Thought I'd pass on an easy rattle fix I found by trial and error. This may be old news to some, but it worked and will save you a trip to the dealer, and more importantly will make you much happier with your car in cold weather.

Symptom: when it got cold (below freezing) a couple of weeks back, my car exhibited a constant LOUD cracking sound from the back, sounded like the rear window or rear speaker was hitting something on rough roads. Several have posted this sound. Drove me nuts.

Checked everything, doors, trunk, seat, etc. Finally learned it was coming from the rear headliner. Because one would not notice when the car was parked, it was trial/error to find it.

Solution: go to the hardware store and get six strips of velcro with adhesive on one side, each 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. I got a single strand and cut to size.

Slide off the small plastic wire cover piece at the top of the back window adjacent to the headliner (about 1 inch wide) slightly off center to the passenger side.

Sit down in the middle of the back seat and gently pull the headliner down, starting in the center, there is a metal clip about 3 inches from the back. Pull down until the clip releases. Move about 6 inches left and repeat, then move six inches to the right and repeat.

Each of the three clips in stapled twice to the headliner, once on each side of the clip. There is thin foam over the staples, but it was worn through on my car, and the staples were making direct contact with the metal on the roof.

Put the velcro over each of the staples, put it snugly against the clip on each side.

Re-attach all clips, re-install small plastic cover.

All is again silent.

A final thought: rattles sounds can be deceiving, this one absolutely sounded like it was coming from the trunk or rear deck (speaker)

 

Thank you so much man!
I have this noise you are talking about, and I found out the other day that it was from the headliner too. At first I thought it was from the rear deck, then I thought it was from the rear right side window, then I thought it was the chair. But I finally reproduced the sound one day by pressing hard on the headliner. It sounded like a little piece of tape sticking on the roof and then peel off. Little tsk tsk sound. I will try your fix right away when I get a chance.
This board rocks!
With this sound and the squeaky chair sound fixed, my car should be rattle free. Oh, besides the sun roof that is.

 

I know I'll get flamed for this, but what is the headliner? Is it the piece between the two rear speakers? Needless to say, I'm not too savvy with car parts.

 

HEAD liner heheehehehee

it's on the top, right where the backwindow starts on top

 

I check out the headliner on my 2002 TL-S. The clips are glued and don't have staples. I am still looking for the noise I hear when I hit bumps and it is cold out.

 

Stock--- bet you have it nailed with this one! I heard it just today and it is definately out back but I cant listen and drive too, thanks. QuickRick

 

I tried to follow the instruction of this fix, but was a bit afraid to take down the headliner. I removed the plastic wire cover in the center of the back window, but the headliner still doesn't want to come off. I was afraid to use force and peel it down. So I will let the dealer take care of this. But I am quite sure the noise I heard is from the headliner now. If I press on the headliner, I can reproduce the noise that I heard every morning.

 

Thanx man! My wife has taken the Tl-S to 2 dealerships a total of 6 times AND the dayam creak is still there!

This sounds plausible enough to be the fix to our problem!!!