Harmonic Vibration @ 70 to 75mph?

[carbuilder22]

Hey all! I am a newbie here. I Just traded my 97 in, had 225k and was still going strong! Bought an 04 SE V8 and I am lovin it to. I have a question for those with similar trucks, Has anyon experienced a driveline type vibration between 70 and 75?

 

[hre814]

yes. it is a rythmic (sp?) vibration that starts around 70 mph. Look up other posts with my username (hre814) under SEARCH and you will see the problem I have. No solution to it. Mine popped up at 10-11,000 or so miles and I was told it is normal for the 4Runner. They don't have a fix and I don't believe they plan on fixing it. Let me know if you have any other questions. I've been through a decent amount with Toyota and have gotten no where.

 

[secondhome]

Hi all,

I have a 2004 V8 LTD 4WD with almost the exact same problem. This started at around 11,000 miles or so and started in and around early December in the Northeast. Whenever I step on the gas pedal at 70 to 80mph, a "humming" and "rhythmic" noise comes on, and it goes off when I let my foot off the gas pedal. The frequency of this noise is about 1 to 2 seconds or so. It is quite annoying and I understand that quite a few of you have tried and maybe unsuccessfully to make Toyota fix this problem. Any recent developements?

I also sometimes experience a steering wheel vibration at 60-65mph but that does not bother me as much and it is not always there.

 

[LukeSKY]

I had the same issue with my 2000 lim....go get your tires rotated and road forced ballanced......easy fix !

 

[jtb71]

Wrong, this is not a problem with an easy fix. Toyota has issued a fix for the Lexus with the same problem, but has no intent to fix the T4R. I've been through this for a year. Only comes on due to low temps. If you are able to get some answers, though, let us know. Many of us have the issue on 03-04 V8 T4R's.

 

[carina71]

Wrong, this is not a problem with an easy fix. Toyota has issued a fix for the Lexus with the same problem, but has no intent to fix the T4R. I've been through this for a year. Only comes on due to low temps. If you are able to get some answers, though, let us know. Many of us have the issue on 03-04 V8 T4R's.

HMMMM, I noticed this a month ago during a long, 5 hour trip (temps around -5 to -20 deg F). Can you give me some more info on this... what's the problem/issue/fix? Thanks

 

[kgorsuch]

Hmmm. I just bought mine (04 Sport V8) about a month ago and took my first long trip last weekend. I have the same problem. Only difference is, mine doesn't seem to be related to the outside temperature. It's fairly nice out today and it was as bad as ever. It's extremely irritating - I can't stay between 70-75 mph for more than a few seconds without getting aggitated. I may be an extremist, but I wouldn't have bought this thing if I knew about this problem.

Does anyone know if it affects the '05s??

Kenny g...

 

[mjfrank]

I was kind of playing around with this problem the other day on a long highway drive.

What I noticed was that if I slowly accelerated up through 75 to 80, I got the noise. When I used the cruise control to hold my speed around 75, I didn't hear the noise. Then, when I dropped the transmission out of overdrive, I could accelerate from 70 to 80 with no noise at all. These results seem to point to some weird harmonic with the engine at a specific RPM. (around 2,100)

So, I'm wondering now how modifications would affect this issue. Is there anyone experiencing this problem with either:

Cat-back system (Borla, TRD, Magnaflow)
Bridgestone Dueler Revo Tires, or other stock size aftermarket tires
Suspension lift
Oversize tires (larger than 265-65-17)

If you do have the noise, does it occur between the same road speed range? (72-80, approx.)

Thanks!
-Mike

 

[hre814]

if you search for posts under my username hre814 you will find longer detailed explanations of my problems. it's not the tires, contrary to what the dealer thought. i had them hunter road forced balanced 3 times, with excellent readings on the machine and finally got the dealer to put a set of stock tires from a 4runner on the lot and the problem still existed. they won't fix it b/c they don't know where to start. this has gone all the way up to toyota customer service and they were useless. needless to say i'm not pleased that i paid $37,000 for a truck and they won't even attempt to try to find a fix.

 

[mjfrank]

Yeah, I realize that it's not the tires causing this, I was asking about tires because different sizes will move the engine RPM around at a given road speed.

So does the noise occur in roughly the same speed range with your larger tires?

I agree, it's seems that they could figure this problem out if they tried. I guess they have already fixed this for the Lexus.

I'm really curious if anyone with a suspension lift has this noise. I would think changing the CV angles might have an effect. Although, I guess until someone comes up with a large lift that requires a cradle to drop the front axle center section down, the u-joint angle won't change. That seems to be where Toyota was looking for the problem at.

--Mike

 

[hre814]

yeah it occurs around the same speed, give or take a mph. i will be installing a spacer lift 4" front, 3" rear which should change the cv angle. i will let you know what it does if anything.

 

[MacVay]

Hey guys,

I have a new 05 V8 Limited and this morning I heard what you are explaining.

It was -30C (-22F) this morning and on the way into work at around 75MPH I could hear this rythmic drone that was quite annoying.

