Tacoma Interior click is driving me NUTS

First, allow me to thank the community here for its passion. I have always had the good fortune of finding so much help on here, and I must thank you as I come to you all for your help once again.

I have a creak coming from the passenger dash and/or footwell area in my brand new Tacoma, and its driving me absolutely bonkers. I can’t seem to find or fix it, and I have tried literally everything that has been tried on tacomaworld when it comes to rattles/clicks/creaks. Can you fellow Tacoma owners let me know what you think the possible source of this creak is because I have no idea what to do next.

Big thanks to the original posters in the following threads, especially the first two, and all those who replied. You have all already taken the time to do these intensive write-ups, and so I want you to know I have tried literally everything that was advised from the following threads:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tapping-noise-from-passenger-dash-speaker-solved.422339/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-rattle-and-vibration-noise-resolved.462969/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/windshield-creaking-rattling.523625/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/anyone-with-noisy-dash-interior-trim.445949/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/passenger-dash-rattle.454554/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/passenger-side-rattling-noise-3rd-gen.495646/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rattling-noise-in-driver-side-dash-help.528920/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trdor-dash-rattle.520313/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-interior-sounds-like-an-xj.573605/


- already checked out with no problem: A-pillar, speaker cover, auto-headlight sensor, tweeter, glovebox, passenger footwell trim, passenger kick plate trim, passenger lower airbag, passenger soft tex upper dash portion and centre trim, passenger mirror trim, passenger window switch. So then I know its not the following problems: creaking between a-pillar and speaker trim where the tabs meet, creaking between speaker cover and windshield, clickiness coming from the crappy factory adhesive foam that runs along the edge of the a-pillar trim in colder weather, tweeter cones rattling, tweeter bolts loose, crappy window switches, etc..

- I tried the newer part number speaker cover with the more robust tab, it did not solve the problem

- the vehicle still creaks with two layers of 3/4” backer rod/foam cylinder stuffed as far as she’ll go between the windshield where it meets the front edge of the upper dash, running from dead centre all the way to the passenger mirror (complete right hand side of dash)

- I ordered 5 rolls of

$7 Tesa 51608 Tesa Wire Loom Harness Tape Used By Mercedes BMW VW Audi

Tesa 51608 fabric wire looming tape and literally wrapped every loose wire, harness, and conduit I could find underneath the dash and passenger area

- anywhere two pieces of plastic dash trim come together I put a piece of tesa looming tape, on both mating surfaces just to be sure

- went over every accessible fastener (most are 10mm) behind the dash to ensure none were loose, I have full complement of socket extensions for hard to reach places etc..

- inspected fan motor and harnesses butting up to it, nothing is loose or creaking

- its not the fan motor air duct servo motor engaging or disengaging, that is a different sound than what I’m experiencing

- I tried running defrost and interior on maximum heat, full blast for 30 mins to warm up the guts of the dash did absolutely nothing to reduce the creaking.

- inspected windshield, front cowl, and all conduits coming from engine bay through firewall, nothing is loose or creaking. Pushing/pressing on the windshield, cowl, or any conduit produces no noise.

- passenger footwell harnesses: these were actually very noisy as many suggested but I literally mummified everything in Tesa looming tape, took apart every accessible push-pin fastened harness and lined the sheet metal receptacle, as well as the harness, in tape. Whatever I can touch with my hands down there has been isolated in tape and makes absolutely no noise any longer

- passenger seat: is secured in place, seatback not rattling. Many people’s interior woes are because when you move the passenger seat, you need to really whack the seat into position or its latch stays half engaged and then rattles. I have eliminated this as a possibility.

- side mirror: triangular trim where mirror meets door was removed, push-pin fastener secured with looming tape

- passenger door window switch was removed completely. Itself it does rattle and I secured it with looming tape, but again the vehicle still creaks with the switches completely removed from the vehicle

- yellow harness underneath dash top airbag has been secured and no longer rattles

- cigarette-box shaped black box underneath dash top airbag does not rattle in its mount, secured with looming tape anyway

- passenger footwell carpet pulled up, body mount bolt accessible from inside was checked for tightness (but did not have a mechanic look at the body mount itself from outside the vehicle)

- problem does not exist when its dead of summer and everything is hot hot hot, but I can’t be sure since I’ve only owned it for one year

- problem is more pronounced when weather is colder and vehicle is cold started

- passenger seatbelt is secured and not loose, passenger buckle receptable is not ratting against center console

- noise is not coming from headliner (cmon Toyota, my headliner rattles too but I know where that comes from and how to fix it. I’m just saying that’s a different sound completely (a clicky rattle vs the creak i’m experiencing)

Important:

- the creak does not happen by going over large speedbumps or huge hits! Rather it only happens when I’m going over smaller bumps or un-even roads. I may be getting too technical but it seems there is a resonant frequency range that sets this creak off, like a certain range of vibration that makes it happen. If for example I take a speedbump at 15mph, the truck is silent as a bat. But if I’m going down a basic gravel road or if I drive over a sewer grate than’s sunk a little bit, I hear the creak.

