Buzzy Vibration at certain RPM's..read before buying!

Yes. Worse in the steering. I managed to make it better under the floorboard/gas pedal area temporarily. I've done enough to satisfy me, I'll call/email about my "case number" and see if they are interested in my observations. I believe this is fixable.

 

I think this bracket may be a problem area as well.

 

Can you make a tutorial as to what you did to make it better?

 

It's pretty simple really.

I looked at three areas today. The heat shields under the driver and passenger side front doors (stamped L & R) I removed completely. Played with magnet weights, but didn't really cut buzzy feel when tapping around, so removed completely for a short test drive. I felt next to nothing on the floor and pedal during that drive.

I added some small amount of magnet weight to the heat shield that runs up the exhaust on the driver side (stamped H). I felt buzzing when I started my truck up through the steering. Abnormal, but a change nonetheless.

Removed magnet weights, put L & R heat shields back on. Another test drive - steering felt like "normal" again. I would say my floor / gas pedal actually feels worse now. Maybe I have the L shield a little tighter or positioned a little different. Who knows. Different again is the point.

Would be good for someone else to try and see what they think. The L shield actually protects some things, so I would do a short test drive if you do it. L & R held on with three 10 mm nuts.

These heat shields may be used in other vehicles (I have no clue) but I still think they need to be more rigid and tied down better. I also question if the exhaust should be isolated better than those brackets near the transmission area. Again, this may be typical - but it seems like a good way to couple these vibrations into areas you don't want.

Even if you don't feel like running these sorts of experiments, just lay under the truck, tap the shields while gently holding them in another area, and see if it feels to you like that chaos buzzing you get in the steering? Does to me.

It may not be the problem in the end, but I'm very suspicious. And if it is the problem, I think the possible fixes are cheap for Toyota. Not like redesigning the full exhaust system, or injection pumps, etc. So yeah, I'm back to optimistic, and will wait to hear if Toyota can address it. If not, I need to dump the truck.

 

This is great work! For rigidity, some type of high heat rino liner spray might add rigidity on one side or at least offset that resonance frequency, I too have notice some similar frequencies at the 1-1.2k range starting......I will be messing with this soon!

One last thought is that if this is more prevalent in the 4x4, is the 4x2 heat shield different?

 

Thanks - I would love to see if someone else can replicate this - or see if I'm crazy.

I do have a 2WD SR5; not sure what the differences would be for the heat shields.

I hesitated to pull the shield "H". It takes a while for things to cool down between each run (and I was doing very short drives), and then I wasn't sure what was under those bolts and washers besides the heat shield, so didn't run that experiment.

The fact that I felt notable differences left me content to stop. If it is the issue, there is no excuse (in my opinion) for this not to be a quick turn fix for Toyota, and I'd be glad to let them handle it.

Even doubling up these shields (stacked like aluminum food trays normally are packaged, LOL) may help.

 

I thought this exact thing.. Buy two and glue them together.

 

If the exhaust shielding is the cause & Toyota will not address the issue here's something that may help:

 

Damn!
Just read all 26 pages of this forum today after realizing the issue with my 2016 TRD Sport Auto is common. Have had the truck now for 3 weeks...1200km put on so far.

When purchased, I had them install 265/70/17 K02 tires with TRD pro rims on my truck, and when I drove it for the first time to the ski hill, I assumed the shaky ride was just a shitty balance job. I was experiencing a shake around 80-90km/hr and 105-110km/hr....never even thought to look at the rpms! I took it in and received great service. They admitted the balance was out, test drove it, re-balanced all 4 tires and said it was back to perfect. Just this weekend we drove out to the mountains again (lots of elevation gain)...and again the shake was there, just a bit harder to notice this time. But time when the truck throttled, I also felt a pulse type feel. Like others, it drove me nuts! When I lay my hand on top of the steering wheel, I can watch my fingers vibrate. i can also see my passenger seat shake at times.

I have the truck booked in again a few weeks from now and have no idea how I will have them seriously attempt a solution. This is my 5th Tacoma, and first time I've ever had a ride not perfectly smooth.

