Spare Wheel Cover.

[Paulus17]

Well the Rav as come in really useful in the last few weeks as we have been moving what furniture we could in it from our parents home.

What a big space there is when the back seats are removed

But we have noticed that the plastic cover on the spare wheel seems loose and does make a racket when the door is closed,sounds like it's gonna fall off.

Is this normal or do you think it isn't attached correctly.

I have looked at how i can tighten it up but can't see how i could do it any better than what it is now???

[mystic]

Mine also make quite a rattle when i close the door. Everything seems tight so i assume that's just how it is.

[Guest]

I wouldnt worry, mine sounds tinny and rattles when I shut the rear door, whats worse is that mine is an 09 with no spare wheel option! I would just check that it is mounted correctly, I understand it is a fine art to mount the cover correctly

Gus

[Paulus17]

Thanks Luke and Gust

It just seems a little disconcerting hearing it and thinking that it will come off when driving.

But i have tugged at it and it seems secure enough.I did wonder if some of the noise was the door itself,but without taking the spare off and the back plate its difficult to tell with the noise the cover makes.

[mystic]

You may want to check that all the little rubber pad things are in place, can't remember if they are on the door or the actual car, but you should spot them, i had to replace one of mine that was missing, this caused the door to sort of slam shut, other than that, like gus said make sure everything is seated right and the wheel is locked on nice a tight, but i would worry too much, they are a bit bulky and i think the noise just the way they are.

[Big Kev]

wifey's 3 door wheel cover / assembly makes a hellish racket on closing back door....have come to conclusion its a double whammy of the door shutting and the air expelling suddenfully from the wheel enclosure/cover, then it clicks back on again. I have meticulously checked its mounting, and at its price of replacement, I regularly check it's not ready to fall off.

Pneumatically Convinced Kev....

[Paulus17]

Thanks everyone

I will have another look over the weekend and see if it can be dampened down at all,but i'm sure some of you would've already tried.?

[Ady-Rav4]

Our 4.2 also ratles when we shut the tailgate. I've changed tyres recently and have had the spare wheel off the door. Whilst off, I checked mountings thinking I would find something that needed tightning, but no, nothing. So yeh, I think it's a normal thing.

I Hated taking off and putting back on the wheel cover, tricky job.

[Paulus17]

Thanks Ady

I think you may be right Ady.

I didn't get time over the weekend to take it all off and have a look see,but i did check it again before we went out and it does sound to me as if some of the noise is coming from the door,as if the glass is loose,it isn't just sounds like that,if you see what i mean???

[firemac]

Thanks Ady

I think you may be right Ady.

I didn't get time over the weekend to take it all off and have a look see,but i did check it again before we went out and it does sound to me as if some of the noise is coming from the door,as if the glass is loose,it isn't just sounds like that,if you see what i mean???

Hi Paul,

The spare on our 5-dr makes no noise whatever when closing it, even after 9 years (apart from what you would expect).

However our 3-dr made a hell of a racket when closing when we first got it - it just sounded, I don't know, cheap, unfinished? certainly un-Toyota-like. I ended up taking the spare off to see if the holding bolts on the inner carrier mounting that the spare is bolted to were loose. No, they were fine but I did notice that the rubber pads between the carrier & the door itself were a bit past their best so I cut a few appropriate pieces from an old car wash sponge & glued them with some contact adhesive to the back of the mounting. Once everything was refitted, the difference was amazing - it stopped the noise almost completely. It's not a difficult job and took about an hour, start to finish. It's also an ideal opportunity to clean away all the ***** that collects above & behind the carrier.

Jim

[Paulus17]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

[firemac]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

[Paulus17]

Thats great thanks for that Jim

As soon as i have a look at it i will let you know what i find behind.

[Big Kev]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

Aw FFS Jim....going by what you have said above re where and when to grip the cover, it would seem I've got to wait 6 hours before I can fit it....?????

