That will be this weeks project. I put some Honda lube on the seals and that did make things a bit quieter, but that tap tap rattle comes and goes. I was going to do it today but had to remount my roof rack wind deflector which went from easy to wtf, so that blew sundays hours. I plan on fiddling with the harness tomorrow. I’ll report back here once I have some miles on any changes I make.

 

Let me know what you find. I tried removing the above drivers side rear seat light this weekend to pull around the harness but the rattle is still there.

 

I think I got it today. My noise was a tap tap tap, or tick tick tick, when hitting sharp bumps. Didn’t happen constantly, but would happen every drive.

I started yesterday with the light above the passenger side rear door. Thinking it was a loose wiring harness, I pulled the light. It’s well wrapped and only has 3-4” of wire that could make noise. It’s covered in felt tape and is well placed. Not the culprit.

Today I changed gears and started by tightening the two T30 screws that hold the grab handle above the front passenger door. This didn’t solve it, but it changed the cadence in which it occurred.

Next I pulled the handle out completely. There are two tabs or wings that are on each side of the screws. Those tabs are plastic and are designed to hold the handle in place when they put the headliner in. So the tabs hold the handle into the headliner, then once the headliner is in place they can set the screws.

I pulled the handle and wrapped the little tabs in felt tape. Duct tape would work as well. I also made a small gasket for the mating surfaces where the screw fastens the handle to the vehicle.
When reinstalling it was a pita to get the handle back in since the tabs want to flop different directions. I would guess you could just cut them off and just use the screws.

Went for my test run down a bumpy road and sure enough, no tapping, ticking, nothing. Problem solved.

So my theory is that the tabs were clicking on something, so covering them softens the tapping so you don’t hear it. Either that or the gasket now cushions the plastic on metal contact. My money is on the tabs and that one could cut them off completely and eliminate the problem.

 

Will definitely try this when I get the chance. How did you remove the grab handle? Do you pry up those plastic covers covering what I believe are screws?

 

Yes, the little covers have a divot where you can put a small 90degree pick in the hole and expose the screw.
The handle will resist coming out because the tabs are holding it in place. Pull straight out and help the tabs with the same pick.

 

This post saved my sanity. I hit all of my driver's side seals with this and the rattle is gone. This is an old thread but thank you to everyone who chimed in with their fixes, the noise was both tiny and obnoxious, like a mosquito in your camping tent...

This is what I used: