What the heck is this noise?

[Footofgod]

This comes back every winter when it gets below 30. The noise comes from my dash behind or above the gauge cluster. It lasts for about 2 or 3 minutes then goes away. It does not seem to affect anything, but it is damn annoying! If the car is warmed up it doesn't happen only happens a few minutes after I start driving.

 

[SV_Dude]

Does the volume or pitch of the noise change with your speed? Also, when that noise is present, is your speedo working smoothly? My first instinct would be to check out your speedo cable and speedometer. Maybe throw some graphite lube in there and see if the noise goes away or dies down. I am only guessing that at first because it's really the only major moving part in that area.

 

[Footofgod]

Does the volume or pitch of the noise change with your speed? Also, when that noise is present, is your speedo working smoothly? My first instinct would be to check out your speedo cable and speedometer. Maybe throw some graphite lube in there and see if the noise goes away or dies down. I am only guessing that at first because it's really the only major moving part in that area.

I does change pitch with speed and does stop if I stop. It doesn't seem to effect speedo reading though.

 

[SV_Dude]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that because of the speedo cable being stiffer due to the cold, it rubs or vibrates on something, possibly the housing of the cable, causing the noise. Once it heats up enough it creates some flexibility and the noise stops. Just a guess though.

 

[tundrayetti]

Bingo! I've had this exact problem a couple of times recently. Only happens around 25 degrees or below. It's definitely our mechanical speedo cable. I haven't done anything to mine yet.

And yes, you're right, F-ing ANNOYING!

 

[mikebontoft]

oh my god thats annoying.

 

[77'911]

Well, if it is anything like our truck, the speedo cable is shot. Luckily, at least they still stock, or make a cable that fits your truck. I had to upgrade our speedo head as well as the cable install.
That noise drove us crazy as well. The new cable is about $90 from Toyota. Becareful though, if the end by the cluster has vibated too much over time, it can damage the head.
regards

 

[Hyde802]

Another vote for the spedo cable. Mine does it when its below 0, Usually does it for 5 -10 miles till it warms up. Haha.

 

[mikebontoft]

And I was expecting a tiny little noise that I get depending on road speed right up in the dash when it's cold. I even bought speedo cable lube.

And then I found out I have a digital speedo.

 

[KidVermicious]

Just for reference, my wife's cat hates that sound.

 

[Footofgod]

Well, if it is anything like our truck, the speedo cable is shot. Luckily, at least they still stock, or make a cable that fits your truck. I had to upgrade our speedo head as well as the cable install.
That noise drove us crazy as well. The new cable is about $90 from Toyota. Becareful though, if the end by the cluster has vibated too much over time, it can damage the head.
regards

Not ready to say that anything is shot yet. It only pops it's ugly head in the winter and only for a few minutes at a time.

 

[tundrayetti]

Not ready to say that anything is shot yet. It only pops it's ugly head in the winter and only for a few minutes at a time.

Agreed. I can deal with it once in a while. Worse case scenario, it goes out and I don't have a speedometer until I fix it.

 

[77'911]

noise by cluster...

Not ready to say that anything is shot yet. It only pops it's ugly head in the winter and only for a few minutes at a time.

That is the way ours started out. The noise got worse, and it happened more and more. Lubing the cable was a complete failure, actually made it worse(cable cleaned, lubed 3M moly/M1 syn red grease). Its not the cable per say that goes bad, it's the outside casing, just wears away inside.
regards

 

[OCMike]

Speedo cable. Mine does the same thing every once in a while. Not so bad lately though. Just needs to be lubed