Unexplainable, Undiagnoseable, Unlocateable Flapping/Gringing Sound

Not sure if you resolved this but I’m willing to bet your tires are rubbing the wheel well liners. My truck does something similar. Every now and then if I’m turning just slightly and hit a big dip, it will rub and make the sound you described.

 

Its a nanny.

The TC system engagement in these trucks (tundras/Tacoma’s) feel like no other vehicle I have driven. The first time it happened in my tundra I was taking an on ramp pretty fast and I thought my tires ripped apart my wheel well(just put on larger tires) I pulled over and everything was fine. Did it again in the future and noticed the vsc light flash.

Just did it the other day in my new tacoma. (This is embarrassing but oh well...)I went to bump the driver front tire over a curb to squeeze in an end parking spot and didn’t give it enough gas or something but the truck rolled back a couple inches and made this god awful sound like someone was taking a recipricating saw(sawzall) to my wheel well. Did it a second time just to see if I could get it to do it again, and it did...

It is a loud vibrating/flapping sound.

I also get it all the time in my tundra off-roading if I forget to turn that crap off.

 

Nope. The few times it happened really briefly with me, there was no indication on the cluster.

 

I don't remember seeing anything light up on my dash either.

 

The sawzall analogy is spot ON. I'm about 90% convinced its the ABS now... hell I'm hoping it is! More than anything else now, I want to thank everybody that has chimed in on this issue. I knew this forum was the place to get some damn good info. I'll keep everyone posted...

 

Hmmmmm, with the lift on the truck, it may be messing with the sensitivity of the ABS. Just like large, heavy tires affect the speedo.

 

Excellent point, but in my original post I mentioned it did it twice before I lifted my truck when it was still bone stock...

 

Is this the noise? https://youtu.be/off35GJdbGA

 

Sounds like it!!?? How did you reproduce it? Do you feel it under the floor board below your, and through the pedals?

 

Perhaps a vsc recalibration is in order I know you said it did it stock. This may correct some of it just an idea. It ties in with the abs I believe. The dealer can do it also there is a write up how to do it yourself but that’s for a 2nd gen not sure about the 3rd gens.

 

Was just looking for info on traction control settings from inside the truck and that popped up in a search. Not my truck nor my video...

 

I want to thank you for finally tracking down the actual cause of my noise/ issue. This is exactly what mine sounds like! I can't figure out why I am unable to PM him on YouTube but for some reason I can't. I left a comment hoping he will reply. Would love to know how he was able to recreate the sound on demand, and, what he found out about the cause? Thanks again!

 

Hey Solmimi. Did you ever figure this out? I too had a similar sound you described but looks like you are saying it's the sound in the video which to me is different. To me it is something felt in the pedal which I have until this time always attributed to braking and the ABS system. It is unlike the video though since he is at a standstill. I too get it occasionally with dips going into driveways with speed, also have 2 wd, and usually when stepping on brake at the same time. Usually I thought it was only taking right turns but noticed yesterday was also on a left. Almost feels like bottoming out and intermittent rubbing of brakes or something. I was just reading through your thread though to rule out other options. I was also thinking the weight of the larger tires/wheels and overall added weight of all the goodies on my truck could also be putting additional strain on my braking thus causing this phenomenon.

 

Volksparts, what you describe is EXACTLY what I was (and still occasionally) hearing and feeling. I'm 99% sure at this point that it's related to the ABS working in conjunction with Traction Control. Still no idea why it happens when it happens, since it doesn't seem to be related to loss of traction but for some reason the system must be sensing that it is. ???

Check out "Slip Indicator Light + Grinding Sound" posted by @Davbie in 3rd Gen Tacomas. Pretty damn sure this is what's happening to us...

 

Yeah I was reading that thread last night. For me I accepted it as a normal for the last year. But I just wanted to see if I was the only one by searching here on the threads. I actually even watched some YouTube vids on ABS noise this morning and it also sounded similar. I am also going to be installing some cross drilled rotors with new pads in a couple weeks since I won them in a raffle and was going to just recheck everything else while I was in there. Just for peace of mind.

 

I had something similar from day one in my truck and it ended up being a transfer case replacement after they looked at it for about a week. Just my 2 cents...

 

For @Volksparts and myself, we're both in Prerunners...

 

This is what you need wireless chassis ear listening device, i wonder is orielly or auto zone rents them...or any place that rents automobile tools

https://www.tooltopia.com/steelman-...1FeakIzLTV5QEOoIMHpiotdTFpgZSpcAaAlBSEALw_wcB

 

Halfway through reading your post, I knew we're talking about the EXACT same sound. Unfortunately, for me it remains unresolved as well. It only presents itself once or twice a month, and always when I'm turning OR when going over a certain train tracks that crosses the road at a 45 degree angle, which sends the truck into a combination up/down + back/forth motion. I THINK it happens more often when I'm turning in WET conditions but not sure. Spent an hour with the guys at Main Line Overland who installed my lift, gears, everything, trying to figure it out. We couldn't reproduce it.
What they said was that it was probably just normal ABS kicking in. So I've kind of just accepted that. However, I've heard ABS on other vehicles and I don't think it was as violent as this! So who knows
UPDATE: Um, yeah, I think it's just this! https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/slip-indicator-light-grinding-sound.446288/
Thanks again TacomaWorld.

 

I had this happen to me in my 2nd gen for the first time a few weeks back.

Was flexing on some humps and had the front stuffed pretty good and then it made that sound and vibration.

Honestly scared the crap out of Me!