Whistling/Rattling Noise While Driving

[jordan_tm]

I've been noticing for quite some time now that when I hit 50mph and above I can hear a faint whistling/rattling sound. It sounds like it is coming from the region of the driver side vent/steering column/left part of windshield.

I opened the hood and cleaned out a small amount of leaf debris that had fallen in under the hood but nothing else seems abnormal. Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I was going to take it to my local dealer but after a horrendous experience with Toyotacare I honestly don't have much confidence in what they could/would do.

 

[bleaches]

It looks like you have the same whistling mirror problem a couple of us had. There is a TSB number one one of the TSB boards for US guys. I was the first in Canada apparently to have that issue so they just replaced my whole driver and passenger side mirror and now its gone.

 

[E-ROCKER]

Check the rubber/plastic flaps in the wheel well that keeps debris out of the engine. It is buttoned to the frame using plastic plugs. At speed mine rattles and whistles. Took me a while to figure out it was coming from there. You can test it by removing it and going for a drive.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I've been noticing for quite some time now that when I hit 50mph and above I can hear a faint whistling/rattling sound. It sounds like it is coming from the region of the driver side vent/steering column/left part of windshield.

I opened the hood and cleaned out a small amount of leaf debris that had fallen in under the hood but nothing else seems abnormal. Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I was going to take it to my local dealer but after a horrendous experience with Toyotacare I honestly don't have much confidence in what they could/would do.

Yep, I've got that slight whistling too. I don't know what the TSB is though.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/110839-5th-gen-maintenance-documentation-reference.html

Look for TSB info, couple of lines down in the first post. Probably won't matter anyways, since Toyota gives you up to 36,000 miles to get it fixed, any higher mileage and the TSB is no longer honored.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

Thanks for the post. I didn't see anything referencing the whistling, but I learned some other stuff.

 

[pedalpower]

I've got the same problem. I can start hearing it around 30mph. The last time I brought it in they claimed they couldn't hear it. My noise is more rattling then whistling (TSB 0022-14), so I guess I'll check out the plastic flaps.

 

[4FL]

I need to check mine as well.

Mine has 4000 miles, always garaged, never off road, nothing. One day all of a sudden some whistling/screeching/squealing sound come from outside on the driver's side. But it is very intermittent, so impossible to bring to the dealer to see unless we all decide to go on a road trip.

It has a sound like a bearing squealing if you all heard that before. I checked the wheels and all normal temp, but again, it rarely happens but it does happen, and just now showed up. It is not loud, about as loud as someone's brakes squealing when they need replaced. It is constant, even when slowing down, but never has happened below 45mph or so, and never lasts for longer than a long 10 seconds. Also, it seems to happen when only braking and accelerating, not just cruising.

I have not touched anything, not the AC settings, nothing, just the temp control is it.

I guess I will just look around and see if something came loose or something.

 

[MikeinCincy]

I definitely have the whistling sound as well. Although, it sounds a bit more like a whining supercharger. Could this be the same sound? Almost sounds like a high pitched whistle to deter deer/animals along the road. Who knows.:hello:

 

[jordan_tm]

Mine sounds like a screw is loose or something along those lines. It rattles more than it whistles.

I had a 2006 Tacoma that had almost an identical sound and it was coming from the dash above the gauges. There were a couple of screws that had jiggled loose so I tightened them and never had the problem again.

On my 4Runner it's as if it's coming through the vent or in the steering column. Like some others and myself have stated, issues like this are usually useless to present to a dealer unless they want to ride 50 miles with you.

I'm almost due for my 25,000 mile Toyotacare so I may mention it then just to see what they say.

 

[WODWorldWide]

I posted the TSB back a few months ago. I actually had it fixed then and it still whistles so obviously they didn't do that great of a job. Anyway, I also have a slight rattle up by my upper left speaker on the dash. It does get annoying but that's what the radio is for.

 

[jordan_tm]

That's what I normally do is just crank up the radio. I've learned by now that pretty much every vehicle will develop a tick or creak sooner or later. The inevitability of plastic!

 

[Stimulant]

There is a whistling that comes from the side mirrors. Both of mine do it.

 

[DWToyota]

I was at the dealer today. It appears the 2015s have a different mirror, there is a bump on the inside of it that I assume is to help change the airflow and reduce the whistling.

Has anybody tried getting a 2015 mirror to replace a 2014 under warranty?

Edit: Nevermind I didn't realize my 2014 has the same bump too.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I think there are three bumps in it, but I swear I can hear that whistling. I can't tell if it's coming form the mirror though. And it's only like certain speeds or accelerations. I haven't completely figured it out yet.

 

[Mistaken]

I fixed mine completely by adding a TRD CAI and a Flowmaster muffler. Noise is gone! :roll:

 

[SeahawksNate]

I fixed mine completely by adding a TRD CAI and a Flowmaster muffler. Noise is gone! :roll:

Haha, that's funny! I just bought a 2012 Limited, and the whistling that starts around 60-70 is driving me nuts on these high speed Texas freeways. Between a few different threads, I've heard it's either the windshield seal or the side mirror, but it is only on the drivers side. Is there a general consensus on where I should start? Thanks for your help!