tcconvert

I find myself going there also. Day-by-day I am able to further pinpoint the suspected source, and it does indeed seem to be coming from the right rear quarter!

I did not want to get too involved. I wanted the open space to haul my works of art which oftentimes are crated in large, 80" long x 12" x 24" cardboard crates, each weighing about 45 lbs.. I could stack six of them in the back! I have already moved several around and noticed that these objects can encounter the walls where the wood panels are. There seemed little point in doing anything to the panels that would not withstand some abuse in my workaday world. This is why I went to the van from 15 years of mid-size pickups. I do have to make an effort not to inhibit that large, spacious back end. That cavernous interior is where it's value lies. It's also my personal vehicle though, and that unfinished interior is not exactly attractive. My overexposed iPhone flash photo taken in the dark makes it look terrible, but in daylight if I look at it, it is just a textured black and seems to fit right in with the plastic trim. It feels comfortably finished now. Next I will be covering the barren rear upper side walls, probably with Alupanel. The two remaining important issues I would like to deal with are the lack of rear ventilation, and that uninsulated metal roof (a simple local headliner job would cost about $500). I also need to decide upon what to do about some form of restraint that will allow carrying of things like grocery bags and odds and ends without attaching to the interior. I do have items in athletic-style tool bags that can be tossed around or removed as necessary when hauling space is needed, but I want to consider those solutions further. I also have some security concerns. The two extra 2nd row windows, along with the two in back, don't hide anything. I considered aftermarket tinting for privacy, but it's not an option I fancy much.

I do have an appointment Tues., but as mentioned, it may entail leaving the vehicle, a real hassle for me. When I drove in I expected the temporary registration stuck to the back window to give me a some priority. I hadn't even had it a week. Instead, I just had to get into the Que with everyone else! My wife's BMW dealer gives her a loaner (often brand new!) whenever she has to leave her car for any repair. They even allow her to take new vehicles home overnight when deciding which new one to buy.! This was a wake-up call. To make matters worse, the salesman I worked with saw me as I was driving out and asked how everything was going. I mentioned the problem and he responded that he would be back in a minute. I parked the van and went inside the showroom and waited for about 15 minutes, thinking he might help expedite the process for me. He never returned. This just emphasizes that the most important thing for these dealers is to get the vehicle sold. Good luck after that. As I mentioned in another thread, this is the first vehicle I have owned that precludes me from doing many routine maintenance procedures that have been my habit for over fifty years, such as an oil change. Now, after the generally awful experience of actually purchasing the vehicle, I have to submit myself to their service department at regular intervals. I suppose technological advances offset that somewhat, but the fact is that owning a new vehicle these days leaves one increasingly at the mercy of those who are (hopefully) qualified to diagnose and care for them. I love my new van, but having to rely on the people who sold it to me leaves me feeling "Naked and Afraid." Addendum: I have not heard the high-energy sounding knocks for the last couple excursions. I would describe what I am hearing now as some component that seems as if it might be dangling or swaying and striking something with vehicle movement and when I hit bigger bumps or holes. As I drove into my garage today I would even go so far as to say it sounds like it's coming from the rear passenger side corner. What could be in the fuel filler area that could cause that kind of noise?

If you want an easy makeover for those exquisite wood panels in the back of your van, here's a quick and easy do-over: *Purchase a quart of pickup bedliner paint, in your choice of color (mostly you will find black). Try not to notice how much it costs. Some Nitrile gloves will spare your hands. I chose a water-based Polyurathane material which was dry to the touch in an hour or so, and had minimal fumes. *Remove the panels. The fasteners come out very easily by prying from both the tiny slots at the same time with two small screwdriver blades. Don't lose or damage them. * Use a sanding block with some rough sandpaper (80 grit is good) to roughen up the smooth front surfaces. This will make dust. I suggest you have plenty of old newspaper on hand. It doesn't take much sanding. Just enough to get the shine down. *Stir your paint thoroughly. It will have goop that has settled. Use the worst brush you can find. The more frayed and splayed the better. No primer or undercoat will be needed. Place your panels on newspaper with each one supported above the paper on something like wood scraps. This will keep the panels from sticking to the paper as they dry. *I found the easiest method was to scoop a bunch of paint material out of the can with my wide stir stick and drop and dribble it onto the wood panels. On the two large ones only do about a quarter of the area at a time. Now take your splayed brush and STIPPLE the paint around until it evenly covers the area. DON'T BRUSH. Use a dab-and-jab method (Think of Bob Ross doing his Chik - Chik - Chik technique to add trees to his bad landscape paintings). You are essentially distributing the goopy material around to get an even coverage of sorts. The more you stipple, the more even the texture. I wanted a rough finish so I didn't stipple too much. If you were smart enough to by the gloves you can handle the panels to get some paint on the edges without worrying about the mess. You can go back right away and touch up any spots that show bare wood. * I let my panels dry overnight before re-installing them. When re-installing the panel clips, pull the center post almost completely out of the clip before attempting to push them back into the holes. Hold the panel up and pop in a clip. If you do it right it will easily go right back into the hole. You follow up by firmly pushing the pin all the way down until flush. *I spent less than two hours on this project. The reason I chose the bedliner paint was because I wanted some texture, a durable surface that can easily be touched up, and ease of application without having to use primer. I feel like a much classier guy now whenever I look into the rear of my van. My next project is to fit Alupanel Aluminum material over the ugly metal sidewalls - and then perhaps an insulating headliner.

