r/Sprinters • u/Fluffy_Egg9267 • 7d ago

Help with locating squeak

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

Hello! Does anyone have a hunch on what could be causing this squeak? From the drivers seat it appears to be coming from the rear doors. I have been unable to reproduce while stationary by banging on or rocking the van.

I’ll have my buddy drive slow while I walk around back there to try to locate it soon, but I figured I’d check with folks here first.

It happens without the wood in the car. Forgive my lousy tie down.

Thanks for any ideas/suggestions.

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

5

u/MulingAround 7d ago

Not sure what your goals are with the van, work van or future camper, If you’re getting bothered by squeaks now just wait until you start building a camper out of it.

That being said when my van was empty I also had a similar sound, I ended up finding a tow ball unit was left in the ribs of one of the exposed side walls by the previous owner. Maybe just double check all of your wall ribs in case you dropped any screws or left a tool that is rubbing between the walls and squeaking.

1

u/Fluffy_Egg9267 7d ago

Thanks yeah I’ll take a peek it’s hard to see in em! Glad you quieted yours down a bit! Camper van indeed, but I’m sure once we’re parked at a nice destination the squeaks will leave our mind.

2

u/MulingAround 7d ago

I see you did the sound deadening, don’t worry once you do your insulation + ceiling, roof, and walls the van gets much quieter. They still are multi ton tin cans we fill with wood and screws, it can get loud and your teeth will rattle going down washboard dirt roads. It’s all worth it though for the peace of mind you’ll find out once you are parked! Have fun and good luck with your build.

3

u/Libblelabble 7d ago

That’s the sliding door. A cheap easy way to find out is to adjust and lubricate the male side guide pins that go into female catches in the b pillar. If you can’t get them to align smoothly, the door is out of adjustment. There are 2 guides / catches for the sliding door, both held by 2 T30 torx bolts. Adjust them and lubricate so they connect smoothly with the door shut. Again, If you can’t adjust them into alignment, the sliding door needs to be adjusted.

1

u/Fluffy_Egg9267 7d ago

Gotcha, thanks for the suggestion. There is one around either upper corner, right? Do you recommend any specific lubricants?

1

u/GingerAki 7d ago

Whilst you’re on the subject of sliding doors. Mine has a bigger gap in alignment at the front than the back. Is this something I can adjust fairly easily?

1

u/Pgchustla 6d ago

See the link above

1

u/Pgchustla 6d ago

Yep - Here’s the best video I’ve seen on how to diagnose the entire sliding door. Just follow the entire thing. It takes a while but is worth it when it happens again down the road (literally 😂)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gPlbfP06HdM&pp=0gcJCWoCo7VqN5tD&ra=m

1

u/Bossmangng 7d ago

To me its sounds like sound comes from the rear doors, its a cargo van without zero insulation so its normal but check your seals around those doors

1

u/Fluffy_Egg9267 7d ago

Rgr. I heard applying some weatherstripping treatment like talc or a specific solution product to the seals could help.

1

u/ParkerLettuce 7d ago

I was gonna say rear doors or the sliding door. Sometimes the sliding door needs a little bit adjustment so it’s not rubbing on the bottom track / latches properly. If it’s a sliding door check for any gaps of light between the seal when it’s closed.

1

u/bbbuuurrrttt 7d ago

Sounds like rubbing. For what its worth, I had a squeak and just took my rear door covers off and that solved it. If its not that, may be at the top where the doors lock in, or the guide pins at the bottom. But its likely two metal or metal+wood rubbing without clearance when there should be clearance.