Annoying Rattle From Passenger Side Area Identified (Permanent Fix Yet To Come)

[Porpoise Hork]

For the past several months I have had an annoying little rattle from the passenger side area at around 30-45 mph and it has taken me over a month to identify the source since it doesn't always happen either. What it's not.. Not the door panel, passenger seat belt, harness under the seat, center console sunglass holder, Weather Guard floor mat locator tabs, sun visor, camera assembly on windshield, AC housing, Harness under dash, AC vents and controls, door sill trim, A or B pillar paneling, or items in the glovebox.

What it is is the glove box lock tumbler. When it's unlocked the tumbler sits very loosely in the door and has about 1/8" of play causing it to rattle against the plastic when traveling at very specific speeds. Locking the lock does tighten the tumbler up eliminating the rattle. I stopped by the dealer the other day and looked at two of the Rangers they had on the lot and both of them have the same issue.

The plan is to pull the glovebox door out so I can remove the tumbler out and find a nylon washer large enough to go between the back of the lock tumbler face and the glovebox to keep it from rattling while unlocked.

If anyone has an annoying rattle from the passenger side area, check the glovebox lock. Chances are it's the cause.

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[SILK]

For the past several months I have had an annoying little rattle from the passenger side area at around 30-45 mph and it has taken me over a month to identify the source since it doesn't always happen either. What it's not.. Not the door panel, passenger seat belt, harness under the seat, center console sunglass holder, Weather Guard floor mat locator tabs, sun visor, camera assembly on windshield, AC housing, Harness under dash, AC vents and controls, door sill trim, A or B pillar paneling, or items in the glovebox.

What it is is the glove box lock tumbler. When it's unlocked the tumbler sits very loosely in the door and has about 1/8" of play causing it to rattle against the plastic when traveling at very specific speeds. Locking the lock does tighten the tumbler up eliminating the rattle. I stopped by the dealer the other day and looked at two of the Rangers they had on the lot and both of them have the same issue.

The plan is to pull the glovebox door out so I can remove the tumbler out and find a nylon washer large enough to go between the back of the lock tumbler face and the glovebox to keep it from rattling while unlocked.

If anyone has an annoying rattle from the passenger side area, check the glovebox lock. Chances are it's the cause.

Great detective work! I have this issue and I believe I saw other threads about this and some other sleuths identified it as a plastic connector inside the door panel that's rattling/banging and taking the panel apart to put some foam or something inside resolved the issue.

I'll have to try the tumbler and see if that rids me of this great nuisance.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Thanks. I still need to pull the glovebox door to get the lock tumbler out. Just have not had the time to get to it. Since keeping it locked is preventing the rattle getting this done has fallen down on the things to do list. Hoping to get it done this Saturday provided I can finish putting my forge back together...

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Well I got it fixed..

You will need the physical truck key, a small flat bladed screwdriver, and a 5/8 c-clip.

Talk about the cheapest method to secure the lock to the latch. No wonder it rattles.. Upon inspection of the lock I discovered that the lock tumbler is held in the glove box handle by the tiny spring loaded tab at the very back of the tumbler just below the beveled edge.

To remove the lock tumbler open the glovebox and insert the truck key into the lock. Next while holding the key in place look at the back side of the lock tumbler (inside the glovebox door) and take a small flat bladed screw driver and press the third tab that is barely visible towards the tumbler core. once pressed in twist and gently pull the tumbler out of the door.

Now here's where it get's a little fun. I was not able to find a nylon washer or c-clip that fit exactly onto the backside of the tumbler. The 5/8 c-clip is a very close fit, just needs about 1/8" of clearance to lock into place. Unfortunately there's not enough clearance for this and the next size up is too large unless you bend the crap out of it. So to secure the c-clip to the back side of the tumbler take put a tiny drop of super glue on the back side of the tumbler face and press the c-clip down till it bonds. Once bonded carefully reinstall the lock and test.

