Hey everybody. This is my first post as a jeep owner, and I need some help.
Oh yea, I love my jeep! just wanted to say that.

Yesterday I was out in my Jeep, (99 xj limited 4dr towing package, all the options) and my passenger side rear door was making a rattle on the inside. It was almost like the window was loose on the inside and when i hit a bump, it would make this rattle. Now I have checked the window, and it goes up and down like it should, and it is very firm-not moving, not even a little. The locks work just fine and the door panel is as it should be. I have even opened it and tried to recreate the noise, but to no avail. So, if my window isn't moving irregularly, and the locks work, and everything seems to be as it should, what would be making the "rattle" inside the door. Like i said, it sounds like the window is banging around when i hit a bump, but it is very secure and works great. Any ideas? I don't want to tear something apart and not know what to look for. ANY HELP would be very appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

 

Pop the trim panel & see whatz sup.

 

Pull the door panel off and make sure the window track is bolted to the door at the bottom. Sometimes the bracket will break off of the track and will rattle.

 

Will the door panel just "pop" off? Does it have those little plastic "fastners" that kinda just pop into the hole? I just want to be sure, cuz i don't want to mess up my jeep, its in great shape and i don't have much experience "inside" the doors.

 

Be careful when popping the door panel off there might be a screw around the handle area but other than that it should pop off and slide up .. There's a lip that hangs over where the window is .. Probably a loose regulator

 

It will have those Christmas tree clips around the edges and a few screws here and there. Be very careful, those panels have a sharp edge and will cut your fingers up.

 

thanks for the advice everyone. I just youtubed it, and saw a video. it looks easy. I will give it a try on my next day off, and will let you know how it goes. It may be a couple of weeks, but I will let you guys know. Thanks again for the very quick responses and advice. You are all awesome!

 

There are a handful of screws in the door that you need to pull first. Look carefully and make sure you get them all. You don't want to be yanking on that panel while it's still screwed down.

Drop by Harbor Freight and pick up a $6 set of plastic trim tools. They will make popping the trim fasteners easier and will keep the stress off the door panel itself. Using plastic also helps prevent scratching anything.

Once everything is loose, the panel slides straight up and off. It sometimes helps to work it back and forth a little to get it to let go if it's been on there for a long time. The clips that connect the door handle rods are a little tricky the first time you mess with them, so take your time and be patient.

 

You know that little limiter strap that keeps the door from opening too far? Up at the front of the door and attaches to the body?

That could be broken. Grab it and wiggle it.

 

Hey everyone. I did as suggested and took a look inside of my door. Everything was tight and the plastic was still in one piece. I had a couple of plastic "clips" that i had to replace, and that was all i could find wrong inside of the door. When i finished up, I closed the door, and put my hand on top where the water runs down to the back, and the piece that is there ( sorry, i don't know the correct name) was loose and it hit the top of the jeep, and that was the noise. I simply gave it a little "tap" and it latched back onto the clip it had come off of. Noise is gone! So happy. Thanks for all the help! Since it was so easy to get into the door, maybe i will get into the front doors and see if the wires are broken to the front speakers, as they haven't worked since i have owned the jeep. Again, thanks for the help, and suggestions and tips!

 

Cool stuff!!

 

While that could be wiring, the stock speakers also like to rot away. I took my door panel off expecting to find a wiring problem, and instead found that the speaker membranes had just disintegrated.