Mystery sound

[alaskaman]

As I was driving today (solo) in the delta at around 55 mph, every minute or so I would hear a sound like a mechanical adjustment being made inside the cabin. like a dentists drill almost... the road was like a levee road a lit up and down. I thought it might have been the passenger seat as it sounded like it was coming from there. It lasted for less than one second each time the same length and distinct. Any ideas?

 

[Mark86]

The only thing that I can think of is the air conditioning compressor kicking on and off.

 

[alaskaman]

thanks. will drive again without air and with it and see........just like a small air drill.

 

[ssmtsx]

Was your sunroof open? If it was maybe the air deflector was going up and down with your speed?

 

[alaskaman]

the sunroof was closed at the time. the sound was in the cabin. like a very brief adjustment sound...in the passenger seat I wonder if the seat was recalibrating weight as the airbag is off without someone in the seat....i wonder if that calibration is checked by a sensor that would sound like that.....

 

[jharris2]

the sunroof was closed at the time. the sound was in the cabin. like a very brief adjustment sound...in the passenger seat I wonder if the seat was recalibrating weight as the airbag is off without someone in the seat....i wonder if that calibration is checked by a sensor that would sound like that.....

The sensor is electronic, IIRC, and wouldn't make a sound if recalibrating.

 

[alaskaman]

ok. but does it make adjustments to the seat itself? I guess not. hmmm I wonder what it is...

 

[gizmopt2002]

your phone ringing? lol. I would go with the A/C

 

[Spider5]

Does your runner have the air suspension option? If so, maybe the compressor kicking in because of an air leak in that system.

 

[alaskaman]

no air suspension unless it comes on the SE standard....and I doubt the a/c at least I have never heard any compressor like that but with the automatic climate control i guess it could be....

imagine a small dentist drill on for 1 sec at high speed. I will call the dealer on mon as well curious as heck about this

a mystery but maybe not.

 

[Spider5]

Sunroof?

 

[alaskaman]

i think the sunroof was closed does it have an auto adjustment that would sound like that?

 

[Spider5]

i think the sunroof was closed does it have an auto adjustment that would sound like that?

No, only when open, but the sunroof deflector does make the sound your describing at about the same speed range indicated.

 

[Hank]

I believe that when you set the AC to AUTO mode, the system automatically switches between FRESH and RECIRC mode as it seems fit or if the cabin air is getting stagnant. That's probably the noise you've been hearing. I never use the AUTO mode so I can't confirm this for sure, but I've see other cars w/auto climate control do this. My cousin's Lexus SC430 does this and I find it a bit annoying. I normally set the temp and manually control the fan speed, I don't like the fans going full blast when I start driving nor would I like the HVAC system to go to FRESH mode as I'm driving behind a big rig or a gross polluter.

 

[alaskaman]

the a/c change from recirc to open makes sense though when I do that action manually it does not make the sound...

 

[4runner norm]

Alaskaman, The SE has an Electronic Modulated Suspension Height Control. There is a compressor located on the drivers side toward the back. My info comes from Alldata online. Norm

 

[alaskaman]

Thanks.......

 

[BC4Runner]

Alaskaman, The SE has an Electronic Modulated Suspension Height Control. There is a compressor located on the drivers side toward the back. My info comes from Alldata online. Norm

Electronic Suspension is an available option but not standard on the SE. This could be however be the source of the sound if you have the option.

 

[4runner norm]

Looking at the Toyota Web Site the X-REAS Sport enhancement Suspension is standard for 2007.

 

[alaskaman]

then I take it that the small compressor you referred to in the cabin could have been the source of that sound...by the way that XREAS suspension is simply the best I have ever experienced. truly an asset on any terrain. that might make sense also as the road I was on was a levee road from Sacramento to Antioch. If you have ever been on one you know that they dip and and are uneven within one lane.