Very small rattle problem

[Wai]

Hi all,
I'm having a little rattle problem in my 03 4Runner that I hope some of you could help me out. The rattle is really slight, sounds like a coin is in the side pocket or something, but of course all pockers are empty. It is definitely coming from the driver's area but I really can't find what is making the sound.

Does anyone have similar problem? If I take it into the dealership, would they be able to diagnose it?

 

[jharris2]

Noises can be very hard to find, so be persistent. Also, be aware that they can telegraph -- we had one that took 2 weeks of heard work to find, because it sounded like the dashboard and turned out to be the sunroof.

Demonstrate the noise to the service manager and let them work on it. Be sure before you take it in that you empty out all of your stuff so that there are not extraneous noises to deal with (sometimes my tools cause a squeaking noise that can be confused with the truck squeaking).

 

[Wai]

Thanks for the tips John.

It's funny that the noise is not suspension related. Sometimes it goes thru bumps or on highway it would be all quiet but then when I cruise smoothly at 30mph (local speed) the rattle noise appears.

 

[Wai]

Sorry I'm very new to this board so I didn't get a chance to browse thru the whole forum yet. I found this thread in another section:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1058

Hopefully it would fix my problem!

 

[sammy]

Dropping my 03 ltd off Friday for the same rattle on the drivers side...I'll let you know what they find......

 

[Wai]

Sorry I'm very new to this board so I didn't get a chance to browse thru the whole forum yet. I found this thread in another section:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1058

Hopefully it would fix my problem!

BINGO!!

I shimmed up the sliding rods on the sides of the sunroof with a small piece of foam and the rattling noise coming from the dash magically went away!

I would have NEVER thought of the noise is related to the sunroof. Great info!

 

[sammy]

Dropped the 4runner off Friday. Had a bug shield put on (looks cool), and checked for rattles.
They told me there was muliple rattles and i would have to drop it off wed for a full day of rattle stopping!! Just have to keep cranking the tunes up for a few more days!

 

[Wai]

Dropped the 4runner off Friday. Had a bug shield put on (looks cool), and checked for rattles.
They told me there was muliple rattles and i would have to drop it off wed for a full day of rattle stopping!! Just have to keep cranking the tunes up for a few more days!

Sorry to hear that....
Make sure you let them be aware of the sliding rods on the sides of the sunroof.

Good luck!