A squeaking/crackling noise resolved

[proimion]

In the last month, an infernal squeaking noise began in my 2016 TE. The noise sounded like 2 pieces of hard Styrofoam rubbing together, or maybe some would call it a type of crackling noise. Remember those Styrofoam coolers from back in the 80s? Sounded like the lid on one of those gently rattling on the cooler in back of the old family station wagon (a Buick Estate Wagon with a 454 4-barrel V8) on a summer road trip to visit family at the lake. Ah, summer in the 80s. It was a simpler time then.

Anyhoo, the noise occurred whenever the vehicle was rolling and became slightly louder as speed increased. It was loud enough to be noticed by passengers, but not loud enough to drown out the audio system or conversation. Seemed to come from the left dashboard where the A-pillar meets the hood.

After some investigation, I couldn't find the source. I searched around on this forum and thought maybe it was the inner splash guards on the front left (like some have reported). Nope.

Turns out it was the plastic trim piece in the corner of the windshield. I discovered this only by pushing on every surface in that area to find the noise. I pried it loose with a trim removal tool, flexed it a bit, then reinstalled. Problem solved, hopefully permanently. In other news, I've also shored up those cheap pins that hold the inner splash guards in place.

 

[wpen]

In the last month, an infernal squeaking noise began in my 2016 TE. The noise sounded like 2 pieces of hard Styrofoam rubbing together, or maybe some would call it a type of crackling noise. Remember those Styrofoam coolers from back in the 80s? Sounded like the lid on one of those gently rattling on the cooler in back of the old family station wagon (a Buick Estate Wagon with a 454 4-barrel V8) on a summer road trip to visit family at the lake. Ah, summer in the 80s. It was a simpler time then.

Anyhoo, the noise occurred whenever the vehicle was rolling and became slightly louder as speed increased. It was loud enough to be noticed by passengers, but not loud enough to drown out the audio system or conversation. Seemed to come from the left dashboard where the A-pillar meets the hood.

After some investigation, I couldn't find the source. I searched around on this forum and thought maybe it was the inner splash guards on the front left (like some have reported). Nope.

Turns out it was the plastic trim piece in the corner of the windshield. I discovered this only by pushing on every surface in that area to find the noise. I pried it loose with a trim removal tool, flexed it a bit, then reinstalled. Problem solved, hopefully permanently. In other news, I've also shored up those cheap pins that hold the inner splash guards in place.

View attachment 236428

I have this same squeak...passenger side trim doesn't move but the piece you circled does. I applied double side tape to this piece to no avail, so you pulled it off and flexed it in the opposite direction?

 

[proimion]

I have this same squeak...passenger side trim doesn't move but the piece you circled does. I applied double side tape to this piece to no avail, so you pulled it off and flexed it in the opposite direction?

I'm not sure what you mean by "flexed it in the opposite direction."

Yes, I did pry that piece off very carefully, starting with the part closest to the wiper arm. Then I just flexed it gently to flatten it out a bit. I also bent the plastic tabs underneath it outward ever so slightly so they would grip better when I reinstalled. It seemed to "snap" into place pretty well. But who knows--maybe I got lucky and it will start squeaking again in a month.

I don't recall exactly what it looks like under that trim piece, but I don't think there'd be much for the tape to grip on.

 

[kelman333]

In the last month, an infernal squeaking noise began in my 2016 TE. The noise sounded like 2 pieces of hard Styrofoam rubbing together, or maybe some would call it a type of crackling noise. Remember those Styrofoam coolers from back in the 80s? Sounded like the lid on one of those gently rattling on the cooler in back of the old family station wagon (a Buick Estate Wagon with a 454 4-barrel V8) on a summer road trip to visit family at the lake. Ah, summer in the 80s. It was a simpler time then.

Anyhoo, the noise occurred whenever the vehicle was rolling and became slightly louder as speed increased. It was loud enough to be noticed by passengers, but not loud enough to drown out the audio system or conversation. Seemed to come from the left dashboard where the A-pillar meets the hood.

After some investigation, I couldn't find the source. I searched around on this forum and thought maybe it was the inner splash guards on the front left (like some have reported). Nope.

Turns out it was the plastic trim piece in the corner of the windshield. I discovered this only by pushing on every surface in that area to find the noise. I pried it loose with a trim removal tool, flexed it a bit, then reinstalled. Problem solved, hopefully permanently. In other news, I've also shored up those cheap pins that hold the inner splash guards in place.

View attachment 236428

OMG you're a life saver I only have 6k miles on my TE Premium and this has been driving me nuts. Thought it was the speakers nope, the dash nope, the seal on the windshield nope just these stupid corner covers! I showed the dealer (Mountain States Toyota) this post and they really didn't help. Came home after and removed these and flexed them a bit. If that doesn't quiet things down I might try some small tape to pad the noise. Thank you thank you for this post! :thumb3:

 

[proimion]

Thank you thank you for this post! :thumb3:

:cheers:

So far the noise has not returned for me. I think gently flexing outward those tabs underneath is what helped the most. Seems to give that trim piece a bit more grip. Just be careful not to overdo it! If those tabs break, the trim piece won't stay at all and the wind noise will be much worse than the squeaking.

 

[dot_tom]

Going to try and fix my squeaky 2017 TRD OR. I hope this works! :redbrick:

 

[supertrdpro]

OMG im having the same squeaking noise on my 17 trd pro. its coming from the passenger side, sounded like it was coming from the A pillar. Gonna check out the exterior piece. HOw did you flex the part ?

 

[rsimi72]

I'm not sure what you mean by "flexed it in the opposite direction."

Yes, I did pry that piece off very carefully, starting with the part closest to the wiper arm. Then I just flexed it gently to flatten it out a bit. I also bent the plastic tabs underneath it outward ever so slightly so they would grip better when I reinstalled. It seemed to "snap" into place pretty well. But who knows--maybe I got lucky and it will start squeaking again in a month.

I don't recall exactly what it looks like under that trim piece, but I don't think there'd be much for the tape to grip on.

I also dealt with this. After taking my cowling off and looking for any source of noise under there, I finally narrowed it down to the corner cap. Passenger side. I could push on it and make it squeak. Turns out it just wasn’t going down far enough to snap securely into the cowling holes. I actually had to shave/trim a tiny bit off the front tab to get it to snap securely. I needed it to go down farther to seat properly. Flexing the tabs didn’t quite do it for me but we were probably fighting the same problem. I attached the following two pics to another thread but they might be helpful here, too. I also tried double stick tape but that didn’t work. FYI - I found it easiest to reassemble by sliding the cap up the windshield-pillar groove first and then snapped the clips into the cowling. Good luck!

 

[Maadcaap]

I had the splash guard squeak... fixed that thanks to T4R peeps.

Now I have a tiny dashboard squeak.. It sounds like the driver side window.. but that isn't it... going to go check that trim piece... thanks for posting

 

[Rhinle]

Resurrecting an old thread here. I have a squeak that started about two weeks ago and it only happens when going over bumps. Could be speed bumps, road imperfections, freeway bumps, etc. It seems like it mostly happen when the rear wheels go over something. It sounds like it is coming from the back seat area. It is definitely inside the cab.

I am usually alone when I am driving, so it's nearly impossible to actually locate the noise. Does this sound like an issue anyone else has had? Or possibly has some insight into things to check?

*******May have answered my own question here with this thread, but still interested in you insight. I won't be able to check this until later tonight.*******

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/178292-squeaking-noise-inside-4runner.html