Door / stepwell squeak / rattle...

[gprince]

I've been searching for the source of a rattle / serious squeak coming from the door / stepwell area for several thousand miles now from the drivers seat since DW will not drive the coach and I cannot replicate the squeak when idle. After shooting a half bottle of WD-40 and silicone in and around the door plus adding tape and weather stripping around any point of contact that I can see around the door, I haven't come close to silencing it, so it must be coming from the under-carriage. It has been a running joke that I always take a few minutes to adjust something or try something new every time we stop to purchase fuel, etc... My latest solution was to add a small bead silicone around the clear exterior door grab bar so it wouldn't move, but of course, this didn't help. Has anyone had this problem? I'm running out of ideas!

[Diplomat Don]

gprince.......Don't laugh, but give this a try. With the door open, liberally spray the entire door frame, hinges, and screen door frame with Pledge. Don't forget to spray the top of the door and pivoting door stop. Let it set for a few minutes and then wipe everything down, making it clean and shiney. Then tighten EVERY screw around the frame, hinges and locks. I do this once a year. It not only gives the door a good cleaning and lube, but everything gets tightened.

[late starter]

Garry, my 04 does the same thing, and it drives me crazy. My wife won't drive either, so I haven't been able to isolate it while moving.
Don, I've tried felt cabinet door pads, and both WD40 and silicone spray pretty much the way you described, with minimal difference. I'm having my wife get some Pledge. I'm not laughing; I'm smiling. She laughed! Thanks!

[njs42]

The pledge deal sounds like a good try even if it does not work.

Will it make the noise if someone stands in the stairwell when stopped and bounce a bit up and down? If so then maybe you can have your wife do that long enough to identify the noise?

[gprince]

Quote:

Originally Posted by njs42 The pledge deal sounds like a good try even if it does not work. Will it make the noise if someone stands in the stairwell when stopped and bounce a bit up and down? If so then maybe you can have your wife do that long enough to identify the noise?

That's a great idea along with the Pledge, I'll run with these suggestion tomorrow!

Thanks everyone!

[njs42]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gprince That's a great idea along with the Pledge, I'll run with these suggestion tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

Well then I will give you a quick additional hint---I had two noises that drove me crazy for a while and although they sounded like they were coming from a particular place---when I found them they were actually kind of in the opposite direction---and projected their noise (just to make it more difficult you understand)--------so get under the coach and listen well------good luck.

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gprince I've been searching for the source of a rattle / serious squeak coming from the door / stepwell area for several thousand miles now from the drivers seat since DW will not drive the coach and I cannot replicate the squeak when idle. After shooting a half bottle of WD-40 and silicone in and around the door plus adding tape and weather stripping around any point of contact that I can see around the door, I haven't come close to silencing it, so it must be coming from the under-carriage. It has been a running joke that I always take a few minutes to adjust something or try something new every time we stop to purchase fuel, etc... My latest solution was to add a small bead silicone around the clear exterior door grab bar so it wouldn't move, but of course, this didn't help. Has anyone had this problem? I'm running out of ideas!

In addition to the other suggestions, look for places around the door between the screen door and main door that look shiny like they have been rubbing. Sometimes the little tabs that hold the screen in will rub the outer door. Also, if you have the floating pins that latch the door, they may need to be lubricated and worked up and down until they are free. I know there have been changes in the Monaco doors over the years, so you may not have the floating pins. They look like the pins on automobile door jams that latch the door. Take your hand and make sure you can move them up and down slightly.

Bob

[Cottons]

Our door rattled as well. The screen door has black rubber bumpers on the corners; one of ours was missing. I found an exact replacement in white at Ace Hardware. The door is much quieter now.

[cseidel2]

Check the metal shield in front of the steps. I had a bad rattle and found this to be the problem.

[karencollins]

Don't know if you found the source of your rattle, but we too had one for thousands of miles. We've been driving thru Canadian Maritimes this year & their roads are really bumpy. We tried rubber insulation tape, spraying, etc. Yesterday, we sprayed inside the latch holes on the door with silicone spray. Wouldn't you know, it stopped the squeak. However, a few hours later, it started again & we had to spray again. Not sure what we can put in there that will be longer lasting & not get on the pins, which could get on you if you rub against them. But, if we have to stop every few hours & spray again with silicone, it's well worth not having that horrible noise. By the way, I do drive, but I'm a better handy person, so I was the searcher on this one.

[gprince]

Thanks everyone with the help! I still have the rattle, but I believe I'm closing in on it!

[Pusherpilot]

I had the same kind of rattle and tracked it down to the step cover mechanism. One of the guide rods was not secured on one end. Fixed that and that particular rattle is gone. Now what to do about the others. We also have a squeeking noise that comes and goes. I found that by washing the entire door frame and the door where it interfaces with the body with a soapy water mixture and a soft bristle brush will stop it for a day or two. It always comes back.
Ron

[recaffey]

I folllowed Diplomat Don's advice and solved the problem.The DW is thrilled.
Thank you Don

[Mike Canter]

Garry, I closed my cover with the door open and looked underneath and found most the screws holding the wooden platform onto the steel frame had come out. I had to take the wooden platform off drill out the holes in the steel frame to a bigger size and put in all new screws. I changed them all to socket heads screws to make it easier to tighten. Never had a rattlle or squeek after that.