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

 

[jyi786]

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?

You know, I'm actually scheduled on Jan. 3rd to get my tires road force balanced and get a full 4 wheel alignment. At the same time, I was going to get both differentials and the transfer case flushed, but am now heavily debating if I should just redirect the money and ditch the garbage Dueler tires that come default on this truck. I know for a fact they are out of balance; you can feel vibrating at high speeds.

It happens both when just driving along as well as hitting bumps. Just tonight, on all the doors, I did the velcro fix and put some weatherstripping between the door trim and the part where the window goes down the door. When I drive tomorrow morning, I'll report how that affected the noise.

 

[jyi786]

I have another theory.

Could it possibly be the connector for the rear washer fluid? I hit the switch in the front; I hear the pump...but no washer fluid comes out of the rear. Then while doing some research, I came across this:

http://z71tahoe-suburban.com/iboard/index.php?showtopic=30793&hl=

In that post, the guy shows a connector which is almost right around the area where I hear the rattling emanating from on my truck. I wonder if this is what's causing it?

Edit: never mind, that's not it. I tried again this morning; the rear washer is working just fine, the fluid just needed time to get all the way from the front to the back.

 

[jyi786]

Alright, wanted to provide an update on this.

This afternoon, I went out with an intent to truly tackle this once and for all. I did not attempt anything from the interior of the vehicle, but focused on the exterior. I focused on the rear left wheel well area first.

1. I removed the liner, and put some felt padding on two nubs that touch the fender.
2. Once underneath, I noticed what looks like an EVAP pipe that goes up the fuel filler area that was flopping around. I was able to make it rattle a bit while flopping it around. I secured it with some zip ties.
3. There is a hard brake line that goes to the rear left wheel, and goes across the differential area. I found that by tapping on it, it hits a crossbar and can rattle. I put some styrofoam padding underneath it as a temporary measure until I can get some rubber piping as a more permanent solution.
4. On the rear right wheel, I put some padding on the wire loop that hold the brake line, as I could tap it and make it rattle. Once again, temporary until I can get some rubber piping.
5. I secured anything that could rattle around with zip ties.

For good measure, I got on the roof, and found the rack bars were a bit loose and not straight. I straightened and tightened them up. After this, I took the truck for a long drive.

Doing all this, the rattling has been substantially lessened!...but not eliminated. I wonder which of these would count as the culprit? Something is telling me that it might be the roof rack bars.

I will be trying this next:
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/2015-yukon-roof-rack-cross-rails.75184/
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/162069-rattle-in-rear/

 

[dreww2001]

on mine the plastic panels above the taillights one of the 3 clips broke off and it made the rattle exactly like that above 60 tap on them if it seems unstable rattles thats it i put tape thats used to keep rugs from moving on wood or tile floors because its single sided and foam so it can act like a clip to stop the rattle.

 

[DonnyJones]

This might seem strange but did you check your license plate? Sounds kind of like a license plate rattle.

 

[jyi786]

Yes I checked everything. It's not the license plate nor is it the rear light. I'm 99.8% sure it's the cargo railing. It's just been so cold out I haven't had time to get them tightened down completely.

 

[GM Customer Service]

Hello jyi786,

Our team is here to offer our assistance addressing your vehicle concerns. Has this rattle concern ever been addressed with a GM Dealer? If you'd like, we would be happy to reach out to them on your behalf to address this issue. Please send us your full contact information, VIN and servicing dealer if interested.

Best regards,
Anthony
GM Customer Care

 

[jyi786]

Hello jyi786,

Our team is here to offer our assistance addressing your vehicle concerns. Has this rattle concern ever been addressed with a GM Dealer? If you'd like, we would be happy to reach out to them on your behalf to address this issue. Please send us your full contact information, VIN and servicing dealer if interested.

Best regards,
Anthony
GM Customer Care

PM sent.

 

[dtprkr]

I have a similar situation to what Dreww mentioned. I found mine to be the driver side applique cover above the taillight. Mine tends to rattle even though the screws are tight. Open your rear HATCH and wiggle/tap them to see if you get any rattle sound.

 

[dreww2001]

I have a similar situation to what Dreww mentioned. I found mine to be the driver side applique cover above the taillight. Mine tends to rattle even though the screws are tight. Open your rear HATCH and wiggle/tap them to see if you get any rattle sound.

Unsrew it and put a foam thick tap around the clip it should keep it in place