I have only had the truck for a week and have already 2000 KMS on it and I have never heard this sound before.

I hope it is a result for the freaking cold.

I will keep you posted. I would have thought with all the complaints from the previous years about this, it would be fixed for the 05 Year.

I have no wheel vibration at all though, none! (and I am picky)

Cheers,

 

[mjfrank]

Sorry to hear that you have the problem in a 2005. It is rather disappointing that they haven't addressed this yet, since there is a fix for the Lexus version.

The list of parts doesn't sound that extensive either, a new Differential Dynamic Damper, a bolt, and a Front Differential Support. I would imagine that the parts would cost less than the Sulfur-smell fix, and they are paying to do that. I'm betting that almost all 4R's with 4WD and a V8 have this problem, it's just that some people haven't noticed it.

If I could order the parts, I'd do it myself. (Providing they don't want $500.00 + for the parts.) I tried looking them up, but the only part numbers that I had were for a Prado. (Aussie version of the 4R, I believe)

Oh well, living with it for now. I just got a Scion stereo, so I guess I can crank that up loud enough to drown out any other noise.

--Mike

 

[Kanab]

I got a fix for you. Don't drive that fast and when it gets that cold stay home in bed. I've never noticed this problem but our top speed in my state is 70 mph, so I've gone 70-75 on trips but no problem. My 4Runner has the Michelin Cross Terrains on it.

 

[carina71]

Okay,

sounds like we all have the same rmmm rmmm rmmm at about 70 to 75 mph. Yet, my last long drive had a lot of hills, and I noticed it as I was climbing them, but not descending, that I heard that familiar rythm. Then I noticed that it REALLY occurs when the engine rpms are between 2000 and 2500. someone wrote about this earlier but I cannot find the thread.

So I started to experiment: put the car in N reved engine to 2200 rpm, no rythmic noise. So then I slowed down for the next uphill. Put it in 3, started uphill, at 2100 rpm the rythm started (I was going much less than 70 mph). Going down the next hill, slowed down to about 50 put the car in D, got rpms up to 2200, there it was again, when I got to about 80 and the load on tfhe engine decreased, the noise fell off.

So, at least in my car, it does not really matter what speed you are going, or what gear you are in, if my tacometer is between 2000 and 2500 rpm, and the engine under lode (accelerating, keeping steady on flat ground, or going uphill), I get the rmmm rmmm rmmm rmmm....

I THINK the fact that everyone documents it at 70-75 mph is because that is their cruising speed on a fairly flat highway AND the the engine rpms are between 2000 and 2500 under those conditions (in D).

Don't know if this discussion will help anyone, but my 2 pennies worth.

 

[jtb71]

I hope that if we can all make the call to toyota, maybe, just maybe, someone will pay attention. It is very annoying during the colder months, and it needs to be fixed! Best of luck, and keep us informed.

 

[Jim_Chow]

I hope that if we can all make the call to toyota, maybe, just maybe, someone will pay attention. It is very annoying during the colder months, and it needs to be fixed! Best of luck, and keep us informed.

Does this humming just occur in cold weather? Is this problem different than the vibration in the steering wheel reported? Reason I ask is, my next car might be the V8 4runner, and I'm trying to gather as much info as possible. Toyota has sold a lot of 4Runners (over 100,000 units last year), and it can't be that all of them are having these same problems, or is it just a small percentage?

 

[bbumbles]

Thanks not too happy I was hoping for Toyota quality not really feeling it yet. I sold my GM thinking I would have less problems so far it has had more problems I am not off to a good start.

 

[mjfrank]

Okay,

sounds like we all have the same rmmm rmmm rmmm at about 70 to 75 mph. Yet, my last long drive had a lot of hills, and I noticed it as I was climbing them, but not descending, that I heard that familiar rythm. Then I noticed that it REALLY occurs when the engine rpms are between 2000 and 2500. someone wrote about this earlier but I cannot find the thread.

That was me, in this thread, about five or six posts above yours.

I think you are on the right track here, as I got basically the same results at about the same RPM. I wonder if this sound is similar to the 2000 RPM drone that people were complaining about with the Borla exhaust system? I'd really like to know if there is anyone with a Borla or TRD exhaust that also has this problem. If it doesn't happen with the aftermarket exhaust, maybe I could finally convice my wife that I need to get one.

I don't know if this is exclusive to the V8 models either, because I have read about the Prado having almost this exact problem, and they are only offered with the V6 or a diesel option.

I wish I could just stay home on really cold days, but my boss might get a little pissed after a week or so.

I'm really not bothered by the problem that much anyway, I don't often drive above 70. Plus, at one time I drove a 6" lifted Jeep Wrangler every day, and that shook and vibrated at any speed, so I'm kind of used to it.

I still love my 4R, and I hope Toyota steps up to the plate on this eventually.

 

[carina71]

That was me, in this thread, about five or six posts above yours.

Thanks, MJ, I think you nailed it! I also think the reason we don't notice it so much in the lower gears is because the transmission generally shifts right at those rpms.