Rear Deck "popping/clicking/tapping/ticking" noise.
 

Description of the noise:
- Sounds like a plastic bottle popping back into the original shape after it has pressed in.
- Noise comes from rear that sounds like clicking/tapping.
- With the rear seats down, the noise becomes sharper that sounds more like popping/ticking.
- It happens regardless of the vehicle speed.
- It happens even on a smooth road.
- It starts after some miles are put on. As early as 600 miles and as late as 3500 miles. Mine started after 1k miles.
- You may not notice the noise if you always have the radio on.
- It happens as often as 10 times in 1/4 mile, but sometimes as seldom as once every 5 minutes.
- This is not any of the 6 noises below:
-- 1 --The rattling noise of the 3rd brake light housing.
-- 2 -- The tapping noise of the emergency trunk release cable in the trunk.
-- 3 -- The noise caused by the rear seats not fully locked in place.
-- 4 -- The rattling/buzzing noise caused by the transmitter not being snug. LINK
-- 5 -- The rattling noise caused by the white plastic clips under the foam layer below the trunk liner. LINK
-- 6 -- The popping noise caused by the rear seats latch. LINK

Video of the Noise:

[ame]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNdbWnXqwps[/ame]

The sources of the noise:
Source #1
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/pictu...pictureid=3096
Source #2
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/pictu...pictureid=3098

Solution:
TSB(11/13/2012): Subaru released TSB for this noise. 12-140-12
Quick and Easy Fix:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/pictu...pictureid=3097
For source #1, press the red circle in the above picture with your thumb firmly and apply a lube spray (silicon lube spray, White Lithium Grease spray, WD40, or etc.) as shown in the above picture.
No easy fix for source #2 as of now since it requires to remove the rear deck panel.
Fix done by the dealers in Japan: Adjust the spacing of the sources of the noise to stop them from rubbing. No spraying or center punching is done.
Fix done by the dealers in U.S. (Prior to TSB):Center punch the spot welds..

What to do after the noise is gone:
[Thanks :thumbsup:] all my posts in this thread. j/k :happyanim:


Another popping noise fix found by CJB:
Where to access the location from.
Source of the noise and the fix.


Another one by Mikepage:
DIY - Fix your Rear Deck "popping/clicking/tapping/ticking" noise.



Old news from here. Leaving them here for the record only.

8/3/2012
I just found a new information posted on a Japanese message board dated 8/4 (Japan is a day ahead of U.S.)

Description of the defect:
Below the 3rd brake light mount, there is a panel that is welded on to the body. Some cars don't have enough weld and the panel rubs against the body causing the noise. This issue is registered as a known defect at the dealers (... in Japan).

8/7/2012
Scion reference number is 1208070591, if anyone is willing to contact them.
LINK >>>>> HERE!

8/20/2012
First FR-S in U.S. is fixed.
TAS# 122230369
LINK >>>>> HERE!

8/23/2012
The more of us taking an action for this problem, the earlier we get our cars fixed. It only takes 5 minutes of your time to help yourself and everyone else with this problem.
Scion Contact >>>>> LINK!
Subaru Contact >>>>> LINK!

9/5/2012
Most likely the first BRZ fixed in U.S.
LINK >>>>> HERE!

9/6/2012
Just the center punch seems to fix the problem.
LINK >>>>> HERE!

9/21/2012
A one minute quick and easy fix that is to apply a silicon lube spray in two spots in the trunk behind the rear seats & below the rear deck gets rid of the noise.
LINK >>>>> HERE!


The source of the noise:
The two spots in the red circles below.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/pictu...pictureid=1962

Solution:
Quick and Easy Fix (9/21/2012): Apply a silicon lube spray,White Lithium Grease spray, or etc. inside of the two spots circled in red in the above picture.
I sprayed WD-40 for three to five seconds in each hole until it started to drip and there has been no pop since 9/21/2012. *UPDATE (11/13/2012)* Subaru's TSB shows more specific locations to spray the lube.

I have some engineers looking at my car right now at the dealer. I'll mention this along with the ethanol issue as well although I'm sure they know about it already.

Thanks for the info. Now I can stop wondering what it is. Right now, it's not too annoying, so I'll leave it be. If a full TSB comes out, I'll get it taken care of.

