe half a turn at a time) until the noise stops. I also put a small pad of road bike handlebar tape on it but I'm not sure if this actually adds anything. Mine started rattling a little again a couple of weeks ago so I suspect it is temperature dependant which may explain the intermittent nature of your rattle. Another half turn anticlockwise (and some new bar tape) and it's completely gone again. I very much hope this solves your problem as, like you, these things drive me completely mad and whilst they shouldn't, they really do detract from my enjoyment of our fantastic cars.
Hi V8V Pete, I just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for posting up your solution to the tailgate rattle that you had in your AM in response to my post. I did exactly as you said and it appears that the rattle I was experiencing has completely disappeared! I genuinely believe that the tops of the adjuster bolts were knocking on the the bottoms of the metal brackets, so after reading your post I covered the adjuster bolts with this rubber finger thimbles that you use when counting sheets of paper, together with turning the adjuster bolts 2 turns anti-clockwise, and since then I have driven my AM for 3-4 days around many roads and not heard a peep from the back tailgate. Fingers crossed that this has in fact resolved my issue, as I am now thoroughly enjoying my beautiful car!!! Thank you so much for your help, you have no idea how happy I am and how much I appreciate your post and advice. Thanks! There is an adjuster screw on the tailgate hinge as shown in the photo below. Turn it anticlockwise (maybe half a turn at a time) until the noise stops. I also put a small pad of road bike handlebar tape on it but I'm not sure if this actually adds anything. Mine started rattling a little again a couple of weeks ago so I suspect it is temperature dependant which may explain the intermittent nature of your rattle. Another half turn anticlockwise (and some new bar tape) and it's completely gone again. I very much hope this solves your problem as, like you, these things drive me completely mad and whilst they shouldn't, they really do detract from my enjoyment of our fantastic cars.
Old thread but more relevant than ever. Our 2025 Vantage have serval cabin rattle issues.
But the main issue is this one. I would like to say a BIG thank you V8V Pete, for sharing this information.
Today i screw the two screws completely in (clockwise) the rattle ist now 80% gone. Also the trunklid section to direction of the glas roof was aligned better now. Before the lid was lifted. If i lower the rear rubber buffer so the front section was good, but the tail section hangs to low. Now it looks perfect.
My question now. I have my new customer dealer inspection at 1500km / 3 months at buy. 30 days to go.
How i should setup these two bolts correctly? The Paper-stripe test method? These bolts are only change the front angle aligment of the glass/trunk section or did they have a another function too?
I would like to screw they bit by bit counter clockwise out until the paper strips tear with closed trunk?
But the main issue is this one. I would like to say a BIG thank you V8V Pete, for sharing this information.
Today i screw the two screws completely in (clockwise) the rattle ist now 80% gone. Also the trunklid section to direction of the glas roof was aligned better now. Before the lid was lifted. If i lower the rear rubber buffer so the front section was good, but the tail section hangs to low. Now it looks perfect.
My question now. I have my new customer dealer inspection at 1500km / 3 months at buy. 30 days to go.
How i should setup these two bolts correctly? The Paper-stripe test method? These bolts are only change the front angle aligment of the glass/trunk section or did they have a another function too?
I would like to screw they bit by bit counter clockwise out until the paper strips tear with closed trunk?
Edited by RoNNy379CH on Friday 16th May 17:33
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