...it's GOTTA be plastic, somewhere in the back, near the trunk....and only when it's pretty cold, but something back there rattles like hell in the sub-0 temps..anyone have any idea what it is???

 

I have the opposite, my freakin dash rattles when its really cold, but it dies off after driving about ten miles or so.

 

Are you sure it isn't something simple like your jack handle/tire wrench bag bouncing around in the spare wheel well? That or maybe your spare retainer loosened up a little and needs tightened back down. My Laser drove me nuts untill I snugged up the jack that had come loose but ours is located down in the wheel well with the spare. Hope this helps.

AMG

 

get the same f'ing this, no idea what it is

 

It's probably one of the following (everything that rattles in my car, some fixed, some not)

Rear deck (vibrates like mad with bass, actually flexes enough to hit the rear window)
Trunk Lid (dynamat fixes this)
License plate and license plate holder
When it's really cold, the rear window can actually move a bit due to the weather stripping contracting

If it's not any of those, you might have something in your rear doors rattling, but that seems unlikely.

 

This is my problem. Happens all the time when the temps drop below zero. But I've had this happen on other cars as well, so I just shrug it off.

 

Could be the CA bushings; it's a known defect in all Lancers. The dealer will replace them, BUT they are on NBO, currently.

Really noticeable when it gets frigid.

 

can anyone confirm this is the same problem woth the Ralliarts? Does the Lancer and Ralliart have the same control arms front and rear?

 

It's only the rears and the same bushings are used in all the lancers and the Monteros