Call me a nanny or what you will....if they can not solve this, I think I will sell the truck. Bullshit having a $45,000 CAD truck and not having something as simple as a smooth ride!

 

Same here, had the KO2's rebalanced and one tire was out of line. The tire shop replaced it at no cost. The shake got a lot better but they is still has a little shimmy at low RPM's regardless of the speed.

 

Just had mine at the dealer for window tint included during purchase. Had them look at the delay when shifting into drive when cold, told them to check trans fluid level. They called back saying it was indeed a little over 1qt low. Doubt it will fix the delay but I wanted it checked..

Also had them look into the vibration. No fix but they "opened a case"...

I don't really see Toyota fixing this.. Time will tell, until then I'm going to experiment with the heat shields..

 

I spoke with Customer Care again regarding my case number on this issue and this time around, they finally acknowledged that other customers have been calling in about this. They carefully worded it as "Toyota is keeping on eye on this and aware of the issue." A much different reply than when I called in December and January and was told they've never heard of this. In the end though, still received the same monitor the TSB site, work with the dealer, etc. as far as way forward.

 

I think you are on to something! I removed the "L" heat shield, and the one smaller one slightly above it and drove it. The vibration in the wheel was almost gone but the pedal vibration was still there BUT at an earlier RPM range (1500-2000). It felt much different..not necessarily better but different... Then i parked it and hard-headedly tried to remove the other side, after a few burns I decided to come inside and just wait until tomorrow to put them back on..

I think it might be worth removing all of the heat shields and seeing what it does.. then maybe coating them...that will take all day though!

Hopefully Toyota admits this and fixes it, it may be as simple as just installing thicker gauge heat shields..a relatively cheap fix for them.

 

^^^^^
I sure hope you guys are onto something with this heat shield thing....I would love it if there was a relatively 'easy' fix and I could just keep the truck.....

I'm hoping that the delay in Toyota responding to my safety complaint (supposed to be within 30 days and now at 40 days with no response....) is because they may have a solution. Fingers crossed.

 

Just read all 26 pages. Whew. Throwing out another data point to chew on.

I just noticing this tingly vibration in the gas pedal, can feel it in the floor too. One thing nobody has mentioned yet and I'm wondering if it's just me. It's about 3 weeks old now with 750 miles - and now my exhaust drones. Between 1900-2300 rpms, it is pretty loud. Loud enough to make listening to talk radio difficult with the volume up a 1/4 way. I got a spectrum analyzer for my phone at it peaks hard at 100Hz. Anyway, I only feel the vibes when the exhaust is droning. By 2500rpms all exhaust drone and vibes are gone and it's smooth as butter.

I'm gonna have to inspect the heat shields this weekend, but that's a great find. Hope it's as simple as that. Going to the dealer this weekend and get the complaint ball rolling.

 

Yes, I thought of doing a run after removing ALL of them. Just imagine if they all sing together, that could be quite a buzz-vibe fest. Although for my truck, the one that clued me into this was "R" on the passenger side. That one really responds to external vibrations like what I feel @ 2k.

So did you remove "H"? I thought that would be the steering problem, because adding the weight there for me made my steering more prominent @ 1-1.2k.

Looking forward to any other results you get! I will try a couple more experiments. I do wonder if those brackets (like the one between L & H) that hard tie the exhaust need to have some sort of rubber mount for isolation as well. I plan on having my wife hold the steering and I'll do some tapping on the exhaust to try and diagnose if that is part of the issue. With our weird schedule, I won't be able to get to it until the weekend...

Thanks for trying this!

 

I removed one labeled " A" it's about 6x6 inches.. Almost a triangle and it's directly adjacent to the long "L" one under the driver floorboard..

 

What about a rubber grommet as a washer between the heat shields and their mounting surface?

 

A rubber grommet will either melt or catch fire because of the high temps of the converters. One way I use to eliminate converter heat shield buzz/rattle [without removing them] was by wrapping a large stainless steel hose clamp around both shields and tighten up. This is an easy fix that puts pressure on the shields and will eliminate buzz/rattle and also may be a quick diagnosis procedure to eliminate the shields. If anything it may change the buzz/drone/harmonics if it heat shield related.

 

Good call, that was a duh moment for me...LOL