Helicopter Sound from Underneath

[RunUp]

I have an '05 SR5 4wd V8, that started making a helicopter sound from the drivers side, underneath, when going 70+ mph.
At 75 mph you can even start feeling it, but the thing is, if I take my foot off the gas pedal it goes away, even at the same speed. It started about 7000 miles on the odo.
At first I thought it might be the Revo's that had about 1500 miles on them, but the gas pedal thing threw that idea out the window. It also happens in 4th gear.
Took it to the Toyota shop and they can't figure it out either. They even test drove with all the skid plates off, and greased everything.
It's not a real loud sound, but when the stereo's off you know something is wrong.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[boston_kevin]

Can the dealer put your vehicle on some spinners to isolate whether it is drivetrain related or just something that is catching wind? If it is truly drivetrain related, why wouldn't this do the same thing at a lower speed in a lower gear at the same RPMs? If they can put it on spinners, they should be able to also hook up a mic to the tranny or diffs to see if anything is going on inside those cases...

 

[turbomech7]

I have an '05 SR5 4wd V8, that started making a helicopter sound from the drivers side, underneath, when going 70+ mph.
At 75 mph you can even start feeling it, but the thing is, if I take my foot off the gas pedal it goes away, even at the same speed. It started about 7000 miles on the odo.
At first I thought it might be the Revo's that had about 1500 miles on them, but the gas pedal thing threw that idea out the window. It also happens in 4th gear.
Took it to the Toyota shop and they can't figure it out either. They even test drove with all the skid plates off, and greased everything.
It's not a real loud sound, but when the stereo's off you know something is wrong.
Any ideas?
Thanks

you know i got a similar sound once - it turned out that the parking brake was engaged (!) I wish they had an audible warning for leaving it on

 

[RunUp]

They can't look at again, till after Christmas, but I'll ask them about it.
They also supposedly searched the regional (Cincinnati) database,
and found the same symptoms on other vehicle(s) but no solution yet.

 

[Koz]

Helicopter sounds, that's a new one!

Koz

 

[RunUp]

Helicopter sounds, that's a new one!

Koz

You know, when you have the back windows down (not the rear)
and it sounds like Rambo is trying to carjack you from the sky
It's like that except, nowhere near as loud.

 

[<<<<]

Mine makes Jet engine sounds when I go over 130 mph JK. But, seriosly check wheells, tires, driveshaft and rear differential, sounds like something is out of ballance. Heck, maybe there is a dead racoon wraped around a shaft, that would be pitty but an easy fix. Good Luck.

 

[mjfrank]

Hmmm, let me know if this sounds familiar, starts at 70, mid-throttle, engine RPMs around 1600-1800? Stops when you accelerate harder or slow down, and goes away above 77-78MPH? Sounds like you have a flat tire, like a rythmic droning noise, and you can slightly feel it through the steering wheel?

If so, welcome to the club, I doubt the dealer will do much to fix the problem. Toyota thinks it's an odd harmonic generated between the engine exhaust frequency and the front driveshaft/axle assembly. They had a fix out for the Lexus, but haven't done anything for the 4R.

Read on:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2226&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

I can't tell you if it ever goes away or not though, since I installed the TRD dual exhaust, I can't hear it anymore over the exhaust drone at that same RPM range.

Good Luck!
--Mike

 

[alotawatts]

My helicopter noise

Probably not your problem but worth checking:

I had a 6 cyl Toyota wagon. The jackass that did some work (timing chain I think) for me - stripped the threads on the main front crank/pulley bolt. He used helicoil on the threads and it held up for months until I was on a roadtrip and...........thought I was going airborne ! Mine seemed fairly loud from inside the car.
I took him to small claims court......and I lost. That was 20 years ago. I'm getting pissed just thinking about it.
Let us know what you find out.

 

[RunUp]

mjfrank,
Pretty close description except it's worse at 77-78 and I really haven't accelerated (but I will) to see if it goes away.
It probably is some odd harmonic.
One of the mechs at Toyota said there is a TSB on the entire steering column/shaft.
He said I should get it done before the warranty expires even I'm not experiencing any problems.
From the other thread you pointed out, the steering TSB and this "helicopter noise" might be related.
In the meantime, I'll just play the stereo.