Really paid attention today when starting up and driving out. I can say with a high level of certainty that the knocking is generated by any rocking motion - side-to-side. The harder the sway, the louder the knocking sound.

Something totally unexpected today. Realized I had entered a new world. Yesterday I stopped at parts store, as I was in the neighborhood. Picked up some synthetic oil and a filter, with the intention of changing out my oil to the synthetic at 1000 miles. I had changed out the oil in my last three Frontiers two or three times in the first 1500 miles - Overkill, I know, and probably unnecessary - It's a habit from my earlier life. I then changed the synthetic oil myself every 10,000 miles. I had looked under the hood of the van several times, but had not yet crawled underneath the front end. Today, as I was working on it I decided to crawl under and locate the oil filter. Wow! The large plastic cover was a surprise! And for the first time not only did I realize how low to the ground the front end was...I realized that working under it without it being jacked up (or over a service pit) was impossible! That's when I found the segment in the manual about the auto-reporting oil change message that would pop up at some future time. It was then I realized I had entered my wife's world - of BMW's that are taken to the dealer for even minor service procedures such as an oil change. I had been doing my own changes in the last few years because I could get the highest quality oil for less than half what an oil change shop would charge me, and in half the time in my own garage. No more! I guess that's "progress." And it goes right along with the demise of the shade-tree mechanic concept. For the first time in my life I own a vehicle I can do almost nothing to myself. This is going to take some time to absorb.

I would tend to agree that the nature of the sound would seem to relate to something like a suspension issue, as it's character is one of a sudden energy release or impact of something substantial. My van did have 130 miles on it when purchased (the last one on the lot, and equipped with the second row windows which I wanted), so I have no idea what it was subjected to before I took it. I will be paying closer attention to it on upcoming excursions.

Can't see how having the vehicle in or out of the garage would make some difference. Well, if I left it OUT of the garage there is a good chance the Pack Rats will have a go at it! strange thing is, if this were stones being thrown up into the frame or body I would expect to have to be going much faster than when I'm backing out of my garage. I do hear a few stones being kicked up when I get rolling out of my 150' gravel drive, but the sounds I'm describing seem to happen when I first move the vehicle, and the knocks are loud and sharp - like the sound you would get from pounding a hammer on a wood block - almost a snapping sound. Hard to relate this to the drive train - since there isn't one! I have rooted around underneath. Can't find anything. Guess I'll have to explore this in a more purposeful manner. Just thought this might ring a familiar bell for someone who may have experienced the same thing. Thanks 2016 TC XL van 2.5L with second row windows

I have had my TC for less than a week. Been noticing some short, sharp, very loud knocks coming from the rear whenever I back out of my garage, and as I am rolling slowly over my gravel drive. It will have a typical pattern like - Knock...Knock Knock.........Knock. After I get onto pavement the knocks seem to stop. I thought maybe it was my tires throwing stones up against the chassis, or maybe the spare was not hanging tightly in the well, but it seems tight. Can't find anything loose in either of the rear interior service panels. It also seems that shortly after I start to move there is a single (related?) knock that sounds like a loud version of an auto door locking function that locks doors after reaching a certain speed. This happens as I am backing out slowly. These knocks don't sound isolated underneath. They resonate through the body quite loudly. Anyone experience this one? Thanks.

