Pinto Car Club of America

 Has anyone ever conquered the wagon gate rattles?

If the hinges are tight & the latch is adjusted then my guess is a new seal would stop any rattle.

I had a clump of sound deadener come loose in my 79.  I had to remove the latch to get it out.

 Well the catch part for the latch in towards t he front of the car as far as it can go, but I can grab the rear gate and pull on it and I hear that clunk. Is there supposed to be some kind of rubber bumper that pushes against it outwards? That mounts on the body where the door closes?

Open it about a foot & grab the bottom of the hatch & skake it to see if the rattle is inside it.

 Its comming from the latch itself Im sure

Quote from: tonij1960 on April 09, 2013, 07:10:45 PM
Its comming from the latch itself Im sure

I'm pretty sure the latch has a double catch just like doors do so maybe the second catch is broken

 Does the stationary part of the latch assembly normally have plastic on it like the door post does?

Quote from: tonij1960 on April 09, 2013, 11:56:27 PM
Does the stationary part of the latch assembly normally have plastic on it like the door post does?

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I don't think I ever saw any that aren't just steel without plastic.

My '73 wagon has the locking latch and a secondary spring steel "tongue" that applies tension when shut. See the picture. The tongue is in the foreground.
Tom