 

[T4RMatt]

I dont really hear any helictoptor noises, but I get a slight vibration at 77-78 that seems worse under throttle but I can also feel it when decelerating through that range. I feel it in the floor and gas pedal but not in the steering wheel. It does it regardless of gear too, so I figured it must either be a driveshaft out of balance or tires (stock Duelers) but I had heard that tires usually wont vibrate above 70. Anyhow, I figure if I take it in to the dealer they wont want to drive it above the speed limit and risk getting a ticket to feel it. I had a similiar problem on Land Rover once and they never figured it out.......

 

[Borderfolle]

Check out the aluminum heat shields underneath. One may be loose. I had one that corroded where the nuts hold it on to the studs. I re-fastened it with oversize aluminum washers. Could be the source of your noise.

 

[Cougar]

I have had the same noise for quite some time. I have a 2003 V8 Sport with about 70,000 miles. I notice it right at 70-75 miles per hour. I can drop it into 4th and it will make the noise around 50 mph. There are no vibrations, just a steady rythmic moaning noise. I have Revo's on my vehicle and I can tell you it is not the tires. I had the same sound with the Dunlops. The Revo's are soooo much better. If anyone know what this is..let me know.

 

[biglatka]

I have an '05 SR5 4wd V8, that started making a helicopter sound from the drivers side, underneath, when going 70+ mph.
At 75 mph you can even start feeling it, but the thing is, if I take my foot off the gas pedal it goes away, even at the same speed. It started about 7000 miles on the odo.
At first I thought it might be the Revo's that had about 1500 miles on them, but the gas pedal thing threw that idea out the window. It also happens in 4th gear.
Took it to the Toyota shop and they can't figure it out either. They even test drove with all the skid plates off, and greased everything.
It's not a real loud sound, but when the stereo's off you know something is wrong.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Sounds like the problem I've recently noticed too. It feels like I'm reaching some resonant frequency starting just above 70 (2000+ rpm), under mild acceleration, it's most intense at about 75 and goes away above 80 or when I take my foot of the gas. It started, or I first noticed it at about 4500 miles. I really don't feel it in the steering wheel per se, more like it's origin is engine or driveline related.

I haven't tried it in fourth gear at the same rpm or speed. I don't want to get a ticket trying to figure this thing out. I

 

[Fro-Runner]

Re: Re: Helicopter Sound from Underneath

you know i got a similar sound once - it turned out that the parking brake was engaged (!) I wish they had an audible warning for leaving it on

Hmmm, leaving the parking brake engage while driving is a SURE sign that your mind is pre-occupied with the STRONG possiblity of a Longhorn victory in early 2006!

A Tiger would NEVER worry about that if it was in that situation!

 

[Fro-Runner]

Helicopter sounds, that's a new one!

Koz

Hmmm, didn't he mention that he had Revo's on the vehicle! Wasn't it you Mr. Koz who said a few days ago that Costcoak puts helium in thier Revo's?

If he purchased those Revo's from Costcroak with the Helium inflation techniques; then helicopter sounds might be from the fact that his 4Runner is trying to take FLIGHT.
:awais:

 

[skibama]

I get the same harmonic vibration now as well. It seems that it started right after I had the Sulpher TSB done.
Just one more thing to annoy me I guess.
Someone please post if you've had any luck getting this fixed.

 

[brick]

same problem

I just got back from my dealer. I have the same problem but they could not hear it. They searched for a TSB but nothing.

Does anyone know how this was fixed on the Lexus GX?????

Is it a simple fix? I suspect it is a complex solution so I will most likely live with it.

btw: I drove dad's 03 Grand Cherokee (low miles) this weekend and it makes the same nosie at a much broader range of speeds when full time 4WD is engaged.

Jim

 

[T4RMatt]

I have pretty much determined that the noise we hear and/or feel is exhaust related. This could possibly explain why the sulfer TSB started yours. I am thinking it either must be a heat shield or something similiar. I only feel my vibration through the gas pedal ever so slightly through the wheel. I can not feel it through the floor or seat and a passenger would not be able to detect the vibration, but would be able to hear it. Just my $.02.

 

[biglatka]

I have pretty much determined that the noise we hear and/or feel is exhaust related. This could possibly explain why the sulfer TSB started yours. I am thinking it either must be a heat shield or something similiar. I only feel my vibration through the gas pedal ever so slightly through the wheel. I can not feel it through the floor or seat and a passenger would not be able to detect the vibration, but would be able to hear it. Just my $.02.

This sounds like (no pun intended) a plausible cause. How did you determine this and/or eliminate other possibilities?
Thanks