Once re-installed the lock tumbler still actuates smoothly and the c-clip closes the gap so it eliminates the rattle when unlocked. You may get lucky and find a clip that will fit better than what was able to find, but at least for now this works and no rattles.

 

[SILK]

Well I got it fixed..

You will need the physical truck key, a small flat bladed screwdriver, and a 5/8 c-clip.

Talk about the cheapest method to secure the lock to the latch. No wonder it rattles.. Upon inspection of the lock I discovered that the lock tumbler is held in the glove box handle by the tiny spring loaded tab at the very back of the tumbler just below the beveled edge.

To remove the lock tumbler open the glovebox and insert the truck key into the lock. Next while holding the key in place look at the back side of the lock tumbler (inside the glovebox door) and take a small flat bladed screw driver and press the third tab that is barely visible towards the tumbler core. once pressed in twist and gently pull the tumbler out of the door.

Now here's where it get's a little fun. I was not able to find a nylon washer or c-clip that fit exactly onto the backside of the tumbler. The 5/8 c-clip is a very close fit, just needs about 1/8" of clearance to lock into place. Unfortunately there's not enough clearance for this and the next size up is too large unless you bend the crap out of it. So to secure the c-clip to the back side of the tumbler take put a tiny drop of super glue on the back side of the tumbler face and press the c-clip down till it bonds. Once bonded carefully reinstall the lock and test.

Once re-installed the lock tumbler still actuates smoothly and the c-clip closes the gap so it eliminates the rattle when unlocked. You may get lucky and find a clip that will fit better than what was able to find, but at least for now this works and no rattles.

Great work. I tried locking my glove box and wouldn't you know it my rattle pretty much disappeared too. I still believe there's something in my passenger door that's banging on the plastic on occasion, but what I thought was one very annoying rattle has turned out to be two. This fixed the louder one of the two. Thanks!

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Great work. I tried locking my glove box and wouldn't you know it my rattle pretty much disappeared too. I still believe there's something in my passenger door that's banging on the plastic on occasion, but what I thought was one very annoying rattle has turned out to be two. This fixed the louder one of the two. Thanks!

Thanks. Took me months to locate this little bugger. For the occasional passenger door thunk, check the seatbelt and make sure it's not twisted and resting against the seat. If so the buckle will occasionally hit the B-pillar when you're driving causing an intermittent thunk from the passenger door area. My wife without fail when getting out will flip the seatbelt around then later on I hear the tell-tale thunk from the passenger door and sure enough the belt is twisted and buckle is tapping the B-pillar... I've commented to her about it on multiple occasions and she giggles cause she knows how much I hate rattles in a car/truck... ?

 

[D Fresh]

Thanks. Took me months to locate this little bugger. For the occasional passenger door thunk, check the seatbelt and make sure it's not twisted and resting against the seat. If so the buckle will occasionally hit the B-pillar when you're driving causing an intermittent thunk from the passenger door area. My wife without fail when getting out will flip the seatbelt around then later on I hear the tell-tale thunk from the passenger door and sure enough the belt is twisted and buckle is tapping the B-pillar... I've commented to her about it on multiple occasions and she giggles cause she knows how much I hate rattles in a car/truck... ?

My wife and kids do this too. It's worse in the backseat.

 

[Chris M]

Thanks. Took me months to locate this little bugger. For the occasional passenger door thunk, check the seatbelt and make sure it's not twisted and resting against the seat. If so the buckle will occasionally hit the B-pillar when you're driving causing an intermittent thunk from the passenger door area. My wife without fail when getting out will flip the seatbelt around then later on I hear the tell-tale thunk from the passenger door and sure enough the belt is twisted and buckle is tapping the B-pillar... I've commented to her about it on multiple occasions and she giggles cause she knows how much I hate rattles in a car/truck... ?

Must be a wife thing, as mine does this also. I have learned to just go ahead and twist the belt when I get back in the truck because that thunk/rattle is indeed too annoying to bear.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Well at least I know I'm not alone on that seatbelt...?

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