Do you have this type of noise in your 03/04 4Runner?

[pwanghk]

Greetings:

I don't know if I am crazy and start hearing things but I just discover some weird noise from the dashboard and the windshield. Effectively, whenever I drive over a bumpy road either at hi speed (40~50mph) or real slow 10~20mph, there are some noise coming apparently from the dashboard and the windshield. The clicking sound is like a little rock hitting the windshield but not as aloud. The noise seem to be more pronounced and louder at low speed though. I try to shake the dashboard and couldn't reproduce the same sound. Does anyone experience something alike either with your 03 or 04 4Runner?

Advance thanks for your feedback.

 

[4Runnah]

Yup, I have tthe same issue on my 03 Sport. It seems worse in the cold (I live in New England) I'm starting to hear it again coming from that same spot you described. I have looked as well and could not reproduce it. My next step is to remove the vent cover to see if it's something loose under it (assuming they come off) If you have any luck feel free to pass it on. I will do the same.

 

[Guest]

Is it the faint electronic "click" of the HVAC turning the vents onto different modes or from recirc to fresh?

 

[4Runnah]

No, it squeeks once every rotation..of what I don't know, but the higher the RPM's the more noise it makes. Very strange, it doesn't sound like your typical loose belt?

 

[tkr128]

Me too! I keep thinking that rocks are hitting my car, but it's just the clicking noise.

 

[utah_saint]

Hello everyone.

Just wanted to put in my two cents regarding the strangenoise you all are hearing when traveling over rough road surfaces. I had the same problem also....upon disassembling my entire dash panel, i've concluded that the air vents are the culprit. The air vents snap into tabs connected to the backside of the different dash panels and begin to rattle and creak from excessive vibration. I just went to Wal-mart and got some felt with adhesive backing and cut very small 1/8 inch wide strips about 1.5 inches long and wedged the strips of felt in between the sides of the air vents and the tabs and this snugged them up tight and eradicated the problem- very poor design if you ask me-especially for a Toyota product. I hope this helps you all.


Utah_saint:

 

[Oscarz]

rattle buckets

Toyota doesn't care about rattles. As long as they have the reputation for reliability, they don't have to. I've noticed Toyotas are pretty solid until temperature drops. Then the rattles come to life. My 03 substantiates this. My mom's Echo is real tight until it gets cold out...than it sounds like a shaking toolbox.

 

[jharris2]

There may be another cause -- I had a noise from the dash/windshield that drove the service manager nuts. Turned out that Toyota forgot to take out all of the clips that are used to hold the windshield in place while the vehicle is being built. A local glass shop figured it out.

Apparently, it's a common problems with GM vehicles, but almost unheard of with Toyota. Mine proves that it's not impossible.

 

[Guest]

I'm riding MT/R's and I don't have any rattles or squeaks. Occaisionally I will hear something (usually during temperature changes-like very cold mornings or when it heats up quickly during the day) but you get that with any car- it's just the natural expansion/contraction of materials.

If there is constant noise, I would be annoyed but things have been really good so far

 

[pwanghk]

Thank you all, especially to utah_saint and jharris2 for your valuable input. I think both of your diagnosis are touching the right spot. I will print this out and show them to the Toyota tech for their references. I find this noise disappear when driving on the snow. May be the snow act as a cushion and doesn't transmit the car vibration when go over a bump or main holes. Hope that they will be able to figure it out and doesn't make it worse when assembling and disassembling the dashboard.

No matter what, I will keep you inform as soon as I had a chance to bring it to the dealer.

Have a happy and merry hollidays everyone.

 

[pwanghk]

I finally took my 04 4Runner to the dealer for a whole bunch of little problem. Here is an update for the problem #1 posted here sometime ago.

1. Noise from dashboard & windshield
2. Roof rack cover comes off.
3. Rear windshield wiper doesn't funtion properly. It wipes only from it tip and not the entire blade.

Anyway, the technician told me that after pulling off the glove compartment and put it back in. The noise is no longer there. Effectively, I test drive it and couldn't hear that noise anymore. I'll see how long it will stay like that.

Thank you all for your feedback and help.

 

[Guest]

4. The fan will sound louder when it switches to RECIRC even if you don't change fan speed.

 

[pwanghk]

Noted and thanks.

However, I don't use the recycle either.

 

[Guest]

why do you post redundant threads asking the same questions over and over again and then do the same over at yotatech?

 

[pwanghk]

This tread is a summary of why I did bring my truck for servicing. I thought that someone may be interested of knowing what the problem could be. I didn't ask anywthing about problem #4 in this thread. I only ask for problem #1. Sorry, for the confusion and inconvenient, I will skip all the detail next time and only post reply related to problem itself. I will delete problem #4 as well.

 

[loner]

FWIW, I recently developed a steadily worsening tapping/rattle from the top center of my dash when going over bumps. Banging on the dash would not reproduce the rattle. I read several threads here on on Yotatech about the vents, the windshield clips, and the plastic cowl cover on the outside under the wipers.

Upon close inspection, I found that a thin piece of rubber trim sits between the outside cowl cover and the windshield. This thin rubber trim has a very weak attachment (basically slips on) to the cowl cover, and it had slightly detached in a small area. Fully re-attaching this rubber trim led to resolution of the rattle.

Now I'm completely rattle-free again.

Bottom line: If you get a tapping rattle from the top center of the dashboard, check out the cowl cover under the wipers arms, especially the rubber trim betwen the cover and the windshield.

 

[fastlanechamp]

dashboard noise fixed

My 06' SR5 had this same rattle noise since last November. And whenever I drove to the dealer, the noise stopped. Finally I went to the dealer today and this service advisor agreed to have my truck inspected without riding out with the service guy first. After 3 hours they told me that the rattle was fixed. Here is what says on the invoice, "rattle noise at left side of the instrument panel cover removed instrument panel and add foam pad to plastic clips and under instrument panel bolts resequred wire harness re-installed all previous removed parts test drive ok now. rattle noise is gone"

I think this may help.

 

[Avet14]

Thank you guys for posting this thread,

I gotta say I've been going crazy with the rattle that has been coming from the left of the instrument cluster. I originally thought it was the door but now I've narrowed it down to around the left air vents. When I tap or push on the dash around the edges of the vent I can reproduce the noise.

I would take it to the dealer but I'm certain they'll damage whatever they remove and I'll have to go back a second time to have them replace it (had to do that with a door panel they broke because they simply tried ripping it out of the door frame without unscrewing it first).

Do any of you know how I can remove that part of the dash?