3rd Gen Poll: Rear End Noise howling when feathering throttle

Speaks the truth...

 

Hehe....well, my rearend is full. Just trying to understand the numbers from the manual but certainly agree that there’s no way I’m going to squeeze in more fluid that it will take

 

Built 01/17 I have 33k miles and it started around 500. Progressively it' gotten louder and louder. Just dropped it off at the dealer for the 2nd time.. 2017 Highlander in the meantime

 

I just dropped mine off for the second time due to the howl, too. Case manager called me up last week and had already told my dealer it was coming back in ha She had me talk directly to the shop manager this time.

Shop manager told me he had expected a fix from Toyota in December of 2017. He almost sounded frustrated that it didn’t happen. He didn’t specify what the fix in the works is/was though.

This time they are actually checking the diff fluid level and are opening a case with the engineers. I don’t expect anything, but am glad the fluid will be checked. I wouldn’t have brought it back so soon, but the case manager already had it lined up.

Mine started at mile 20 and I’m now at 950 ish.

I’m jealous you got a loaner! I get the shuttle haha Hopefully we both will get some updates soon.

 

Dude you need to tell your dealer you need a rental to get home, and too work. That is below standards if they are not offering yuou a car.. this is all covered under the 36,000 mile factory warranty. Speak up man, I told them I needed a truck and the highander wasn't going to cut it. They gave me a 2017 sr5 base model, it' diff did not howl. I brought this up that mine has to be broken and they gave me the run around that the trd has a different axle in which it does and could be the underlying problem. Who knows

 

Agreed, they may not always give you a truck as a replacement but they have to give a loaner if its extended repair. Some dealerships try to take advantage of people by skimming on what they are supposed to do. If you ask, they'll give a loaner.

 

The thing is I drop my rig off the night before the appointment by choice. Plus, I have a 1st I still enjoy driving. I’m sure if I spoke up I’d get a loaner, but I need the dealer on my side. When/If Toyota comes out with a fix for the howl I want to be on good terms with this place. It’s just a few minutes down from my place, too. Quick lil shuttle ride.

This second time they said they replaced the rear diff fluid just to make sure there wasn’t in pieces of metal or anything. They said it looked good. They again stated the howl is normal per Toyota, but a fix is in the works. Makes me laugh, but it is what it is. I’m just trying to enjoy my ride and avoid the 61-53 range.

 

That's great they did that. My service department refused everything did not check fluid did not put ears on it or anything of the like. They confirmed it turned it over to Toyota field rep he confirmed it then quarantined it from any additional work and sent me packing. Corporate just said it's being labeled as normal and threw a platinum warranty on it which is worth nothing in my opinion seeing as I could barely get them to put the LCA plugs in. That took 5 trips and a master tech... I told the tech that I just wanted to buy the plugs outright before they put them in for me. I am really jealous of the people who have had some form of support.

 

Before I bought my 16 I test drove a new 17 & 18. Both new trucks had the rear end whine from 50-60 mph. Especially on de-accel. My 16 does it from 50 to 65 when cruising & de-accel. I'm going to wait it out until a definitive fix is out.

 

So after looking...

Does anyone know of after market stock gear ratio ring and pinions for sale?

Seems like the only support is for 4.88s.

I mean if I am going to try and fix this howl I’m definitely not putting more Toyota gears in there.

 

Just saw this posted on Facebook

 

Only for the double cab?! Access cab howls too! I guess one thing at a time.

 

Good work! Sounds like a possible resonance fix.

 

Wonder which rear is the BD22, crazy that the rear springs are the culprit.

 

It is. That's why Saturday afternoon driveway mechanics should maybe listen to the guys who design this stuff.

 

Nice. I’ll have to contact my dealer for an appt!


The Toyota master mechanics at my dealer diagnosed the sound as a bad pinion bearing before replacing the diff.

Weird that they can put the truck up on a lift and cause spring resonance.

I think this fix is just masking a bigger issue but if it quiets the sound I don’t really care as long as nothing fails.

 

Not for the 2018’s?? I guess it would be a bad idea to recall every model all at once ha Baby steps, but at least they have acknowledge it!

 

This TSB, T-SB-0013-18 Whine Noise From Rear of Vehicle, dated Feb 2018 makes me wonder just how much Toyota actually test vehicles before production.
As a one waiting for a 2018 build date, I'm happy to see progress and I'm hoping this is the final be all get all fix.

Cheers

 

This only affects a very small percentage of vehicles. Sure, the problem seems enormous on this forum but there is a big difference between this forum and real life. My truck was the only one sold by my local dealership with this problem. They sell around 400 a year. Lucky me lol.

 

So they didn't tell you it was normal?