Yes, clean the seal and matching under trunk surface first, then silicone the seal. Rubber safe silicone spray will work but silicone grease or silicone emulsion (GM) will work better and last longer.

The noise thing is very perplexing to say the lease. Can you pinpoint where it's coming from? Under you? Behing you? Left, Right? The fact that it does it only under load and yet NOT increase cadence with speed is especially odd. I would have thought that if it is "load" induced that it must be related to drive train "aft" of the engine. Will it do this at 64 mph in more than one gear (ie, different rpm)? If it were the throw out bearing, it would eminate from below and slightly to the front of you. If it's a loose prop shaft bolt(s), it will be under you. Diff, CV, wheel hub, will all be behind you. BUT, all of these would be "cadence" related. Have you tried to drive next to a tall concrete wall to get the sound echo back? You might be able to hear more distinguishing characteristics.

 

Yup! It sure is frustrating. It definitely is coming from behind me. I'm not sure, but it maybe a bit more to the driver's left. It does it no matter what gear I am in and it remains at the same cadence. Yet, it doesn't increase in cadence with throttle change or gear change. I gotta try the drive next to a concrete wall thing! Odd, eh?

 

Not that I'm a resident expert like xviper, but if the rate of the ticking isn't related with rotational speed of the drivetrain, maybe it's something else.

You mentioned it is from behind you, like behind the passenger seat, the only mechanical thing I can think of that might be there is the fuel pump.

Something else to look at is whether you have any other mods that might exhibit noise, like rear speakers and an noisy audio system- thought this should be noisy all the time.

The suggestion about driving next to a high wall is great, if it is external, you should hear it better. If not, then it is in the car. I had a ticking once that drove me nuts on another car, it turned out to be one of the hubcaps.

And if I'm totally off here, sorry in advance.

Another thing to try is drive with a passenger. Have them look around for the noise and pinpoint the location while you concentrate on driving in the manner that best exhibits the noise.

 

Nothing hanging under the car. I have no rear audio mods. It's odd too because NOTHING in the trunk itself gets wet. It's only under the toolkit!

 

In a difficult diagnosis like this, no need to apologize for any suggestions. Yours are just as valid as mine or anyone's. Sooner or later, someone will come up with something really weird and that's what it'll be. So keep 'em coming.

This suggests to me that your trunk seal is probably good and leads me back to the water getting in behind the trunk liner (so the soft top thing or the gas filler neck thing), then going to the lowest point (the bottom of the trunk), then wicking through the liner at the bottom. Next time you wash the car or after a good rain, immediately pull the spare tire cover and feel around as best you can. If it's wet back there, you've just gotten closer to the answer.

 

Thanks! It's due to rain this evening. Maybe I'll get that clue!!! I'll keep you guys updated on what's happening! Of course, if you or anyone else has any other suggestions, please feel free to share them. If I had any hair, I'd be pulling it out!!

 

Marc

Are you sure of the location. I was thinking about something independent of the motor like the heater fan.

A shot in the dark would be the fuel pump.

I would bet it has nothing to do with the drive train, but is one of the auxillary, motor driven items.

 

Thanks, Ralper, but I am sure that the sound is coming from behind me. It's still raining so I haven't been able to check the trunk. Actually it's supposed to rain for the next couple of days. I'll probably be toting around Lake Michigan in my trunk!!!

 

Marc

This is a hard one. If I think of anything or hear anything in my S this weekend I'll let you know.

Keep us posted.

 

Marc,
It is perplexing that the clicking maintains a steady rhythm at all speeds.
Is there a chance that you could convince someone (small) to ride in the trunk and try to locate the source of the noise from back there?

I'll bet when the top was removed the integrity of a drain channel was compromised at some point.