Ford Explorer: '04 Tailgate Creaks Driving Me Crazy !!

Best guess would be the lower edge of the rear window is to low and rubbing
on/in the tailgate glass opening. From the outside, push on one corner at a
time and see if it squeaks.
wth

"JAMSK" <net> wrote in message
news:r8exb.314757$.. 
driving 

"JAMSK" <net> wrote in message news:<r8exb.314757$HS4.2790754@attbi_s01>... 

eyeball everything back there including all of the rubber moldings and
trim pieces to make sure they are in place.

Liberaly spread multi purpose grease all over the moving parts -
hinges and latch.

I have located it.

When you lift the entire gate, including the window, there is a plastic
sliding latch at about the same height as the tail light. This is the
culprit but I don't know what to do about it yet. I can reproduce the
"creak" by lightly pressing on the closed tailgate. I can reproduce the
"creaking" even with the glass up too.

I'll let you all know what comes of my next move.


"JAMSK" <net> wrote in message
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Try silcone spray on the offending part?

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 15:44:07 GMT, "JAMSK" <net> wrote:
 

"JAMSK" <net> wrote in message
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I'd let the dealer check it out before trying to fix it myself, if only for
the documentation of the problem. It may be recurring.

Dave

Update:

I found the damn thing. It was the the plastic parts on either side of the
tail gate, both on the lifting gate itself and it's mate mounted on the body
near the tail lamps.
These little cheap components have a tapered plastic part that slides when
you shut the gate. The sliding mechanism is a small metal spring.
When the tail gate moves, slightly, in and out from normal flexing of the
body it creaks like you wouldn't believe.
The solution, was a wad of vasoline ( I didn't have grease) to pack the
spring. Likewise, a wad on the sliding tapered plastic block.
No more creaking.

When I bring in the truck for it's first oil change at 3,000 miles, I will
have the dealer document the creak, as some of you have suggested, in case
this is recurring.

Love the truck so far.
Traded a 2002 BMW X5 for it.


"JAMSK" <net> wrote in message
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I did. Silicone spray didn't work. See my other post, vasoline did the
trick.
"John Shoemaker" <yahoo.com> wrote in message
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In article <kCJxb.336384$Tr4.1011349@attbi_s03>, "JAMSK" <net>
wrote:

snip 
snip


Now we know you are nuts!

Hope you had a great T-day!

--
³Freedom Is a Light for Which Many Have Died in Darkness³

- Tomb of the unknown - American Revolution