A 2010 Tacoma Mystery

So there is finally a resolution to a very annoying problem that I was having with my truck, but before I tell you what that solution was, I figured I would give you all a chance to take a crack at it.

So about the time I was finally getting some relief from the sound of a second blower motor going out, a new sound started. I could hear it in the cab, and it was just about the same noise level as the blower motor squeak/click, but was more of a click than that. I heard it almost exclusively on the free way, and much more so when I was next to a divider, with the sound bouncing back. It was louder when I opened the window. 55mph seemed to be the worst, and it got louder when I was turning to the right, and quieter when I was turning to the left.

So I took it into the dealership. First they said they didn't hear it, then they said they thought it might be my racks or canopy, and that I should try and figure it out myself. It got worse. I took it back and the acknowledged the problem and got to work.

They couldn't figure it out. It didn't make noise when it was running on the lift, and they had trouble diagnosing where it was coming from, even with using "electronic ears" that they said they positioned in different points under the car and then drove with. After a while, they decided it was probably the wheel bearing and so they replaced it. No luck. After a lot more head scratching, and still being unable to come to a definite conclusion, they decided that there was reasonable evidence to replace the front axle. No luck. So at this point all of the dealer techs were stuck.

They initiated some sort of request for help from Toyota engineers, and some regional guy came out to help. Same thing; he couldn't figure it out. They took apart the entire drivetrain--so they say--and saw nothing wrong. Reassembled it, and still no luck.

This was under warranty of course, so I wasn't paying for any of it. But the $1000's worth of services seem to be adding up, with no results. They didn't seem to be able to find any similar cases from which to go off of.

Anyone want to take a guess as to what it was?

 

A rock stuck in the tire treads?

 

Wheel well liner flapping in the wind?

 

Over in eastern Colorado I saw a red tacoma driving down the interstate and the entire rear section of the pass side rear fender was flapping in the wind, I felt horrible about seeing dudes truck try to rip itself apart, I tried blinking my lights at them to get them to stop but I guess they didn't see me.

You don't drive a red Taco do you?

 

X2

 

Loose center cap?

 

Tire? I bet you just got a new set

 

cut to the chase already lol

 

X2

but I stand by " screw in the tire "

or chunk of ice inside the tire

 

Okay, stop being a troll and tell us.

 

Wheel bearing.....

 

tire itself

 

The window.

 

spiral cable?

 

Gremlins

 

Mudflap

 

Definitely not the sounds of key clicks as the op types out the conclusion to this dark tale.

 

a midget attached himself to your frame and decided to play drums?

 

ac compressor

 

The black seal strip on the top of your roof.