Good point on the foamy buffer bits....will check soon, as it really is as you say...a right "cheap" sound / feel.

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

Aw FFS Jim....going by what you have said above re where and when to grip the cover, it would seem I've got to wait 6 hours before I can fit it....?????

Good point on the foamy buffer bits....will check soon, as it really is as you say...a right "cheap" sound / feel.

Big Kev

Kev. Talking of wheel covers I just bought one of these for the spare when on long journeys and wondered if one would be of use to You Ordered it Monday it arrived today and fits a treat... Make sure You order the right size though !!! They might do one in Kev tartan !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120806772459#ht_2070wt_1270

Wee Charlie...

[Big Kev]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

Aw FFS Jim....going by what you have said above re where and when to grip the cover, it would seem I've got to wait 6 hours before I can fit it....?????

Good point on the foamy buffer bits....will check soon, as it really is as you say...a right "cheap" sound / feel.

Big Kev

Kev. Talking of wheel covers I just bought one of these for the spare when on long journeys and wondered if one would be of use to You ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120806772459?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2070wt_1270

Ordered it Monday it arrived today and fits a treat... Make sure You order the right size though !!! They might do one in Kev tartan !!

Wee Charlie...

Got one early last year Charlie....thanks.

[CharlieFarlie]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

Aw FFS Jim....going by what you have said above re where and when to grip the cover, it would seem I've got to wait 6 hours before I can fit it....?????

Good point on the foamy buffer bits....will check soon, as it really is as you say...a right "cheap" sound / feel.

Big Kev

Kev. Talking of wheel covers I just bought one of these for the spare when on long journeys and wondered if one would be of use to You ??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120806772459?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2070wt_1270

Ordered it Monday it arrived today and fits a treat... Make sure You order the right size though !!! They might do one in Kev tartan !!

Wee Charlie...

Got one early last year Charlie....thanks.

Tartan ??????????????????????? :unsure:

I musta missed that one the Kev ?????

Wee Charlie.

[firemac]

Cheers Jim for that

I did want to have a good look at it over the weekend but just never had the time.

The plastic does seem flimsy and you can see it flexing when the door is closed,which is where the noise seems to be coming from??

Also does the outer cover fit right over the inner cover, as ours as about half of the back inner cover showing??

Hi Paul,

The cover is remarkably flimsy when it's off the car but when it is fitted correctly, it seems pretty robust. Certainly ours has been reversed into the odd "obstruction" and apart from a few nicks & scratches, has stood up to the abuse just fine.

Refitting it is an art but once you've done it a couple of times it is quite straightforward. The trick is to grip it on its outer surface at about 9 o'clock & 3 o'clock, line up the spigots on the top of the cover (at about 10 o'clock & 2 o'clock approx) with the cut-out slots in the black carrier (the bit attached to the door) & then "feed" the cover on from top to bottom. It's important to make sure that the cover goes over the black carrier and not inside it as it can try to do as you near the bottom; it ia at this stage that you need to get your fingers inside the lip of the cover and keep it prised out a bit so that it does go over the carrier edge - if the top spigots have engaged properly then this bit will be easier than it sounds. When it's fitted correctly you will still see an inch or so of the black carrier at the top but very little around the sides. It sounds really difficult but once you take a few minutes to look at how it fits on and then have done it a few times, it really is quite easy.

You will probably find that the rattling is down to the rubber pads between the door & the carrier being kackered and a bit of new foam padding will quiet it down quite a lot.

Good luck,

Jim

Aw FFS Jim....going by what you have said above re where and when to grip the cover, it would seem I've got to wait 6 hours before I can fit it....?????

Good point on the foamy buffer bits....will check soon, as it really is as you say...a right "cheap" sound / feel.

Big Kev

Good job I didn't use the 24-hour clock - you'd still be waiting!

[Paulus17]

Well i finally got to have a look at the cover today

I finally managed to get it off,that was a job in itself,and thought i would try closing the door with it off,and it was a lot better without hardley a noise,even shutting the door pretty hard it was fine.

