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If jrct9454's clever little diagnostic trick works, ncdad, a cheap permanent solution would be to obtain several inches of rubber tubing in an inside diameter that provides a snug fit over one of the torsion bars. Split the tubing's wall over its length and then work it over the middle of bottom torsion bar where the two bars are closest such that the tubing's split section faces down (in other words, opposite the top torsion bar). The damping qualities of the rubber should elliminate the maddening resonance of the two bars over repetitive jiggling road surfaces.
Thanks
I'd be hesitant to use the grease - the spray seems like a better idea, but my first thought was that whenever you press against the window, you're also applying pressure against the door. My experience is that the door seals on a lot of cars are the source of these kinds of noises as the body flexes slightly in motion. Maybe not in your case, but it's the first thing I thought of when reading this.....
I first became aware of this issue at least 10 years ago, when our MB C220 developed noises over bumps [especially speed bumps, but any significant surface problem would set it off] - after nearly driving myself and the dealer nuts, I tried this solution. Has worked since on a couple of Honda Accords, and now yours....
Even the stiffest body flexes ever so slightly around the door jambs on bumps - the seals have to be able to move with it, or you get noises - that often seem like they're coming from something or somewhere else!
I just purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry Se with 24,379 miles on it about 1.5 months ago. About 3 weeks after I had the car I started experiencing rattling in the passenger side dashboard. The noise now is more distinct. It sounds like someone is hitting the bottom of my windshield with a coin. The noise has become more frequent when driving at a faster speed and when I put the heat on. It's the strangest thing. Anyone experiencing the noise I described.
Make sure you test it at cold temperature. Most rattles would show-up due to cold weather stiffer suppension, harder tires and open gap between plastics.
To my surprise i found if I pulled up on this and left it like that the noise would stop, but if I pushed the trim back down into the normally installed position the rattle would return.
I have yet to take the trim all the way off to see if there is a connector or something that is loose but it definately feels loose on that end when I lifted it (it lifted real easy as the trim on the other door is snug).
Maybe this is the culprit? I now trouble shoot my own noise problems after a bad experience with the dealer a while back and I find I am usually able to fix noise and rattle issues much better than the dealer without breaking things.
(Case and point, I went to my dealer and they broke my interior door panel once on another camry I had when they were trying to cushion it to rectify a rattling problem, they ended up having to replace the panel which was marked at 1048.00$ at "their" list price!)
Let me know if this helps or not.
Happy rattle hunting.
PS. If anyone is considering a new 2007 Camry (I have 2005 Camry SE V6) because of rattling issues, after personnally test driving the new V6 Camry 2007 I can tell you that I really appreciate my Camry so much more than a new model, the new one just seems plain crappy, and now I don't feel all that bad that mine has the occassional squeak, afterall it still rides quieter than a Nissan Maxima
"#12 of 646 I have owned 7 Toyotas from 1987 to today by rubicon52 Oct 11, 2002 (3:22 pm)
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and have concluded the following:
1. Current Toyotas are NOT built like Toyotas in the past. I believe this is intentional on Toyota's part. They want to keep the lid on prices and remain cost competitive with other makes. I think Toyota believes that most buyers are willing to give up a little build quality to save money. Toyota is probably right.
2. Toyota would never admit it, but they probably can't achieve the same quality in their North American factories that they can in their Japanese factories. If there was a reduction in quality how would it show up? During assembly resulting in squeaks and rattles. I don't think it's a coincidence that Lexus are all still made in Japan.
3. Although your Toyota has some strange noises, the powertrain is rugged and will probably remain trouble free for a long time. My repair costs over the years have averaged about $25 per year per vehicle. That is getting pretty close to perfection. While you're being annoyed with strange noises, owners of other makes are having transmission failures, blown head gaskets, etc.
4. If you want the great build quality that Toyota used to have, one solution is to buy a Lexus. This is a viable alternative for something like a Camry. Pay $5k more and get a Lexus ES300. Unfortunately, many Toyotas such as Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Celica, etc. do not have a Lexus equivalent. With a Lexus you will get the great build quality of past Toyotas and bulletproof mechanicals"
I found this in one of the beginning threads in the Camry forum. I wanted to bring this up again because I've owned a brand new 97 Camry and I had the exact same problems as is being mentioned above.
Camrys which are not built in Japan have quality problems with fit and finish. And the materials that Toyota uses to build the cars here in the U.S. are cheaper materials than the materials that are used in Japan.
Toyota please build better cars! The cars that you build here in the U.S. are junk and they have quality problems.
My 1995 Lexus LS400 developed a couple of rattles which drove me nuts. I tried everything but never could find the sources... just got used to them, finally bought my 07 Camry... hopefully it will be a quiet one.
A buddy of mine had a BMW 750iL which developed a rattle they could not fix.
It goes to show that no make is immune to these.
And, ever since I got my 02 camry, my steering wheel squeaks. I would go in to get my oil change and mention the consistent squeak. They would add some seal, it would fix the problem for a couple thousand miles, and would reappear again.
Other than those 2 things, I really enjoyed my car.
