Driver Side Window Rattle & Fix (From Speaker Bass) - Fixed With Foam Insulation

[bkw777]

bkw777,

From the video I couldn't see the foam under the "bracket" either.

The tech says in the video that it was installed under the bracket inside the door panel that ran near the window track. I don't think the "window track" is unsupported, it just happens to be very close the bolts and bracket. Re "touching": maybe the end of the bolts were close enough to the window rail/ track to cause the vibration (?). Possibly, the foam gave the bolts just enough cushion to stops the bolts from vibrating. It would only occur when I had the volume at 35-40 with heavy bass. Even though they don't touch sound waves can do strange things at certain frequencies. These speculations are simply a guess by me.

I can only report that I have had no issues with the bass rattle since the repair was done (almost a month ago). Others have said they have used the video at the dealership, had the repair done, and it has also resolved the problem.

C/G

Ok so it sounds like maybe it's all solid supported parts but some things are just very close to each other. They don't touch, but if the whole shell of the door body is vibrating from the speaker, some close parts can touch. Though this video still does not quite explain what or where. But I guess if you just look in that area presumably you'd find it.

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[C/G]

Ok so it sounds like maybe it's all solid supported parts but some things are just very close to each other. They don't touch, but if the whole shell of the door body is vibrating from the speaker, some close parts can touch. Though this video still does not quite explain what or where. But I guess if you just look in that area presumably you'd find it.

That sounds about right. The tech doesn't go into a ton of detail, although his hypothesis regarding bolts being close to the window rail sounded reasonable to me. I also considered the tech thinking 'why does this customer want me to video and explain this job'. He did the best he could, which IMO was pretty good.

 

[amfox]

Hey all! First post but I solved this issue tonight. I’ve had my 4Runner for 4 days now and I couldn’t take it any longer. As mentioned, the window track rattles on bumps and with some song with more bass. I was able to wedge some dense packing foam between the track and where it mounts to the inside door skin and it fixed it. While I had the door panel off, I put sound deadening on the outer skin and inner skin too. This helped with the sounds quality of the speaker. I plan to do all the doors with the deadening material tomorrow. I didn’t take any photos but was surprised to see how many people also had this issue. Very poor mount design for the window track from such an incredible engineering company.

 

[EZink]

Any chance you’d care to do a write up on how to take the panels off. I too cannot take the rattle noise but too nervous to pry the door panel off without the fear of braking a clip

 

[FoozGrind]

Have the dealer do it! Last time I removed the door panel on my 16 4Runner it cost like $750 to repair it

 

[bkw777]

Have the dealer do it! Last time I removed the door panel on my 16 4Runner it cost like $750 to repair it

That isn't a bad recommendation in general, but I just installed the trail grid pro alpine speaker kit and I can say it's pretty easy to take apart the door panels. Maybe not if going in blind, but they have a youtube video and that makes it painless.

Except one thing, in the video when it gets to the last part where you go to actually remove the big panel, he just effortlessly plucks it off. Mine required prying with a panel pry tool. The snaps took quite a bit of force to pop out. Quick forceful jerks works best. But it did pop off otherwise just like shown. Point being, no strange tricks, not too much opportunity to break much.

Probably the biggest unsuspected land mine is the screw behind the handle is screwed into some plastic that's about as soft as butter, and it strips effortlessly when you're putting it back in. The other 2 screws no problem.

 

[Strife21]

Did you apply this fix to both doors. If I sit in passenger seat the same rattle is apparent on that door too. You just cant here it sitting in the drivers seat.

 

[DHermit]

I watched the video and still don't see the foam. Did they unscrew the bolts, add a piece of foam acting like a foam washer, and then re-tighten the bolts and that solved it? Or was the foam added somewhere else? I really want to get this done at the dealership, I am not confident enough to remove the door panel without breaking anything.

 

[Strife21]

I just had this done today. Dealership tech didnt think it would work but he did it and he was like wow. I now hear rattles elsewhere but thank god it’s not right near my ear. I had it done to both doors. Thanks so much.

 

[C/G]

I just had this done today. Dealership tech didnt think it would work but he did it and he was like wow. I now hear rattles elsewhere but thank god it’s not right near my ear. I had it done to both doors. Thanks so much.

Happy to hear this helped. It's been 2 months and I'm still buzz free.

 

[C/G]

I watched the video and still don't see the foam. Did they unscrew the bolts, add a piece of foam acting like a foam washer, and then re-tighten the bolts and that solved it? Or was the foam added somewhere else? I really want to get this done at the dealership, I am not confident enough to remove the door panel without breaking anything.

DHermit - I couldn't see it either. It appears to be under the bracket (attached by the two bolts) inside the door panel. As the tech describes - that bracket is close enough to the window run/ channel to cause the vibration when the volume is up. The insulation (foam) under the bracket cushions it enough to stop the sound wave that creates the rattle/ buzzing sound at the top left of the driver window. Whatever he did fixed the problem. You are probably correct that he used the foam along with the washers to solve the problem.

As Strife21 mentioned in their post; take it to your dealer, show them the video, play a song that demonstrates the rattle, and they should fix it. It's under warranty. If you're a DIY'r it might be a bit more challenging so taking off the door panel might not be a good idea. As I mentioned in another post it's been a couple of months for me with zero problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[DHermit]

My 4runner just had this done as shown in the video at the start of this thread and their tech sent me a video basically showing the exact same thing except I can't upload it here. It says it's too large but my dealership did this for free and changed some vehicle settings for me as well. Thank you for the help!!

 

[FlaFlaFloFly]

Currently at the 2nd dealership for this issue. It’s been driving me insane that I’ve resorted to audio books..
This dealer is trying to tell me this is complete normal due to the JBL speakers and the “best solution” is to put me in another 4Runner, to hear that this is a normal situation…
I’ve found the best songs to demonstrate have been “Come Together” and “Seven Nation Army”

 

[DHermit]

Currently at the 2nd dealership for this issue. It’s been driving me insane that I’ve resorted to audio books..
This dealer is trying to tell me this is complete normal due to the JBL speakers and the “best solution” is to put me in another 4Runner, to hear that this is a normal situation…
I’ve found the best songs to demonstrate have been “Come Together” and “Seven Nation Army”

Show them the video from this thread. I showed my dealer and they said ok no problem and did it for free and even sent me a video showing it complete. If that video wasn't too large to upload, I'd share it here.

 

[FlaFlaFloFly]

Show them the video from this thread. I showed my dealer and they said ok no problem and did it for free and even sent me a video showing it complete. If that video wasn't too large to upload, I'd share it here.

Oh, I showed them the video alright… 2 dealers saw it. I screen recorded it and then texted it to them. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal for them to just do it. I suppose I could, I just don’t have foam or know what to even use.

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