Dash Click/Rattle

[rsimi72]

[MENTION=3442]Boyds4Runner[/MENTION] Is your fix still working for you? Mine still works on smooth roads, but I took it on a forest service road for the first time since I tried fixing it and it's just as bad as ever. Not sure if it's the warmer weather or what, but I'm about to take a baseball bat to my 4runner...

I totally feel your pain! I have been following this thread closely. I appreciate everybody's willingness to share. I appreciate Boyds4Runner for sharing his double sided tape trick. I have removed my cowling a couple of times trying to silence the tapping noise. Once, I did isolate a noise to the small cap that mounts at the bottom corner of the windshield. It secures to the cowling and it slides up the A-pillar/windshield joint. I simply ordered a new one for approx. $20 and that worked. Might want to check that for a possible source of noise. Pushing around on it will tell you if it's noisy. But, for the windshield tapping, I followed Boyds4Runner's line of thinking. But, rather than go right to the tape, I bought two new clips/fasteners for the same contact point. (the push pin type) My old ones were kind of sloppy from removing a couple of times. The new clips were less than a dollar each and fit much tighter. I was going to try the tape trick next but so far this has shut the tapping up. It's been almost three weeks, so they could eventually loosen up again. But, you might give it a try. If you're willing to take a baseball bat to your 4Runner, I bet you're willing to spend a couple bucks for two new clips. I just ordered them from my local dealer parts counter, but they are available online also. I believe the part number is 90467-07217. Heck, order a 10-pack. They are the same as the fasteners for the radiator cover. Also, for me, pulling the wipers easily just required me to tilt them up, like when you wash the car, and they came straight off. Good luck!

 

[transistor]

So, yes there is a bit of a trick. I saw this YouTube video where the person bangs the wipers at the joint to "unflex" it from where it's bolted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeDds3dLY7E

I found that I didn't have to bang on the joint but more like bend it up to release its angled pressure on the bolt that holds the wiper down.

In other words it seems like the spring to keep the wiper pulled firmly onto the windshield exerts enough pressure on the bolt using it for leverage. You kind of have to release the spring pressure and flex the wiper arm toward the passenger side and it will let the whole arm assembly slide straight out from the bolt.

Also, when replacing the wiper arm back, be sure to line it up properly at its resting point on the windshield so that when it sweeps up and down it doesn't bang into the bottom of the cowl or start too high up from the bottom of the windshield.

See if the video helps!

Thanks! I tried gently hitting the wiper arms like on the video and they popped right off.

I drove around without the cowl and there was no squeaking at all. It was amazing... So at least now I'm 100% sure it's the cowl and not any other area in my car. I'm going to cover every point of contact with double sided tape and replace the fasteners.

 

[rsimi72]

I purchased a new 4Runner in Dec and it was squeak free. After a short off highway excursion on a washboard dirt road here in AZ that all changed. As soon as I returned to the asphalt the squeaking from my dash/windshield area was insane.

Now, I'm again squeak free. My fix was to run a plastic (nylon) trim removal tool the entire length between the dash and windshield. Afterwards I drove about 60 miles off highway and the squeaking has not returned.
Hope this helps.

Can I ask about you running the plastic trim tool between your dash and windshield? Was your dash tapping/rattling against the glass? How deep did you have to dig with the trim tool? Is the dash still quiet? Thanks.

 

[[email protected]]

Just bought a 16 Limited. I love it but I too am getting a rattle from the passenger side somewhere by glove box or windshield. Mine sounds more like a muffled thump than a tick. It happens especially at 30ish going over medium bumps. Almost sounds like a loose shock absorber. Can’t be? Cars only got 30k and was literally driven by an old lady previously.
IDK. This thumping noise could drive me crazy. It will at least temper my enthusiasm for this new to me vehicle.
I thought 4Runners were issue free?

 

[nb rob]

Just bought a 16 Limited. I love it but I too am getting a rattle from the passenger side somewhere by glove box or windshield. Mine sounds more like a muffled thump than a tick. It happens especially at 30ish going over medium bumps. Almost sounds like a loose shock absorber. Can’t be? Cars only got 30k and was literally driven by an old lady previously.
IDK. This thumping noise could drive me crazy. It will at least temper my enthusiasm for this new to me vehicle.
I thought 4Runners were issue free?

New or not, it required an alignment at one point. It's pretty common for the lower control arm bolts to be undertorqued. They have a spec of 133 lb-ft.

welcome to the forum.

 

[rageandlove]

Can I ask about you running the plastic trim tool between your dash and windshield? Was your dash tapping/rattling against the glass? How deep did you have to dig with the trim tool? Is the dash still quiet? Thanks.

Yeah, I'd be interested in this too ...

