Just purchased a 2009 LS Panel (not the first panel I’ve owned).
It’s very squeaky in the back area when driving over even the smallest of bumps on the road.
At first I thought it was the spare tire rubbing against the inside of the spare tire compartment because that what is sounds like.
I wrapped the spare tire in a small blanket and made sure it was secured tightly in the storage compartment but that didn’t fix the noise.
The squeaking noise is coming from somewhere in the back interior area of my LS Panel but I can’t figure out where ?
All the bins/storage areas also seem to be bolted down tight.
Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers, Davyo

 

Try leaving the rear hatch open & hit same bumps, & see if it still does it.

Carefully, cause stopped you will smell the exhaust.

 

Thats definitely a good idea.
I shall give it a shot and report back.
Thanks, Davyo

 

Thank you Sleeper, I tried driving around with the back hatch open and the squeaky noise was totally gone.
So now that I know the back hatch is causing the noise I’m guessing I’m going to have to take the interior hatch panel off and see if something is loose or ?
Any suggestions on how to quite the back hatch would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thanks, Davyo

 

You see those black hard rubber blocks on the hatch frame? They are for adjusting the hatch.
Sorry, they don't photograph well.

 

First thing I would do is spray it with some silicone lube. Latch mechanism, those adjustment blocks Don showed, and wipe the entire hatch weather strip.

 

Thanks for the suggestion’s.
I will try the silicone spray lube and report back.
Cheers, Davyo

 

After that remove the cover from over the high third brake light and look for loose or broken clips

 

Davyo- I think what you now know is, the the "open hatch" eliminated the noise. So baby steps here, before any disassembly.

FMG- Yes, couldn't agree more, that is the best 1st step. It is good maintenance as well.

 

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and suggestions.
And a big thanks to Sleeper for suggesting to leave the rear hatch open for a quick drive to see if that was the source of my squeaking noise as it was.
I did my whole rear hatch area with the silicone spray and it totally got rid of all my squeaky noises.
I went from having all that squeaky noise to having no noise at all, the silicone spray worked perfectly.
My HHR Panel is now completely quiet !!!!
Thanks very much everyone.
Cheers, Davyo