I am disappointed in you. You have had tons of Camry rattle issues over the last several years and it seems many of them remain unresolved, yet you go out and buy another Toyota product. I don't quite understand the loyalty.
The Camry for all its rattles, ticks and vibrations has held up mechanically well. I had hopedthe new gen RAV would have a better rattle rep...time will tell.
As far as the Camry, the only major rattle, not controlled most of the time is the door seal / window molding clicking. Yes, the radio bezel comes now and then. Yes the cowl make some noise now and then. Yes I have to keep a little stuffed animal wedged in between the window and speaker grill in the front of the car in the winter to ward off that vibration...at least most of these are controllable...a pain but controllable.
We did consider a Hyunda (bad gas mileage) and a Forester (too small), I liked the CRV but my better half wanted the RAV......
Let me get this correct... you have no idea what the rattling noise is either, so you don't know if this might be something serious or not; am I correct?
So until you know what this problem is, do you think you should be commenting on how "unbelievable" our request was? You are not the one who has to drive it or listen to it!
We put our comments on the site to help inform others about the troubles we had with Toyota and how little the arbitration board helped. If you have something constructive to offer please feel free to respond, otherwise keep your condescending comments to yourself.
Maybe sometimes folks don't word things as politely as possible, but I think the point that it's not very likely anyone will receive a new car because of rattles is reality, as ugly as that feels.
I completely understand your frustration. Everyone who puts a pile of money into a new car wants it to be perfect, and I don't blame you at all for that, I'm the same way. I've got some rattles in my car lately that are as annoying as hell.
The unfortunate reality is that not all cars are perfect and the manufacturers do not feel beholden to replace an imperfect car for problems such as rattles.
I really think that's all the poster was trying to say.
All of that said, I'm very sorry that you were not able to obtain any satisfaction at all.
No, I am not a Toyota Rep. I have never worked in the automotive industry and have been in a similar situation with rattles as many on this board.
BUT, what I try to do is put myself in the dealers/Corporate shoes if at all possible. EVERY car I have ever owned from Corollas to Passats have had some rattle or noise that drove me CRAZY. I always return to the dealer and ask them to drive the car and find the rattle AND fix the rattle. MOST of the time the dealer comes back with with "cannot duplicate problem/noise". If the car still has warranty mileage left I drive the car and hope the rattle gets worse so the dealer will be able to eventually hear the noise. I am always persistant and ask for help from the service manager.
On my current 2004.5 Passat, I had a rattle in my dash since the first day I owned the car. It took 3 visits to the dealer, them removing my dash until the rattle was found. It ended up being a clip in the dash that was broken.
But, at no point, even if they could never find the rattle, did I expect a new car because of a rattle in the dash. Could you imagine the expense that manufacturers would incur if every customer that had an undetectable rattle received a new car. That's just not practical.
As far as it being a safety issue, I would think it would be very easy for the dealer to determine if the rattle was a safety issue or just a "rattle".
Unfortunately, you did not like my comment and therefore thought my post was not constructive. My apologies! But sometime the truth is hard to swallow.
Good luck with your Camry!!! :confuse:
2005 Avalon - 18 different rattles including ball bearings rolling around below the floor!
Enough to put you in a lunatic asylum.
1. Front passenger seat - insulate internal wiring harness.
2. Rear seat when not fully-reclined - secure seat adjustment mechanism.
3. Driver's side door pillar - panel clips not properly installed.
4. Rear right "C" panel - loose, secure and insulate.
5. Rear window parcel shelf - unsecured wiring below shelf.
6. Rear right welding in trunk below rear windshield.
7. Moonroof when open - adjust moonroof.
8. Moonroof wind deflector - install rubber "stops".
9. Area around roof console/map lights - remove roof lining and insulate.
10.Rear roof lining tapping against roof - remove lining and insulate.
11.Console - insert insulation between panels.
12.Dashboard area below steering - secure and insert insulation.
13.Driver's side door panel - insert insulation.
14.Rear left passenger door - adjust and tighten Torx screws.
15.Ball bearings below floor - you won't believe what I did.
16.Catalytic converter and exhaust heat shields (3) - bend shields away from contact areas.
Just kidding! Obviously all those rattles were not detected at one time. They appeared throughout the life of the car, correct? My Mom has a 2005 Avalon as well and the only defect my dad found was one of the tail pipe covers was installed crooked. No rattles in theirs.
Other than the rattles, do you like the new Avalons?
This happened over a period of 10 months, and these together with the transmission/hesitation issues, clunky steering and obnoxious sulphur smell added up to the Avalon being deposited on a used car lot before its first birthday.
Glad to be rid of it!!!
If I have to live with my window cracked a bit I guess I will, but what about in the rainy season? HA! All in all I LOVE my new Camry LE - it's my third ('91,'00, and now '06) It's a sexy looking car. FRIENDLY-looking!!! The new Camry looks a little scary to me - evil-looking grill, and too 'bunchy' in the body. By the time I'm ready for another new one, I'm sure they will have changed a couple more times.
This board is great!!!!