Finally fixed my "last" squeak

[DaveMcKenz]

Hi,
I got my VX back from my son after he drove it in college and around other places for a couple of years. I came through with several dents, a seized engine, lots of mileage and numerous squeaks. All got fixed except the squeaks were driving me nuts. I searched this forum and went through numerous possible sources. I adjusted my hood rubbers, I installed Energy greasable sway bar bushings. I sprayed and lubed all the suspension parts I could get to. I put felt where my spare tire mounts to the tailgate. Each of these steps helped but I was left with a subtle rear end squeak. I sounded like a cricket chirp each time I went over a small bump or pothole. I could not reproduce the sound by bouncing the car or any other means. I noticed that the squeak was virtually gone on rainy days, so I considered the outside of the car. My final desperate step was to spray silicone into the seams in my cladding. Voila! So far I am quiet as new. I will repeat with other lubricants if needed but this is a huge relief so far.
Thanks for reading,
Dave

[RickOKC]

Wow, I never would have thought about that!

I have a not-so-subtle squeak in the interior cargo area now. One of the little plastic fasteners that secures the right rear plastic keeps popping out of hole and rubs on the sheet metal. Really irritating fingernails-on-chalkboard type sound! THIS time I'm going to replace the fastener with a new one... hmmm, maybe I should just leave it out.

[Exclamation]

I have a "cricket" noise in my VX every time I hit a pothole, take a tight corner, accelerate quickly, brake quickly, or pretty much any drastic movement. I have come to discover that it is something having to do with the AC/heat blower. The noise is coming from a black cylinder shaped thing underneath the glovebox and it instantly stops if I turn off the AC/Heat. If it comes back id suggest checking that.

[tom4bren]

Hi,
I got my VX back from my son after he drove it in college and around other places for a couple of years. I came through with several dents, a seized engine, lots of mileage and numerous squeaks.

Thanks ever so much Son.

Sounds like I'd better take the keys away from Boy ASAP!!!

[DaveMcKenz]

Hi again,
Well we've had two sunny, dry days in Chicago, and my squeak is back. I really thought I finally had it beat. I should add that I have silicone sprayed or silicone greased all my weatherstripping, my tailgate lock and dovetail, my door locks and latches and my hood hinges, latch and bumpers. I am dealing with a rather subtle but very high-pitched squeak or chirp, which is gone on rainy days. I am going to go ahead with my soundproofing project anyway. It may diminish the sound or I may find a source when the interior is pulled. Thanks for the ideas.
Dave

[Cobrajet]

I had a similar squeak/chirp coming from the front of my VX and finally narrowed it down to the hood latch. No amount of silicon or grease silenced it. I finally wrapped the catch with a few layers of self-vulcanizing tape. This prevents the latch from vibrating on the catch. I also adjusted my hood bumpers to allow my release to unlatch properly with the pull handle. Between the two I have no more squeaks.

http://home.comcast.net/~gregg.north/hood_squeak_fix.jpg

[DaveMcKenz]

I had a similar squeak/chirp coming from the front of my VX and finally narrowed it down to the hood latch. No amount of silicon or grease silenced it. I finally wrapped the catch with a few layers of self-vulcanizing tape. This prevents the latch from vibrating on the catch. I also adjusted my hood bumpers to allow my release to unlatch properly with the pull handle. Between the two I have no more squeaks.

http://home.comcast.net/~gregg.north/hood_squeak_fix.jpg

Thanks, Ill give it a try. As far a adjusting my latch, what should I be looking for? When I pull my lever, not much moves, but the hood is released. It just doesn't pop up much.
Thanks, Greg,
Dave

[DaveMcKenz]

Well, Greg,
I wrapped my hoop on the hood, like you said. I noticed that my latch cut through the tape on one side of the hoop. I adjusted the latch so the hoop was centered. It worked better but I still have the squeak. I drove over my bumpy test course with the hood open, on the safety catch, and the squeak was still there. Just for the heck of it, I tried driving over bumps with my passenger door open, on the safety catch, and the squeak seemed to go away. I tried adjusting my striker a little tighter and the squeak seems almost gone. It's too soon to speculate, but I will try tweaking this some over the next few days.
Dave

[Cobrajet]

Thanks, Ill give it a try. As far a adjusting my latch, what should I be looking for? When I pull my lever, not much moves, but the hood is released. It just doesn't pop up much.
Thanks, Greg,
Dave

My hood doesn't "pop" up either, but at least it releases. I had a period when it wouldn't release unless I was pulling up the hood while pulling the release lever at the same time. It's hard to be in two places at once, but that Extenz really does a great job... :)

I was afraid to adjust my hood bumpers much higher because it looked like my hood was starting to bend up on the corners. I don't know why Isuzu didn't include a spring like my other cars use.

[DaveMcKenz]

Hi again,
I still have my squeak. I have finally been able to reproduce it. If I fully open the passenger door and use it as a lever to rock the car from side to side, I get my squeak. Problem is I can't crawl under the car at the same time and my wife doesn't have the strength to rock the car. My son will be coming home this weekend and I will enlist his help. I have a microphone gadget that you touch to different parts and listen in earphones. We'll get this thing.
As an aside, I pulled my front bumper and reglued my headlight gaskets. I found my bumper bar rusted through, and a couple of loose chassis bolts. I had hoped my squeak was related, but no joy. My car is really well lubricated, for what it's worth.
Dave

[DaveMcKenz]

Maybe this time! I used the clamp-on microphone pickup and started to go through suspension joints, but got nothing. Just for the heck of it I clamped it on the RIGHT FRONT BODY MOUNT and it was chirping away. I pulled it out and wire-brushed all the rusted metal surfaces and greased up all the contact areas. I put it back and no detectable sound audibly or electronically. It may be coincidence but this was distorted very slightly when my son had a minor accident.
I will keep tabs on it before I celebrate. My soundproofing project would have made this squeak stand out even more against a lower noise background. We'll see and thanks for reading,
Dave

[DaveMcKenz]

Two nice dry days in a row, and my car would have been squeaking in the past like crazy. Today, after greasing up my right front body mount, I am squeak free. Sometimes I leave the radio off just to hear the quiet.
To reward my car I cleaned up the engine.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Clean_engine_3.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21655)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Clean_engine_2i.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21654)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Clean_engine_1i.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=21653)

Have a good weekend,
Dave