Driver Side Ticking Noise

Has anyone experienced having an annoying ticking noise coming from the driver side door? It's not a rattle, but like something fine hitting a piece of metal. I've taken my Tacoma to the dealership four times in the last 3 weeks and each time they've said that the problem is solved. The driver side door handle gasket was replaced, the driver side seat belt pillar was patched with foam pads as well as the door-- the noise is still there. I think it's a bad weld somewhere in the door.

06 Tacoma
V6 DoubleCab
TRD OffRoad

 

Dude, update your profile. Other members from your state or town, if any may come to your aid or be able to better assist you.

If your truck is new with low mileage and the bumper to bumper warranty intact. This is one of your options and definitely what I would do;

Write a letter to your dealer listing your concerns and service history (number of time’s Toyota has failed to solve the problem) and giving them 7 to 14 days to solve the problem failing which you would take your truck to an independent automobile repair shop and have it fixed. All related cost's will be recovered from the dealership and/or Toyota. Make it sound more like a safety concern than an annoyance. (e.g. maybe my side impact beam has come lose or not welded etc. I might fall out and be run over by that rusted Ford that I always see in my rear view mirror. Do your research) Ask the dealer if you should be notifying the government organization that looks into automobile safety issues. Say what if other Taco owners have the same problem and dont know about it??? I think they are called the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The big bells in their tiny heads may just start ringing .

Tell your dealer that your wife and children refuse to travel in the Toyota truck due to safety concerns. If you don’t have a wife, get one . If you don’t have children then get a previously enjoyed wife with children . We at TW have a solution for every freaking problem and membership is free. Let the dealer know that you’ve been in the dog house ever since you bought the TOYOTA and that it’s getting cold out there. Bang your head on a dealership wall (make sure its dry wall) and say, I should have listened to my wife and bought the Nissan Frontier.

Conduct yourself in a professional manner and file all correspondence, receipts and document all conversations and prepare for small claims court. Hand deliver it to the manager of your dealership and have him/her date and initial the copy confirming receipt. Forward a copy to Toyota as well, by fax and by registered mail that you are "very concerned about Toyota’s inability to fix its own vehicles". Try to negotiate a loaner vehicle while your truck is at the dealership failing which let them know you would rent a car while the truck is in the shop and ask them to pick up the cost. There should be hints of law suit in your actions but DON'T say it. This will force them to speed up the repair process without sitting on it for months. However, don’t push your luck on the rental car if you have alternate modes of transpiration.

It appears to me that your entire door panel needs to be taken apart and inspected. It is a time consuming project that your dealer is reluctant to undertake. Our member Jeff has lots of experience with auto body issues. Consider what he has to say. Don’t get mad, get even. If you do any of the above and things work out, you have to buy me a beer at the next Tacoma Convention to be held in the Australian outback . Stay tuned for details. Good Luck

 

Thanks. I wrote a letter to the main service manager at the dealership and he stated that they will be taking it to the body shop for inspection. If that does not solve it, we're going to to the next level. Thanks.

 

Bud, here's a thought. You should try to convince your dealer to switch your door with that of a new truck or current demo of the same color from their inventory since they are unable to fix it. It’s doubtful that they would do that, but it’s worth a try. If you push hard enough, you just might have your way. Iffy, but you never know . Cheers.

 

Does it sound like a bee in a coke can buzzing around? Does it make the sound all the time or is more pronounced when you hit the gas or go over rough roads? My Corrolla had this buzzing sound when I did the above and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I checked the steering wheel, driver door, etc. Finally discovered it was coming from my cruise control switch. The tech took it apart, added some padding inside the switch and it went away.

 

Here's an update on the driver side ticking noise..

The main guy at service took the door panel off (probably saw all that unnecessary foam padding) and still heard the noise. The problem was in the door lock assembly where something was quite loose. Basically, it seems like it was a quality issue during assembly for that particular part. I should get it back tomorrow and will let you know specifically what it was. Thanks for all your help!!

 

sort of off topic, but I questioned the integrity of the assembly of my Taco when I was hearing a funny sound in the cab. I noticed it on accl. and brakeing. It sounded like a bouncing plastic bottle. Weird right. Well after my dealer said there was nothing wrong I took it apon myself to solve the annoyance.

I located the sound comeing from behind the rear pannle in the back seat. Just banged on it. So I pulled it off to find a small vent scoop that was disloged. all I had to do was snap it back in place.

Also, why does the 4.0 engine make a ticking sound under load? I've noticed it with others like mine.

 

its an 06'. It was my main concern when I first picked it up, but the dealership said there wasn't anything wong with it. Had um check it on two diff. occasions.

I think I don't like my dealer.

 

I cant thank you enough. When I get home, I'm heading to the dealership to start puting my size 10.5 in some ass until my truck gets fixed!

 

hello, i bought my taco in march and i get that ticking sound also. can you shoot me that tsb to show my dealer whether my truck falls in that tsb. much appreciated

 

I have an 07 Taco with 1600 mi and have same ticking sound. Can you please send me the TSB as well? TIA.

 

I have the same problem, did you ever get it fixed?

 

wow - this was from 2007, I just realized. I pretty much resigned to the fact that these engines sound like typewriters - no luck in getting the TSB, or dealer to do anything about it. I am now at 69K, sound remains the same. Knock on wood, but other than this annoyance, nothing wrong with the truck...