 

[jgs9455]

Rad Rubber Designs

Rad Rubber Designs
Heavy Duty replacement set (4 pieces) for both driver and passenger side wheel wells. 1/8″ Nitrile rubber resistant to gas and oil. Fasteners included.
4RUNNER (5th Gen 2010+) – Rad Rubber Design – FJ Fender Flaps, Toyota Engine Splash Guards

4Runner Engine Splash Guard Replacement, 4Runner Engine Guards

 

[Fullas]

I too have an issue with this constant clicking and tapping noise near the windshield and cowl. I read through posts that said trapped gravel might be the cause, and I gave it a good pressure wash that made the noise go away for about a day and then returned. This started happening after I took it for an off road adventure in the desert, so the car did go through some rough and tumble and was shook around a bit.

Where could my rattle be coming from?

 

[jgs9455]

The Rad Rubber Designs fender flaps solved my rattle noise!!!
Woohoooo!!! Super quiet now, I can go back to appreciating the otherwise solid & impressive Toyota build quality. I went from loving my truck, to hating it with the rattle. Now that it is gone, I am back to loving it again. Thank you RRD! Also very easy to install. I have no affiliation with RRD, I am just glad the noise is gone.

Rad Rubber Designs
Heavy Duty replacement set (4 pieces) for both driver and passenger side wheel wells. 1/8″ Nitrile rubber resistant to gas and oil. Fasteners included.
4RUNNER (5th Gen 2010+) – Rad Rubber Design – FJ Fender Flaps, Toyota Engine Splash Guards

4Runner Engine Splash Guard Replacement, 4Runner Engine Guards

 

[tjnptel1]

This is great stuff. thank you for this thread.

I may have missed it but with only 450 miles on the odo, i have noticed a rattle coming from what appears to be behind the gauge cluster. Anybody else experience this?

 

[rsimi72]

This is great stuff. thank you for this thread.

I may have missed it but with only 450 miles on the odo, i have noticed a rattle coming from what appears to be behind the gauge cluster. Anybody else experience this?

Check your engine splash guards in your wheel wells. Lots of pics in this thread. You can wiggle to recreate the noise. If that's the source of your rattle, you can secure the guards by getting new clips or by placing double-sided tape under the current clip or by getting the thicker splash guards referenced in an above post. I actually gorilla taped mine until I take the time to address it more permanently. Good luck tracking it down.

 

[burn8029]

Check your engine splash guards in your wheel wells. Lots of pics in this thread. You can wiggle to recreate the noise. If that's the source of your rattle, you can secure the guards by getting new clips or by placing double-sided tape under the current clip or by getting the thicker splash guards referenced in an above post. I actually gorilla taped mine until I take the time to address it more permanently. Good luck tracking it down.

first time post guys! anyway, i had this rattle immediately after getting my SR5. but after reading these threads i checked the windshield cowl first. i replaced the plastic clips with screws (washers and nuts), and so far i have no more noise. I did check the splash guard and on of the clips is toast and wont stay seated. but this doesn't seem to be making any noise either. Hope this helps anyone else.

 

[mnelson71ss]

Splash Guards were the culprit

Thanks to this forum! After a quick trip to Ace for four slightly larger diameter clips and rubber washers, this annoying clicking issue is gone. Splash guards are now snug on my 2021 T4R TRD Off Road.

 

[pcstockton]

toyotas rattle. Period.

 

[PinnacleX]

Thanks to this forum! After a quick trip to Ace for four slightly larger diameter clips and rubber washers, this annoying clicking issue is gone. Splash guards are now snug on my 2021 T4R TRD Off Road.

So what exactly did you replace Im in the same boat with my ne Runner. That and the the squeaky creaky breaks the pull to the right and the front suspension thats bad and is being replaced.

 

[BorotHex]

Its scary to think people try to attack a single rattle on these. Talk about whackamole.

 

[DocHalsey]

I too have an issue with this constant clicking and tapping noise near the windshield and cowl. I read through posts that said trapped gravel might be the cause, and I gave it a good pressure wash that made the noise go away for about a day and then returned. This started happening after I took it for an off road adventure in the desert, so the car did go through some rough and tumble and was shook around a bit.

Where could my rattle be coming from?

Any luck solving your rattle?

 

[jgs9455]

It’s the fender well splash liners.
4RUNNER (5th Gen 2010+) – Rad Rubber Design – FJ Fender Flaps, Toyota Engine Splash Guards

 

[HSVHIMARS]

Hi all. I have 2016 where noise seems to come near the stereo of dash. Sounds kinda like wood floor creaking. 11 k miles. Had this issue 6k but stopped. New to forum . Starting to annoy me . I will look under hood

Years later but did you happen to figure out the source of that tapping? Sounds like what I have now.

 

[DocHalsey]

Its scary to think people try to attack a single rattle on these. Talk about whackamole.

I think it’s reasonable for someone to be bothered by a constant noise in the cabin, especially if your car is brand new or if you paid a good chunk of change for it. Especially on a car renowned for its build quality.