pwanghk

Greetings:

I don't know if I am crazy and start hearing things. Lately, I just discover some weird noise from the dashboard and the windshield. Effectively, whenever I drive over a bumpy road either at hi speed (40~50mph) or real slow 10~20mph, there are some noise coming apparently from the dashboard (passenger side) and the windshield. The clicking sound is like a little rock hitting the windshield but not as aloud. The noise seem to be more pronounced and louder at low speed though. I try to shake the dashboard and couldn't reproduce the same sound. Does anyone experience something alike either with your 03 or 04 4Runner?
My assumption is either the insulation loosen up between the windshield and the dashboard or it doesn't fasten tightly.

Advance thanks for your feedback.

Sucellus

Well I don't have a 4th gen but never being one to overlook the obvious...Maybe something bouncing around in the glove box?

Pretacopower

I agree with Sucellus....
When I first got my truck I noticed this really annoying rattling/clinking sound coming from my dashboard just to the right of the steering wheel. After days of frustration from not being able to find the problem, I come to find out that it was just my keys hitting up against the dash.
I think the moral of the story is pretty "obvious"....get it?....obvious?...get it?
Wow...I need some sleep. :pat:

Vato Loco

I'm sorry but that is funny.

pwanghk

Thanks, I will looki into Obvious things and will keep you update. I am pretty sure that I haven't had anything in the glove compartment or the key banging to the dashboard. The noise just come up lately though.

GATORSR1

Does it sound like a leaf caught in the wiper or hood? Kind of like a buzzing sound? Or when you put the baseball card in your spokes? I've heard something lately, but I'm not sure what it is!

FirstToy

I heard a light clicking or tapping sound from the dash and wondered if something was loose. It sounded like it was coming from inside the dash somewhere.

Well, I keep some grocery store cards and stuff in the little flip out storage under the HVAC controls. The plastic cards were just moving back and forth or side to side.

Sac State

Both

pwanghk

I took everything out from the glove compartment, there is only the ignition key (no remote or other key in the key chain and there isn't a key chain either) in the steering column. The 4 Runner is still making this cracking / clicking noise in normal driiving when the truck run over a little bump. I think I have to let the dealer find this out.

Thank you all for your input.

fr03

This is going to sound crazy, but it's the sunroof. I had the same noise coming from my truck, and after doing some research I found that many people were experiecing the same noises. I finally took advice from a previous post and put some spacers on the bars in the sunroof tracks and presto my noise is gone! This cost me $1 and five minutes work. check some other posts and forums and I'm sure you will find this is the case. Btw, my noise was alot worse when it got extremely cold around here (MA). Hope this helps fr03

4x4Lamm

Try taking the fuses for the heater, fan(interior) and ac out. If it goes away you probably have something in the fans for your heat and ac )leaf, dead bug) go from that.

pwanghk

fr03: thanks for the suggestion. Will you be able to show a picture of where your spacer is? I may try that if I know where to put them.

4x4Lamm: I will find out when driving home today.

pwanghk

I finally took my 04 4Runner to the dealer for a whole bunch of little problem. Here is an update for the problem #1 posted here sometime ago.

1. Noise from dashboard & windshield
2. Roof rack cover comes off.
3. Rear windshield wiper doesn't funtion properly. It wipes only from it tip and not the entire blade.

Anyway, the technician told me that after pulling off the glove compartment and put it back in. The noise is no longer there. Effectively, I test drive it and couldn't hear that noise anymore. I'll see how long it will stay like that.

Thank you all for your feedback and help.

BigJohn

hehe your first sound ah lol ahh i remember when i first got mine, i have 3 small sounds now nothing that bothers me too bad to freak out

pwanghk

He he he, the noise do bother me when the car has only several thousand miles on it and when I pay over $30,000 for it. For some reason, I like the quietness inside the cabin where people can talk whithout shouting. After 3 years when the car is out of warranty, then I will have to live with it. I get use to my Merced E300 series. There isn't no noise what so ever even when I cruise at 120~130mph when I was back in Europe. I think I will get a Lexus next time to be able to compare with Merced. My 99 Camry is also pretty good so far, I hit 70,000 miles and no noise inside the cabin at all. Hey, it's just me. I will have to buy ear plug and pretend that it's just my imagination. lol

pwanghk

It seems that some member complaint about my double posting for #4.
Please note, my post in this thread is related to problem #1 only and a summary of problems to justify a visit to the dealer. I thought that someone might be interested in why I did bring my 04 truck into servicing. Anyway, to avoid any confusion, I will delete problem #4 in this thread. Sorry for any inconvenient this may cause.

Good Times

Good to hear that the problem was fixed by the dealer

Personally speaking, since this is a truck (body on frame) instead of the Unibody stuff, regardless of how expensive it is, we will hear stuff. You just can't expect the truck to drive, feel, sound, look like a car. That's a physical impossibility. The auto mfg's do try to do their best at attempting to make a SUV that drives and feel like a car though... (check out those crossover vehicles...) but I must say they are doing a pretty good job at getting closer though.

Just think and look back when the first 4runner came out. I"m sure that thing made a crap load of sound inside (since it was still literally a truck!). and I bet it wasn't cheap either.

Anyway, if it starts making more noises, just turn up the radio

BruceTS

My 4Runner is very quiet compared to my other cars... Mazda RX-7 and my Datsun 510 that I need ear plugs in to drive these days...hehe

Good Times

Wow, you never hear / see a Datsun 510 on the road anymore...

pwanghk

Thank you all for your input and help.

I just pretend that it's all in my head and everything should be fine.