Annoying buzzing from steering wheel at highway speed

[DoctorJ]

I've started noticing this buzzing noise while driving on highway two months ago. It would start at around 70mph, worse at 75, 80. At first I could not pinpoint where it came from. But recently I had a road trip and was finally able to find out that it came from the plastic square where the control buttons are. Only the left one that controls the audio, not the right one. If I touch the square area around the diamond buttons gently (blue circle in the attached picture), the noise would go away. Nothing really vibrates around the steering wheel, so it is probably not an alignment/balancing issue. I did a 3" lift few months back. Not sure if it is related. I saw this other post describing a very similar issue. But it doesn't look like it was resolved.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/286870-buzzing-vibrating-under-dash-any-ideas.html

I thought about putting some super glue around that square, but it is probably not a good idea.

 

[HuskyMike]

If you pull that apart to have a look for what's buzzing, see if you can rotate that switch 90 degrees counter clockwise. The controls will then be (more) correct. Volume will be up/ down and presets will be left/ right.

 

[thatoneguy]

If you pull that apart to have a look for what's buzzing, see if you can rotate that switch 90 degrees counter clockwise. The controls will then be (more) correct. Volume will be up/ down and presets will be left/ right.

Still surprised Toyota did that. My Mazda has the controls The Normal Way like you describe, and I drove both frequently. Shame when you accidentally move to the next track instead of changing the volume.

 

[HuskyMike]

Still surprised Toyota did that. My Mazda has the controls The Normal Way like you describe, and I drove both frequently. Shame when you accidentally move to the next track instead of changing the volume.

Ya.... not to mention the intermittent wipers are backwards too.

 

[DoctorJ]

If you pull that apart to have a look for what's buzzing, see if you can rotate that switch 90 degrees counter clockwise. The controls will then be (more) correct. Volume will be up/ down and presets will be left/ right.

How exactly do I pull that thing apart?

 

[HuskyMike]

How exactly do I pull that thing apart?

No idea. Was hoping you might end up doing it so I could see. Had a thought about rotating that whole switch to make the controls more intuitive.

 

[MasterFoo]

4runner Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Install - YouTube

 

[DoctorJ]

4runner Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Install - YouTube

This is very helpful. Thank you