Can't thank you enough for summarizing this! You've nailed all the symptoms I've had so far and I even had mine start happening on the trip where I crossed 1k miles. How did you figure out these were all the common symptoms?

It's just a relief to know I'm not losing my mind or being too picky -- I went to the dealer where they told me they could not reproduce it, and I've spent a few hours poking around in the trunk trying to diagnose it. I was about ready to pay my brother to ride around in the back to listen for it!

I hope you'll get a good news.

Yes, that's what I'm planning to do also.

Since I couldn't find any information while googling in English, I started to google in Japanese (my 1st language). Then I found some people with this problem with their 86s and BRZs. I mentioned my symptoms in a message board and they had exactly the same symptoms.

I'm hearing what sounds like plastic bottles rubbing together from the back of the car (what a case of water bottles sounds like when it flexes); does that sounds like this noise?

I think that would sound more like a metal squeaking sound. Something like:
squeaaaak... squeak........ squeaaaaak.

This noise is more like quick tick/click noises. Something like:
tick!..... click!.. click!............ tick!

So the fix is rear seats up and radio on. Done that's pretty much all the time :)

Finally someone diagnosed it!
Hope a TSB comes out soon cause I rather have my car getting warranty done for everything in a day rather than coming back and forth

Thanks again!

Sounds like the typical Click & Clack repair solution.

That sound has been driving me mad for almost 3 weeks. Can I fix it myself by placing 3m tape or some kind of buffer between the plastic, and the metal frame?

Yes, if you always have the radio on, then it won't affect you until when you try to sell the car and the buyer notices the noise. :)


That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I learned it the hard way :sigh:

I understand how annoying this noise gets. Not so bad in the beginning, but it gets more and more annoying as you hear it every single trip.

By reading what was done to get some of the owners' cars fixed, it did not sound like something you could do on your own. They used a special tool to pin point the cause of noise. Some dealers even had to send the cars to a factory to get the welding or adjustment corrected. Although some sound deadening might get rid of the noise, it won't fix the source of the noise. I would still be worrying that the source of the noise might get worse and the noise might come back.

:brokenheart::brokenheart::brokenheart:

I have this noise. Im a bit worried that the dealers were unable to fix the issue, and instead had to send the car back to the factory.

I dont see that happening in the US, but still...

Sorry, it was misleading. I meant it was sent to a factory. I didn't mean it was sent back to Subaru assembly factory. For an example. I once had to get my glass roof replaced, which required to lift the whole top that weighs over 100 lbs. The dealer sent my car to another factory to get it done. What I meant in my first post is, the dealer the owner brought the car to might not have the equipment (my guess) to adjust the welding and sent the car to another factory to get it done. The information I found did not explain the reason why it was sent to another factory, but that's my guess.

EDIT:
I got the word "factory" by directly translating from Japanese to English. But I think more proper word I should use is "shop". I updated my first post to avoid confusion.

I have those exact symptoms. Every single one and it comes from that exact area. I actually had my girlfriend in the back with the rear seats down.

The fix looks impossible since I live in Lebanon, I have one of only three GT86s (no BRZs here yet) in the country and the dealers are clueless. Any ideas on what I can do to fix the problem? Will applying weight from the top or pressure from the bottom help in anyway? Can you give any additional information on the exact sources of the problem?

Sorry for all the questions, but I can't turn off the music in my car because when I do hear it, it drives me nuts.

Also check that your seats are fully locked in place. My rear latches weren't and it clicked. Close it back up and it's all good.

I have this clicking sound, too. I checked my rear seat to see if it was fully secured and it was. Looking forward to a TSB on this one.

It drives me nuts too. I understand how you feel.

I keep searching for this issue. I find a several people who are attempting to fix this issue on their own, but I still don't find anyone who was successful. This issue seems to be becoming a hot issue beyond Japanese owners now. I'm pretty sure they will come up with a formal bulletin in Japan soon. Then I hope that gets distributed to Toyota across the countries. Your dealer then should be aware of this, I'm thinking.

As of now, I'd say it's not something anyone can fix on their own. I wouldn't try to fix it on my own because if it's that easy, someone would've done it by now. I will post updates on my first post as I find anymore information.

Thanks. I already listed on my first post that the noise gets sharper with the rear seats down. But I should still add your point to my list of symptoms.

