2011 VX 150 Prado Rattles

[MrGeeEss Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MrGeeEss]

We bought a used 2011 VX 150 Prado and the rattles that the car makes are driving me insane.

There are two rattles/noises that I've noticed:

Rattle 1/2:

A video recoding of the rattle is in here. There are a lot of noises in this video, but between if you jump 10 seconds into the video to about 15 seconds in, that 5 seconds recoded is a good example. It sounds like a bird chirping, or a washer spinning freely on a bolt shaft. It's coming from the rear of the car - around the barn door area. It's deceiving because it takes about 10 minutes or so before you can hear it from a cold start.

These are the things I've tried for this rattle so far:
-removed everything that's not bolted down to the car, junk, papers, tools etc - no different
-removed the rear tool kit - no different
-folded the second and third row seats down - no different
-removed the plastic rear tire cover - no different
-removed the tow ball - no different
-removed the rear tire, attachments, camera, everything - when i did this, i could still notice the rattle but it was a little more muffled and less high pitched.
i'm leaning towards suspension and im not skilled enough to play with that setup. My next step will be to take it to Toyota service centre and see if they can figure it out.

rattle 2/2:
This rattle sounds like its coming from behind the glove compartment. A sample of the sound is here. This one just sounds like something flapping around in the front passenger side wheel arch. Maybe mud guards or plastic trim. The noise is noticeable through the whole video here. Unlike my other rattle, if you get up to speed it will start rite away.

These are the things I've tried so far:
-Removed the glove box - no different
-Secured the licence plate to the bull bar - no different
-Checked for plastic trim under the wheel arch - no loose parts that i could find at least

any advice or similar experience stories would be a huge help. thanks

[kizbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close kizbot]

I don't know if I can help with those. Check bash plates are secure. There is also a common dash one that requires removing the plastic moulding that the windscreen wipers mount through. You need to do this from the engine bay after removing wipers and replace the sticky foam under the trim with thicker new stuff. Its the plastic trim rubbing on the windscreen glass (outside) makes the noise.

[MrGeeEss Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MrGeeEss]

I don't know if I can help with those. Check bash plates are secure. There is also a common dash one that requires removing the plastic moulding that the windscreen wipers mount through. You need to do this from the engine bay after removing wipers and replace the sticky foam under the trim with thicker new stuff. Its the plastic trim rubbing on the windscreen glass (outside) makes the noise.

ill try and have a look at that one. cheers

[MrGeeEss Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close MrGeeEss]

Solved!

Both rattles are gone!

Rattle 1 mentioned above, applied a heap of WD40 to the lock, hinges, everything that moves back there really around the rear door. Also tightened up the spare wheel and that sorted that one.

Rattle 2 mentioned above, while the car was at the mechanics getting bushes replaced, he told me as he was swinging tools around down there he noticed that the one of the mud guards was making the exact noise i was hunting. he secured it properly and that rattle is also sorted.

getting nothing but air rushing over the body noises now. hope this post helps someone else down the track. as i was seriously considering getting rid of the car - that's how much these rattles were driving me up the wall. hope anyone facing similar sticks with it. and thanks to kizbot for the reply.

[kizbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close kizbot]

Good work mate. Now you can get a good sleep at night lol

[brett004 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brett004]

I must say that I have just bought a 2010 150 series after owning a 2004 120 series for the last 10 years and the old 120 series that I love still to this day doesnt have a rattle anywhere after 260,000ks. The 150 series has a few I will need to work my way through.