So that told me that it was just the actual cover making all the noise when closing the door.

So after some time head scratching,(no i don't have nits) :D i came to the conclusion that i'd best leave it

But i did manage to get it on better.I did here the little plastic bits actually click in place.

Just one problem i had after though was the catch underneath.

There was a plastic pin right next to the latch and i was putting it inside,but i couldn't get the latch to catch by doing that,but could with it out,so does it stay out.If you know what i mean??

Thank you.

[Whiteclaw]

Mine males a god awful noise when I close it, but it is a 95 Rav.

[firemac]

Well i finally got to have a look at the cover today

I finally managed to get it off,that was a job in itself,and thought i would try closing the door with it off,and it was a lot better without hardley a noise,even shutting the door pretty hard it was fine.

So that told me that it was just the actual cover making all the noise when closing the door.

So after some time head scratching,(no i don't have nits) :D i came to the conclusion that i'd best leave it

But i did manage to get it on better.I did here the little plastic bits actually click in place.

Just one problem i had after though was the catch underneath.

There was a plastic pin right next to the latch and i was putting it inside,but i couldn't get the latch to catch by doing that,but could with it out,so does it stay out.If you know what i mean??

Thank you.

Hi Paul,

There should be a little flat guide adjacent the latch which helps fitting and allows the latch to close - is that maybe what you refer to as the pin?

If it's the cover that's making the racket, check that the rubber pads are still intact inside the cover itself, i.e. they compress against the tyre when the cover is fitted. If they're missing you can use the old "glue some foam strips" solution.

Jim

[Paulus17]

Jim- there was no foam rubber on the inside of the cover

So that would account for the noise if there should be?

How thick should it be?

The pin i refer to is sort of flat with a rounded end with a plastic coating on it.

I will try and grab a piccy of it when Mrs P gets home from work.

[firemac]

Jim- there was no foam rubber on the inside of the cover

So that would account for the noise if there should be?

How thick should it be?

The pin i refer to is sort of flat with a rounded end with a plastic coating on it.

I will try and grab a piccy of it when Mrs P gets home from work.

Hi Paul,

Ours has 4 thin rubber pads inside the cover that rest against the sidewall of the spare. They are equidistant around the cover and were probably about 4 or 5 mm thick when new but quite a bit less now, 9 years on! I glued a few more in between the originals using foam from a sponge - each one was about 15 -20 mm thick. As long as it isn't hard foam, the thickness isn't critical; an old car wash sponge is ideal as it compresses easily but helps dampen the vibes when the door is closed.

Hope this helps.

Jim

[Paulus17]

Thanks Jim thats great

That would account for the noise from the cover i would say?? so will get some spongebob in there :D

I did have a good look at the wheel cover but couldn't see any signs of anything that might have been fixed to it on the inside.

[Big Kev]

Jim- there was no foam rubber on the inside of the cover

So that would account for the noise if there should be?

How thick should it be?

The pin i refer to is sort of flat with a rounded end with a plastic coating on it.

I will try and grab a piccy of it when Mrs P gets home from work.

Hi Paul,

Ours has 4 thin rubber pads inside the cover that rest against the sidewall of the spare. They are equidistant around the cover and were probably about 4 or 5 mm thick when new but quite a bit less now, 9 years on! I glued a few more in between the originals using foam from a sponge - each one was about 15 -20 mm thick. As long as it isn't hard foam, the thickness isn't critical; an old car wash sponge is ideal as it compresses easily but helps dampen the vibes when the door is closed.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Jamesy man but though,

Regardless of what your wife says, you are a very nice person....you have just made a wee Scotsman's day....there is a general lack of foam inside wife's wheel cover, which would indubitably explanicate why the blazes it sounds like Ringo gaun daft every time one close the back door.....it shall be soon rectumfied by judicious use of foam, strategically fixed at at least 4 points. Lang may yer lum reek....

Big Kev