[Cptnslo]

Remember that Toyota doesn't build every single component on the vehicle. They contract another reputable company to build large components for them. Toyota doesn't make wheels as an example, they buy them from another company. Likewise for things like transmission and transfer case. I haven't crawled under the car to look for any stamping or casting marks, but I would suspect that the drive line components are built by Aisan-Warner. Even the best of companies have a glitch in manufacturing once in awhile.

You said you saw this issue in ravs? That would be interesting because there’s another Toyota master Tech on YouTube, who said looking at the rear differential it looks very similar to the units that were used on the RAV4

 

[ijuswannaride]

You said you saw this issue in ravs? That would be interesting because there’s another Toyota master Tech on YouTube, who said looking at the rear differential it looks very similar to the units that were used on the RAV4

That's true, but the rear diff was not the source of the noise.

 

[Cptnslo]

That's true, but the rear diff was not the source of the noise.

What was it

 

[ijuswannaride]

What was it

It was the transfer case. Similarly, multiple years of 4runner had the same type of cyclic drone from the front differential. I have rethought my position about this noise being from the transfer case, and I'm now thinking it's transmission/front differential, since the output speed to the transfer case is going to be the same regardless of what gear you're in, and I think so far everyone including me is only experiencing it in sixth gear. Chassis ears will tell the tail, but the weather sucks here right now and I'm not crawling underneath the car in this crap weather to put chassis ears on driveline components. In both of those other previous examples, there was no imminent failure, just a really annoying noise. I have no reason to believe it's any different here.

 

[centerpunch]

That's actually a great idea! Very quick and easy to do and would quickly confirm or deny. I personally don't think that's it, but it would be super quick easy. Now you're thinking like a technician. 😉

Did you ever disconnect the exhaust valve to test this?

 

[ijuswannaride]

I did not.

 

[Brendan]

I was able to notice the vibration in 6th around 63ish MPH. I could hear and feel it in the steering wheel at that speed but have yet to take it on the highway since reading this post. It's faintly noticeable but it's there.

 

[Sparkko]

I've been trying my hardest to get mine to exhibit this behavior and it won't. So I guess it's most cars, but not all? No drone or vibration at any speed from 0-100mph.

 

[Cptnslo]

I've been trying my hardest to get mine to exhibit this behavior and it won't. So I guess it's most cars, but not all? No drone or vibration at any speed from 0-100mph.

I have the same issue that someone else mentioned. 6th gear at 3200ish rpm. Right about 79-81mph

 

[ijuswannaride]

It seems like the most common set of circumstances for this issue is 6th gear only, steady cruise, light throttle, somewhere between 75 and 85 mph, although it seems more prevalent in the 76 to 80mph range, not there on hard accel, goes away immediately on decel. I'm probably going to schedule my car into the dealer sometime soon to have it addressed.

 

[ScoobtotheNoog]

I've been trying my hardest to get mine to exhibit this behavior and it won't. So I guess it's most cars, but not all? No drone or vibration at any speed from 0-100mph.

It's pretty subtle man.

 

[ijuswannaride]

It's pretty subtle man.

Not in mine. I can ignore lots of noises, but it's bad enough in mine that I just can't stand to drive it in that speed range.

 

[Cptnslo]

Not in mine. I can ignore lots of noises, but it's bad enough in mine that I just can't stand to drive it in that speed range.

I’m meeting up with the service manager tomorrow to take him for a drive and show him the noise

 

[ijuswannaride]

I’m meeting up with the service manager tomorrow to take him for a drive and show him the noise

Are you able to produce the noise pretty reliably in yours? I know I can in mine.

 

[Cptnslo]

Are you able to produce the noise pretty reliably in yours? I know I can in mine.

Yeah the post above made it pretty easy. The 3200rpm and 79-82mph

 

[ijuswannaride]

Mine is definitely at its worst at 77 to 78. Or perhaps I just don't spend much time driving faster than that on the highway. It's 65 mph speed limit around here.

 

[Schumacher]

Mine has done this ever since I picked it up as well.

 

[Sparkko]

My car just started exhibiting this behavior for the first time today at almost 3000 miles on the dot. It's the worst at 79mph, but just like everyone else you can hear it from 77-82mph. Anyone brought this up at the dealer yet? I will in May when I have to go in for my first complimentary oil change.

 

[ijuswannaride]

I got a phone call from a Field Technical Specialist at Toyota a couple days ago looking for more information about this issue. We had a great conversation. He believes they have a GRC at the region currently, but doesn't know who's currently in possession of it. He's going to try to lay hands on that car and get a little seat time with it to see if it does the same thing. I also mentioned a couple of little software glitches to him, being the speed link door lock function and tire pressure display on the dash. He asked me if I could get him some more details on those items, so I've spent the last day or two trying to pin down a little closer when these things do or don't happen, especially the tire pressure display. I've been playing with it for the last day and a half, and planned on contacting him back today with the additional information that I had. His plan is to try and lay hands on the regions demo GRC and drive it to my dealer on a day that I can be there so that we can compare the two cars and look at these problems together.

 

[Cptnslo]

My service manager came with me and confirmed the noise. He’s filled a situation report with Toyota and was waiting to hear back before he lets me know what they’re going to do