NHinAK
New member
Yes. And, it's more pronounced when cold. Pulling back on the 4wheel drive lever does quell the noise some, but it always seems to come back.
Strange noise from rear end
- Thread starter Rob_G
- Start date
Yes. And, it's more pronounced when cold. Pulling back on the 4wheel drive lever does quell the noise some, but it always seems to come back.
NHinAK
New member
No. It has the sound of a tire with a flat spot. But, that's not it (unfortunately).
harper7
Senior Member
Might be the TSB....a few on here have had the problem.The fix was remove and replace.
(T-SB-0175-10)Description: TOYOTA: THERE MAY BE A GROWL OR RUMBLE NOISE FROM THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. 210-2011 4RUNNER. *RM
NHinAK
New member
Thanks Harper. I'm assuming it's the same issue that they've had on the Tundras. The temperatures were -10 to 0 this afternoon but it was quiet all the way home. I tried to induce it, but it wouldn't make the noise. Next time it's doing it, I'll take it over to Toyota for a service advisor ride along.
I took a service advisor on a road trip today and he could hear the noise. Back at the shop they were thinking it was tires and said they were 'feathered'. I don't think that's it though... Tonight on the way home it was making the noise and if I shifted into 4HI, it stopped. If I shifted back to 2HI there was a small thump and the noise would start happening again. I did this several times and the behaviour was fairly consistent and the noise was not happening in 4HI.
I really want to get this fixed as it's been annoying me for almost 8 months now. If there's a TSB for this and it also involves the 4R then I will ask them about it tomorrow.
Rob
I went back to the dealership a second time today. According to the service person I was speaking with, they have had no problems with 4Runners and he knows of no TSB for them. He's well aware of the issues with the tundra however. He continued to talk and said he would have to hear the noise before he can do anything. I said we were just on a test drive the other day and he said he heard it. He replied that he heard a tire noise, but not what I'm talking about. We went for another test drive and I could not duplicate the problem of course. I said it can go a few weeks without making noise (or very little) and then sometimes it gets louder for a while. Always worst at 40KPH which is EXACTLY the same as the tundra issue. Then, he says I have lots of warranty left and to not worry about it for now... UGH! I'll have to leave it at the dealership and let them check it for a few days I guess.
Since I'm in Canada, it seems many US TSB which should apply here are actually never distributed here. Even if you show a canadian dealership as US TSB, they will not admit the problem could be the same.
Rob
Keemonrunnin
Member
I'm getting a howling noise with radio volume down and when going 40+ on freeway. I thought it was the tires also. There is a freeway here that has been resurfaced with ash fault and some parts that are still original concrete. I know for sure it is not the tires.On both surfaces I can hear the tires change sound but the howling stayed consistent on both surfaces. Tonight I had my buddy (he's a toyota mechanic) take my rig home with him so he can drive it on the freeway. I will hear what he has to say come tomorrow morning. I will keep you guys posted.
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Keemonrunnin
Member
Try using a small recorder or a cell phone that can record messages and have it handy. When it starts to make that noise again hit record.
The only time I ever noticed anything in the steering wheel is sometimes when I first drive it after it sits for a while it will have a vibration but it goes away after a few miles, but I don't think I have ever noticed any noise. I assume it is just from the oem tires sort of flat spotting.
I actually did that today and am now just downloading the video from my phone. I hope it picked up the noise... It was there, just not as loud as it can get sometimes.
Rob
NHinAK
New member
Got to take the shop Forman for a ride yesterday afternoon and he acknowledged that the noise was there. I showed him that it goes away in 4wheel drive and is only present in 2wheel drive. Unfortunately, the noise wasn't as loud as it had been earlier in the day.
So, Im dropping the truck off Saturday night so they can test drive it Sunday morning since it does it worst when cold. I'm hoping for a new differential so i don't have to hear the noise anymore. I didn't tell them about the TSB, and he mentioned that he hadn't heard of any issues with the 4Runners. We'll see Sunday!
So, Im dropping the truck off Saturday night so they can test drive it Sunday morning since it does it worst when cold. I'm hoping for a new differential so i don't have to hear the noise anymore. I didn't tell them about the TSB, and he mentioned that he hadn't heard of any issues with the 4Runners. We'll see Sunday!
Keemonrunnin
Member
Well after getting my rig back from my buddy, His diagnostics was my tires. He was unable to pin point where the exact noise was coming from. He did hard turns,turns at a higher rate of speed. He said they're not the wheel bearings. He drove it on the highway for about 45min. That should be enough time for him to get a full diagnostic.
conclusion: He stated diffs (front & rear are fine), wheel bearings are fine. yokes are lubed the last time he did my oil change. So I'm just gonna leave it at that and see what happens in the future.
conclusion: He stated diffs (front & rear are fine), wheel bearings are fine. yokes are lubed the last time he did my oil change. So I'm just gonna leave it at that and see what happens in the future.
Keemonrunnin
Member
I was listening to your sound video. replayed it over n over trying to imagine what it could be. sounds like something is out of round (not fully balanced). how about your drive shaft or the yokes? My sisters 4r had a bad drive shaft. it kinda made that noise but very loud and shook everything in her rig. when my buddy got her t4r, he stated wowwwww I can't believe you actually mad it here. He ended up repairing it by changing the drive shaft.
Keemonrunnin
Member
@Rob G. Found this
Diagnosing Drivetrain Noise might help you out.
Diagnosing Drivetrain Noise might help you out.
The noise on mine seems to go away with shifting into 4HI, but the cold weather here keeps freezing my transfer case and I can't even shift into 4HI some of the time. I really want a full time 4WD system so I may look at a 2012 FJ TT manual.
Rob
oh, did you look at the video, is the noise the same as yours?
NHinAK
New member
Just got a call from Toyota. They were able to reproduce it on their rack, and have narrowed it down to the Transfer Case. So, they will be keeping the vehicle for about two weeks until the new case comes in as they would rather me not drive the vehicle with a suspected bad internal bearing.
Sucks, but I'm really, really glad they were able to reproduce the sound. This is the first time I've heard of a Transfer Case going bad.
Sucks, but I'm really, really glad they were able to reproduce the sound. This is the first time I've heard of a Transfer Case going bad.
