[SOLVED] Howling noise between 35-45

Thank your son @burtop for the diligence in getting to the bottom of this. Good to see Toyota had a hand in it and didn't just throw their hands up. These kinds of problems are tough.

 

Kudos to @TacoBella and @bob1946 to getting to the bottom of the problem.

 

Talk Radio volumes would not cover up the noise for me. Music would at louder volumes. But the howl was predictable and very annoying. Listen to the sound file for the background howl.

https://soundcloud.com/user-737046934/tacoma-440hz-noise

 

I must be tone deaf. All I hear is what sounds like road noise. Maybe too much loud music in my younger days or too much shooting. I do plan on doing your fix though.

 

Don't forget @burtop 's son and the Toyota engineer who solved the issue.

 

I have had the 'kazoo' sound only rarely, but also think I hear excessive road noise (thought it might be the OR tires, though they are relatively mild). When the weather improves will tape up and see if its also the issue.. Think it might be, but at a different sound frequency.

 

Roger that. Kudos to all involved in finding the problem.

 

I am thinking drill a few more holes in the control arm, and install some solenoid actuated butterfly valves with in-dash switching. See who can play the first recognizable tune without getting in an accident.

 

Great work Tom!

 

Without Bob's tireless involvement and organization , it is unlikely we would have a solution so soon. Sooner or later someone would go under the truck looking for a musical instrument.

I didn't do much except a LOT of taping and removing parts and almost gave up when my Dealer claimed Region said it was likely a "driveline issue" and a "normal characteristic of the truck" . I was ready to dump it..... That statement put the 16 Tacoma in a very bad light for me .

I think Bob saw I was frustrated and ready to dump the truck and forwarded to me a single picture of the LCA without saying a thing protecting his sources while getting me on the right track. I taped that baby up completely and the nose was gone. Next it was a process of elimination allowing for drainage and quiet. We still kept this off the forum until Bob and his source thought it was a good fix.

Unless someone at Toyota engineered the elimination of all possible harmonic turbulent frequencies, that had to be the issue. EVERYTHING else was eliminated. A few strips of tape and problem solved, Forwarded to everyone off the forum and our Dealerships Service Operations managers to pass on to Toyota and finally on the forum where others can apply the fix to their howling Tacomas.

 

@TacoBella , I hope toyota takes care of you guys for saving them what could have been A LOT of money in time to research and parts thrown at vehicles to fix it.

 

Actually a Toyota employee DID lead Bob to the part in question but for many reasons he could not share it on the forums so we went offline. The thing is we did not give up. I kept my dealer apprised of every step we took up to and including the fix. Eventually we would have stumbled on it but at least we got some special attention via people who knew people. Not conventional but the result was the same.

Now we will see how Toyota "officially" fixes the issue they claimed was a "normal characteristic of the truck"

I don't want anything from Toyota. Just good service going forward. I will still test drive the new Ridgeline......Very curious about that TRUV,

 

Great work to everyone involved in this fix. Now if you guys can find a fix for the vibration at 2000 to 2300 rpm. This will be a great truck.

 

There is always the upgrade solution http://www.chaosfab.com/images/accessories/86500R/IMG_8416.JPG

...although you'll be trading the background howl with much louder squeaks from the uniball.

 

Thank you Bob 1946 and TacoBella. I placed the tape of the exact holes as depicted and low and behold the noise is now gone. Bob1946 and TacoBella, I appreciate all your patience, persarverance and focus on this solution.

 

Mine does not make the noise. I don't know why but if it starts up now I will know where to look for the solution. Thank you for the research fellas

 

I've been hearing the whistling on and off the past week or two, I'm glad you guys figured this out. It'll be plug or tape time for me soon.

 

It can be quite subtle depending on your hearing and/or OCD. It would not surprise me that you would hear it if someone pointed it out, but not if they didn't. I honestly didn't hear it until it was pointed out, but sure enough it is there. It is also possible that the OR has a bit different airflow patterns under there.

 

My OR only made the noise periodically. It doesn't have the air dam, so one possible difference there.

Haven't heard it since I plugged the holes, but don't have a lot of test miles on the fix either.


Strong cross wind seemed to make it the worst.

 

I think the air dam has something to do with it as well.... with it, it probably makes the wind go different places, without it, it smashes right into those lower suspension components.