- creak can also happen when I load or unload the driveline. So for example, in 4th gear at 40 mph I press the throttle (I have a 6MT), I’ll hear the creak as the driveline loads up, and then when I release the throttle, the creak happens again as the driveline unloads.

I have tried everything I could think of short of bringing it to the dealership.

I thank you all and I submit my frustration to your expertise since I absolutely, for the life of me, cannot figure out how to make this hellish creak stop.

Thanks everyone for your time and help.




TL;DR - new taco creaks like crazy, its driving me nuts. Love my taco to bits but will actually sell it if it will sound like this always

 

Have you crawled underneath and checked the exhaust heat shields?

 

I have had the creak as well and start using adhesive felt thought the trim pieces. Did you check the trim piece that's on the side of the glove box between the door? Part of my rattle was coming from there.

 

I will do that and report back, and thank you.

 

Thanks kindly. Yes I removed all of those pieces but you can't see it in the video, so it can't be the source of the problem. When I put everything back together, I will be tesa taping everything where it touches so I never have to deal with dash problems again!

 

I have same issues with my 2020 sport tech package.Believe me bro in that sense, I’m so pissed with Toyota. Paid $43K for a tuck to get these annoying sounds right off the bat. Honestly- I upgraded my system- speakers amp and sub to drown out my problem.

My wife has a 20 Rav premium around $34+K and I notice small rattles . I think we just have to live with it. Unfortunately- I think if I wanted 100% quit interiors- would need to get full blown luxury car.

Good luck bro- you aren’t alone .

 

Try using a mechanic's stethoscope
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mechanic-s-stethoscope-0250017p.html

Have someone drive while you probe around. It will help you pin point that sound.

Would drive me over the edge as well

 

This is exactly why I just bought an Audi. My Tacoma was disappointing in this area and many many others. I really think at this point Toyota is resting on their laurels and allowing their name to speak Instead of the actual quality of their products.

 

TLDR

 

I tore majority of my interior out and sound deadened it and i can mention a few of the creaks i have noticed over the time i have had my truck

The passenger seat when someone is not sitting on it vibrates... I have leather and when it was vibrating at certain speeds it would rub/creak on the centerconsole.

Another one was the windows and the rubber for the windows in the cold weather would make some noise. Also check the door rubber.

There is a spot at the bottom of the windshield in the corner close to corner of hood some rubber and cowl overlap. Well it wasn't overlapping properly and was vibrating on windshield.

When i pulled my door panels off and i was knocking on them for deadening vibrations that some of them rattled in the plastic welds for the panel

Do you have cross bars installed on top of truck? Check to see if bolts going into top of roof are tight

Good luck on finding the creak

* Another one was the bezel around the radio was making noise in the cold weather as well

 

TL;DR - new taco creaks like crazy, its driving me nuts, tried to fix it, can't fix it myself, check the video. Love my taco to bits but will actually sell it if it will sound like this always

 

Thank you because now I have options to pursue. WIll check out these stethoscopes and hopefull zero in on my nemesis.

 

I feel similarly! Thanks for your reply.

 

My M3 creaked. Turn your radio up. Works like a champ. No time or money out of pocket

 

Thanks kindly friend for your response. I will read this slowly and make my homework list to check, along with the stethoscope suggestion and heat shield recommendations from other posters. Your insight here is valuable since you've done what I'm doing with all this trim removal.

- passenger seat rub - I felt taped all contact points but I haven't ruled out other shenanigans around the seat belt receptacle and under bitsetc

- my driver window rattles when its 1 or 2" open (cmon Toyota) but that's a different sound that what I'm hearing

Can you tell me more about the cowl overlap and what you saw and did there please?

 

I didn't read the last part of your initial post but maybe check the cab mounts... Years ago my 06 tacoma was missing a cab mount completely from the factory... If they are not torqued properly or installed incorrectly the rubber may be making noise as your frame flexes or you load up your drivetrain.

 

Thanks friend. I know what you mean but its like having your dog barking when you're trying to be intimate. I need to hear all the little sounds my 6mt gearbox and noisy rear end that makes the tranny sound like a rally-car straight cut gearbox, the wind, and induction (got my new trd intake too) that my truck makes cause driving is 'me' time if you know what I mean.

Also if had an m3 you bet I'd want everything silent to hear that sweet sweet induction sound esp if its an s54, they're amazing motors

Lastly I've tried to drown my sorrows in beautiful music but this creak is loud and will punctuate any music poorly like a drummer who can't hit the snare right

 

This is something I suspected and will have a certified tech look at. I can see the nut of the interior-side fastener of the body mount but I can't see the sleeve or the frame side nut, or the bolt itself. Hopefully it is this because I will literally have to tear into the deep dash of this truck if its not the bodymount or heat shield.

 

I removed that piece as well, truck still makes the creak.

 

That is bizarre, sounds like a metal joint creaking.