Rattle from rear with top up, disappears when down
I went on a 15 mile round trip drive yesterday, and my 2001 2.5 developed a rattle from the rear. There had never been a rattle before. Started small, like something in the trunk. Got worse as I neared home. I thought the trunk lid might be unlatched. It occurs when the road is bumpy.
Drove car today, and it rattles like a loose shock, when I go over bumps. I put the top down, and the rattle went away. Amazing. The top does not apear to be loose. I recall the weak rear shock mounts, and thought that a likely candidate, but why would the noise go away with the top down? And it's not that the rattle is masked by road noise with the top down. It's VERY noticeable with the top up, and not discernable with the top down.
That sounds like a good assessment.
I have the same issue and the same diagnosis.
Re: That sounds like a good assessment.
Its the rear shock mounts. they fail every 40K miles or so. The reason why you dont hear it when the top is down is because the top covers the the rear shock mounts when it is lowered. Peel back the carpeting in the area where the top rests when it is lowered to get to the shock mountes. Chances are that the rubber is worn out.
or the little caps that hold the rubber cover
have become loose and the pressure from the top down stops the rattling. I would tighten down the shock mounts more and see if the noise goes away.