Yes, I can't wait for the TSB too.

Ok, I guess I'm done with searching. I updated the first post with the most current information. Now, I just wait until this fix comes to U.S. and then get mine fixed. :w00t:

I wonder how long it will take... :iono:

I'm not sure if this is the noise I am hearing in the rear of my FR-S.

Mine sounds like a metallic buzzing noise(if that makes sense) or like a quick tapping sound. Not sure the best way to describe it. Wonder if its the same thing?

I think, buzzing noise is closer to rattling noise than the noise I'm talking about in this thread. I would first check below 3.
1) Check the 3rd brake light housing. Stuff a towel with some pressure between the 3rd brake light housing and the rear glass. See if removes the noise.
2) Check to see if the rear seats are fully locked in place. Make sure both ends of the rear seats top are pressed to lock in. The buttons on top of the two ends of the rear seats should not show the red section. The buttons should be sunk into the rear seats hiding the red section.
3) Check to see if the emergency trunk release tab inside of the trunk is secured and not hanging. This tab is behind (the other side of) the rear license plate. There is a way to secure this, but if you can't figure it out, you could just tape it on.

Hey Rice, you should add this link to your description of the noise, so if someone comes in here for the wireless transmitter noise, then it will direct them to it!

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=358267

Good idea. I just added to the first post. Thanks.

It's more of a tapping noise to be honest. Today I drove with the rear seat down for the first time and noticed that the noise was louder than before; it seems to be coming from the rear deck, or at least the trunk area.

If you're hearing the noise regardless of the vehicle speed, then you seem like having the same noise I'm having. I hope TSB comes out soon, so that we get ours fixed.

So many TSBs coming out for this car. I still love it tho!

Me too! I've been dreaming about this car for years. :)

Im glad there are TSBs. That means they're looking for and addressing issues with the car.

Anyone fix this on their own?
When I cross a bridge, I think about taking myself and the car over every time.

Just an updated information.

In Japan, dealers have demo cars for the customers to test drive, which are not for sale. These demo cars are starting to make this noise too. That could discourage some of the potential buyers to purchase the cars.

I wonder what the sales person would say if the customer asks what the noise is.
"That's normal."
"I don't hear anything."
"Yes, it has a defective (or not enough) welds in the rear deck panel."

They would distract them by saying hey lets check out this amazing stereo system.:thumbup:

They can't even do that since the stereo is not standard in Japan and the demo cars have a big whole there.
http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/...fad9b95f13.jpg

The noise I'm experiencing with mine is only noticeable at highway speeds and is a fast ticking sound (like 5 ticks per second) and is continuous. I cannot increase or decrease the rate of ticking - I thought maybe it was speed related but it's not. Only the loudness of the tick is speed related. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I haven't been able to drive the car much but I'm starting to hear the pop/tick as well. At only 1200 miles the sound is driving me f'ing nuts. Thanks for this post.

Sounds like you have a different problem. That sounds closer to rattling. I would check these 3:
1) The rattling noise of the 3rd brake light housing.
2) The rattling/buzzing noise caused by the transmitter not being snug. LINK
3) The rattling noise caused by the white plastic clips under the foam layer below the trunk liner. LINK


I feel you. Mine started at about 1000 miles and I could bear with it only for 1 week. Then it's been driving me nuts everyday.

If anyone is concerned enough about this noise to contact Scion, the reference number is 1208070591.
Feel free to point to this thread.
The more we complain, the more serious they get. :)

<<<<< LINK HERE >>>>>


:thumbsup:

I *think* I may have found my tapping noise, but I haven't driven enough to be 100% sure. Those who want to try what I did, open the trunk lid (BRZ owners will need to remove the liner from the lid) and find the cable that connects the latch to the key lock in the lid. It rests against the center support of the trunk. Stuff a sock or something soft between it and that support.

I'm going out again tonight so I'll listen for the tapping noise again. I'm only about 25% confident this fixed the problem, but we'll see.

I think have this. It's pretty sporadic, but getting more frequent (or I'm noticing it more). Tried checking other sources, messed around with white bases for clips that hold foam pieces (cause when you move those foam pieces by hand the sound is kinda similar). Didn't help at all, so I guess that makes the clicking/tapping in the OP the primary candidate.