What Is This Noise?

[kdl342]

It seems like I've had this rattle in my "trunk" for quite some time. I've taken everything out (including spare tire cover board, etc.) and still there. Sounds like it's more on the right side. A friend said it might be a strut?

[LexusES99]

Have you checked if its a license plate rattle problem?

[PearlLex]

more and likely its the strut or something to do with suspension...i have the same problem

[steviej]

is the jack secured tightly? how about the jack crank? Both of these are way over to the right.

If those are eliminated as possibilities, then start looking into suspension as noted above.

steviej

[gbhrps]

Had the same problem in my wife's 1971 Cougar years ago and traced it back to the long trunk spring rods that go between each trunk hinge from side to side. The 2 rods cross each other in the middle of the car and a metal clip that holds them together, to prevent rattling, had come off. The ES300 has the same spring rod setup and this may be your culprit. Check to see if the rods come close to each other, enough to vibrate and touch after hitting a bump in the road. Either put some foam rubber between them to stop the vibrating, or tie them together with a nylon tie in 2 or 3 locations, so that they can't separate enough to vibrate. Hope this applies in your case and solves your problem. If not, it was worth a try. Good luck!