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

Do you have auto or manual tranny ?

 

Seems like a fairly expensive gamble. Also do not want to pay good money for the added noise. If I want to hear a beastly motor I will go start up my Pontiac 400cid.

 

Automatic

 

Did not gamble I like the sound got it at half price and killed two birds with one stone
And now we have a start point to resolve the buzzing/vibration

 

Yes gone no buzzing or vibration completely fixed didn't intend to fix it but it did none the less

 

Not usually a sound method of troubleshooting to throw parts at problems without a root cause diagnosis. In your case it may have worked and maybe a coincidence for you. Have talked with folks who have some experience in the field and may have some inside info who claim it is likely a driveline angle issue. So not really buying the exhaust fix theory just yet. Glad it worked for you however.

 

Well the buzzing noise I had was harmonic not rotating I was told it was normal with the 3.5 and I called bull shit the tech that drove my truck when I complained said he could not understand why it went away with a better exhaust but would pass along this information hopefully they (Toyota) will figure this out soon like the shift T-SB there is a fix it just has to be found
I did not buy the exhaust hoping for it to fix the buzzing just luck like you said but I'm thankful I don't have to deal with it on a brand new truck all manufacturers use us the general public to sort out small imperfections in new products so they can get them to market asap some time they get lucky with the new to the Tacoma drive train it's biting them in the rump a bit but I have faith that when they do find the root of the issues they will fix them as needed

 

I think the problem for most of us is a vibration FEEL in the steering wheel and gas pedal. Not a buzzing sound.

 

Yes I had the vibration in the wheel also and the buzzing in the floor board now it's gone if it was an exhaust thing or drive train it's gone

 

Glad you resolved it !
FYI ,
I thought he was nuts when the service manager from my dealership
actually told me it was exhaust harmonic's I was feeling.
He had recommended a K & N air filter, or preferably CAI ,and a cat back exhaust.
I've only replaced the filter so far , have been waiting to pull the trigger on a cat back.


When the factory can't/won't fix something that bother's the crap out of us, and you don't have
a buddy in Joe Gibbs Racing garage,,
trial and error is NOT considered throwing parts,
generally it's our only path to a solution.

Mine and many others still buzz, your's doesn't.
Atta-Boy !!

 

Yeah it's called push back on the manufacturer until they develop a solution. People who go cowboy to fix a significant design issue are actually part of the problem. This is why the manufacturer gets lazy. You're setting a precedent by accepting a substandard product and being complacent. If everyone who had it raised hell with dealers and corporate, toyota would be forced to make it a priority. Just like the transmission TSB which so far appears to be a step in the right direction from Toyota thanks in most part to the people who pissed, moaned and made cases with corporate.

 

Yeah I will continue to raise issues with corporate. I documented it with corporate well before I got a new catback. It is like pulling teeth though to get these dealers or toyota to acknowledge they feel the same blatant thing.

Toyota corporate uses the "oh I strongly suggest you go wait at a dealership and have a professional look at it so they can diagnose the issue"

So I wait and wait, take time off work to go sit at the dealership to finally have a tech ride with me and say "feels perfectly normal to me" "the what is that buzzing type of vibration in the steering wheel when you're on the straightaway at 2100 RPM (M/T makes it easy to stay in the range intentionally). The response from the professional toyota corporate told me to go see? You're lugging your engine at 2100-2500 rpm if you're going up a slight incline. That's what I waited hours for.

I fixed mostly everything on my old truck. At least spending a day or two doing it was productive rather than sitting at a dealership twiddling my thumbs on my day off with no resolution in sight.

"Dude, it's a new truck, it only has 5k miles on it, everything is still breaking in" when I told them about the window seals, diff howl, rumbling vibration coming to a stop etc. Yeah things are on their way to breaking, but not breaking in.

Ok I'm ranting again, back on topic.

After more time with the Borla exhaust it didn't fix the vibration, exhaust sounds better but didn't fix the vibration. Floorboard vibration might have gotten a little worse under slightly higher (~3k rpm). Final assessment.

I wanted to keep this truck for 10,15,20 years. If Toyota doesn't start addressing issues I'll take the loss and switch out a few years down the line. I make sure I give a very honest review to anyone that asks if they should buy the new tacoma.

 

So in summary the exhaust didn't fix your problem?

 

It did not, but one thing to note is that the Borla catback is very similar in dimensions and weight compared to stock. The Flowmaster one has higher exit volume and mounts differently. It could come down to a resonance issue. The magnaflow exhaust which others have claimed significantly reduce their vibrations use a larger diameter exit pipe.

Still a possibility but I'm not trying again until I have a whole group of people saying the Flowmaster eliminated it.

The fact that my floor buzzes like crazy when a loud car or motorcycle goes by me though still has me believe it is a cabin resonance frequency being excited which in turns propagates through the floorboard, gas pedals, dash, seat, steering wheel, etc. Basically anything that directly bolts to the body.

But who knows, I feel it on a bunch of them, even new ones I have driven on the lot. It seems to be inherent to the design or a massive run of defective/misinstalled parts

 

I agree with this, my magnaflow didn't solve it but I think it creates a placebo. I focus more on the sound of the exhaust rather than the buzzing in the gas pedal and steering wheel, hence why I don't notice it as much. I do think it changed the feeling of the vibration but definitely didn't eliminate it.

I also noticed the same thing when a loud motorcycle drives by I feel the same vibration through the steering wheel and floorboard at a dead stop which leads me to believe it's all sound related.

 

My thoughts exactly on the placebo and distraction factor

 

Do SR5s have the power steering cooler?

 

I am so frustrated with this. My vibration is now really loud. I drive a manual and it's EVERY GEAR BETWEEN 1800-2500 rpm. I can literally re-create the vibration myself everytime. If I have the music going I don't notice it but when I don't, it's so annoying. Mine sounds like it's coming from the dash and it's very audible now. 16,000 kms on my truck and it's getting frustrating like no tomorrow.

 

LMAO,,, now compliant customers are part of the problem ???

I've registered my complaint, Toyota knows.

Not living my life in bitch mode.

 

Check your dictionary. I used the word COMPLACENT not compliant... Yes complacency is an issue.