Recently, I started getting a rattle from the trunk lid, which sounds like something is hitting the trunk lid. I checked the trunk, and the battery and spare tire were both securely bolted down. I emptied the trunk of the warning triangle and large umbrella that I keep in there, but the rattle continues. I can't see the inside of the trunk lid because there's a panel covered with carpeting so there could be some wires in there and to remove the panel, one would have to remove the catch for the trunk lid and the pull-down for the trunk lid, which seems difficult. Any ideas?

 

the panel comes off fairly easily, its held on by some plastic clips, the lock cover and the handle, they all just pop out and the panel will then fall on your head.

 

Thanks. Is the trunk lid pull-down attached to the trunk lid trim panel? It's on the right side.

 

From the diagram it looks like the handle is attached to the trunk lid through the trim panel by some small clips. Mine doesn't have that handle installed, I only have a cupped recess to pull on that is attached to the trim and sits in a cubby hole in the trunk panel.

 

I removed the trunk lid panel yesterday and wrapped cloth tape around all the wires that might contact the trunk lid and cause a rattle, but with little improvement. I was surprised by how many wires there were between the panel and the trunk lid. The hardest part of removing the panel was getting the emergency release handle off but the pictures helped. BTW, the pull-down handle is only attached to the panel, so when you remove the trunk panel, it comes down with the panel. The panel is attached to the trunk lid with plastic fasteners that look like Phillips screws but they're not screws at all.

Many thanks to fivel for the pictures!

 

With the panel off, can you shake the trunk lid and hear any rattling? maybe some has dropped into a cavity?

Failing that, might it be something in either the space where the spare tyre goes, or something under the rear bumper that makes it sound like its coming from the trunk lid?

 

I removed the spare tire and there's nothing there. I'll look in the bumper from underneath. You make a good point about something falling into a cavity in the trunk lid. I would have to remove the panel again. Also, what could have fallen into a cavity? Everything seemed in tact in the trunk lid. Thanks again.