sy733

Arggh...just when I thought I had all the rattles (from the sunroof) and squeaks (from the driver's seat track) fixed, a new one has come to my attention. It appears that the center armrest cover is now jiggling a little bit when the truck flexes during turns. This is causing a really annoying rattling. Is anyone else having this problem? It may seem minor, but I like driving in silence with the radio off sometimes so I can think.

I dunno, but for a 40K Toyota truck, I would have expected something a little more solid.

Scott72

I can sympathize. My 03 4runner has a bunch of rattles, some I fixed, some that I need to take to the dealer. Fixed the sunroof rattle myself. Then I had a clunk in the dash, but that was my own fault (feel like a moron). I found that if you don't put your sunglasses in the holder correctly, they sound like a marble in the dash when you brake. Funny part is I could have sworn it was coming from the dash. My hatch or roof back near the hatch rattles when you hit a bump. And my seat moves around corners. My arm rest doesn't make noises as of yet. By I know how you feel when you pay 30-40K for a truck and it has more rattles than the 1995 Chevy Tahoe I traded in for it.

Sac State

Like every Toyota I have ever owned, and every automobile for that matter, I had an annoying rattle develop. Usually, I have found in Toyota's that the rattle usually works itself out after awhile. I have noticed a few rattles, but they have stopped.

The 3rd generation cost 30 grand and no body complained of rattles. I mean, afterall, you are driving a machine that is harnessing an explosion (bomb) to move forward. There will be rattles and bumps in the night at times. It is a mechanical man-made object, it is bound to have some blemishes.

Just turn the radio up, roll down the window and enjoy that you are living in America where you have the choice to drive the 'crappy' $30,000 vehicle with a minor dash rattle.

I don't mean to start a flame, but come on, give the rig a break.

If you think the Runner is having problems, check out Edmunds.com and look up the Honda Pilot, VW T-Reg and the recent 1.2 million Nissan vehicles being recalled because of a faulty engine sensor. Just when Nissan introduced the Titan and Armada to be a domestic fighter.

Scott72

I love my 4th generation. I wouldn't trade it for anything out there at this point. I've driven a 2003 Ford Explorer with 30K on it and the thing is lose in rattely already. My cousins 2003 Jeep Cherokee Limited is still tight, but has the nastiest Tranny clunk. Your right though, we shouldn't make too big of a deal. It is a first year too, and every manufactorer has a few bugs they usually work out within the second year. I aslo have a 1990 Toyota Truck which just hit 177K. Besides a timing chain and a starter (and normal wear and tear items), I haven't spend a time on that truck. I think it'll rot out before it wears out. Mechanically I don't think you can beat a Toyota for longevity, but I can see how certain things can be annoying (especailly the seat).

uwf

Dude,

Rattles are annoying, but like everyone else said, "It happens." When I got mine, I found out that it was part of the last batch of '03 coming to to the southeast. I have not had any rattle or anything wrong. Just give some of that time or go see your friendly neighborhood stealer.

Joseph

EDGE

Good Times

I dunno about you but don't forget that is a truck and not a luxury car The suspension is not as perfect as a luxury car so expect some sounds. Our truck will flex and make squeaks and rattle parts of the truck but that's expected.

Show me a truck that has a solid axle in the rear w/ IFS in the front that doesn't squeak/rattle

These things happen but you figure you're better off with a 4runner than a ford or something else!

sy733

yeah...i see what you guys are saying

i love the 4runner, but i was jes a little more than surprised to have so all these rattles in my 4runner come up in the past month. this was my first big purchase since graduating from college last yr

..don't worry, no love lost btw me and my baby

EDGE

Some of you People are crazy, I don't want a sound coming out of my truck, sure their are small sounds but usually it's dead quiet.

sy733
when I 1st had the truck it made tons of weird noises but the all pretty much vanished

JGage

My center speaker cover rattles...

Ducky

I just copied every single TSB from the 1st gen to the 4th... it took a while...a long while.

its under the info section at http://www.4roc.org but anyways.. when I got to the 2003 it had tons of TSB's for rattles and squeaks / creaks... and also I think a few recalls or at least toyota thinking of recalling on the throttle body...

After all that work... I think im going to take the page down next week and just link NHTSA's website... much easier... I just want to wait a while so I can say my work wasnt a waste...

FirstToy

the only noise that comes from my truck is that rear seat latch and front seat that everyone else seems to have. i will get that fixed but there are no other squeaks or rattles even if I'm off road or not.

Fink

I have a pretty bad one, its something loose in my driver side door. Everytime I had a rock on my DIRT ROAD it rattles, I end up going about 30-40 mph and doin a fishtail into my driveway so all I hear is the skidding of my tires on the dirt...it also serves as a form of entertainment after a hard day

I am a perfectionist when it comes to my car, it may not be a 40k vehicle but it is still MY vehicle

Fink

4Runner2003

After I took mine in to the dealer to fix the sunroof, back seat and front seat, it has been extremely quiet. The only complaint I have is the truck seems to jump when you put a fair amount of pressure ont he brakes to stop. When you are at a stop, the truck wants to jump forward sometimes.

I will have to admit that I really never had any noises in my 98 4Runner, but I would not trade in my 03 4Runner in for anything. I love this truck.

alanh

My 2000 was real quite when I bought it. Then I put a bunch of tools and emergency and recovery gear in the back. Sometimes the tools start rattling around to drive me nuts. If there are any factory installed rattles and squeaks, they're drowned out by all the ones that I installed.

sy733

FYI about the noise from the center armrest. I placed some self adhesive felt along the outer edge, underneath the armrest "lid"...no more noise. cost was 50 cents, took about 5 seconds.

steved

I just took my 03 Sport Edition to the dealer for the first oil change. I mentioned the driver's seat makes and kind of pop noise when you move or turn or sometimes brake. He said that all 4Runner seats do this.
I read in a few posts that people had this same problem and had it fixed. What was the solution? Let me know because this is annoying.

sy733

Steved,

Luckily for me, my driver's seat didn't make a pop noise...it just squeaked whenever i adjusted my position. the tech just greased up the seat tracks, which did the job. i wouldn't take that "all 4runner seats do it"...that's total b.s. I think I read in a posting either here or at www.toyota-4runner.org that some people are getting new seats and/or seat tracks.