You might understand why my spouse, who drives a 5-series BMW, might think I was short-changed. She has an enormous Ego. I have practically none. For me (a professional artist) the TC is a tool. Every day I drive it confirms this was the right choice. I commonly carry 12" x 24" x 80" cardboard crates in my business. Not much weight, but space is required. I could stack six of those in the TC without even having to strap them down, as was required in my pickups. I am constantly amazed when I see how small this vehicle actually is, and how much it can carry. But, like you, I prize the open space in back. There are shortcomings. It doesn't take long to find them. A big one is the lack of ventilation in the back. I have two added windows, but neither they nor the clamshell windows open, and with no insulation it doesn't take long for the heat to build. I haven't found an appealing solution here. I am considering window tinting for a bit of security and to help keep heat at bay. I have decided to roll the particle board inserts with a textured pickup bed paint material, which should somewhat replicate the texture of the existing dark gray plastic trim in back. Alupanel may be used to cover the ugly, barren, rear inside quarters, where windows would be, using existing frame screw holes for attachment. I will be stuffing all accessible holes with insulative material, and I am seriously considering gluing strips of GatorFoam, painted the same color as the front headliner, to the interior roof for sound deadening and insulation. They can be wedged under the steel roof frame at the center, and simply spot glued at their centers and at the far ends where there is no support. They could be taken out without leaving anything behind except for a few spots of adhesive or silicone. My first problem has already reared it's head. I have some loud singular knocks coming from the rear when I drive away and when I encounter rough terrain. I checked the spare tire thinking it might not be snugged down. No joy there, and I can find nothing that's obviously loose. Very annoying a week out, as I must go through the "book an appointment and wait for a verdict" routine, possibly having to be without the vehicle for some period while they sort it out. I never had any problems with my series of Nissan trucks over 15 years, and am hoping the move to a domestic brand doesn't turn out to be a mistake.

Very informative, thanks for that. Makes me feel I made the right decision. No vehicle is perfect. Interesting about the 4 x 8 capacity as well. I was considering a rack for carrying plywood sheets and long sticks of lumber, but wasn't excited about the potential noise and mileage reduction (plus, the streamlined ones are outrageously expensive). I measured the cargo box at the dealership and found a 4 x 8 could likely be put in at an angle. Probably have to bungee one door open for the haul, but it seemed do-able. Long lumber pieces were another issue. I asked the dealer if the front passenger seat folded down. He said no. Found later, by accident, that it does, when I spotted the pull tab on the INSIDE of the headrest. That does allow some lumber to be pulled up over the folded seat for a few more feet of length.

Have had my van for a week. Suffering through endless insults from my wife for buying "half a vehicle." It CAN be a bit distressing to look into the rear of your van and see nothing but bare bones, and wondering how you could have paid so much for it. After 3 new mid-size pickups, and finding a dearth of choices in the segment this buying-time around, I took a leap into the TC van. With thoughts of satisfying an unhappy spouse, I looked into the possibility of retrofitting some of the missing interior panels in back. One quickly finds out why a virtually identical wagon-version of my van costs $6000 more. The rear upper molded roof shell alone goes for more than $2200! So, I must say, sorry honey - I just couldn't see the logic of carrying two hundred lbs. of permanently-folded passenger seats around just for the sake of a few plastic panels (though the insulation would have been nice). My other nit-pic is the surprise that there are vehicles out there, pushing the $30,000 mark that do not provide an interface for satellite radio. Really Ford?? I am now going the route of trying to figure out how to add some style and comfort to the rear quarters of this thing without affecting it's resale value any more than necessary. I realize that many trades people like the bare-bones nature of the beast, and will soon fill it with racks and shelves. Still, there must be others like me who simply want the cargo space, and would prefer the entire rear quarters NOT be stripped to paint and metal (though the Masonite panels are a thoughtful touch). I am exploring the addition of some visual and insulative upgrades, using materials such as GatorFoam and Alupanel. The changes will be clean and minimal but should offer some improvement. So how do I feel a week after throwing the switch? How does it compare to 15 years of pickup truck ownership? Well, I think I've stumbled upon just about the perfect every-guy's hauler. It will swallow just about anything I want to jam into it. It's smaller than a mid-size pickup. It drives like a car and parks in spaces my Nissan Frontiers would have to pass up. The funky Ford Sync system could use some help, but offers some cool modern functions and connectivity. You can even drive around town with the two front windows down without being blasted by the wind. Heck, even the pitiful two-speaker sound "system" doesn't sound bad in stock form. I'm actually pretty pleased at this point. I may get an unpleasant depreciation surprise when the next trade-in time comes around.