Ticking/Rattling coming from steering column/gauge cluster
 

Have any of you guys noticed a ticking, almost vibrating sound coming from the steering column/gauge cluster area when driving on rough roads? It sounds like someone tapping the edge of a coin on a piece of metal. I'm thinking it might be some clips rattling against the metal underneath the dash.

With that said, any of you guys know how one would start to remove the plastic covering the steering column and possibly the gauge cluster?

I just start hearing this at low speeds on bumpy roads. It goes away when I put pressure on the plastic covering located above the pedals / below the gauges. Haven't been able to investigate more since it just started happening.

I'm having a few cabin noises that I'm bringing it to the dealership. The car has 1200 miles. I've had a legacy for 4 year with only one minor noise when its left in the sun. This car feels like its going to be a maraca in a year or two. I have one coming from the drivers side door, one near the passenger dash speaker, and the one that you guys are describing.

I get the odd clunk from the steering column but not ticking. Unless my clunk = your ticking

I had a clicking noise coming from the steering column. And I noticed it went away when I release the lock. When I locked it, it started to make the noise right away. I found out, if I lock it about 95% of the way, then it doesn't make noise. After I left it there for a few days, I locked it all the way and it doesn't make the noise anymore.

Thanks for your input guys, I guess this is just normal, but it is really annoying to hear the tick, tick, tick, tick, when going over a rough patch of road.

This noise just started for me. I've had my car for a year and just hit 9,000 miles

My car was making similar sounds in similar situations awhile back. I guessed the sound was coming from the dash or radio/AC cluster but holding down/manipulating the pieces there didn't really seem to change anything when the sound was present. I finally, by coincidence or luck, noticed that some piece of my mirror assembly was loose (I have the Homelink mirror, BRZ btw). It wasn't the mirror itself, rather the assembly that's attached to the windshield. In any case, I kind of shifted/played with the assembly a little and haven't had a problem since. Might not be the issue for you but hopefully this will be helpful to someone else reading. Good luck!:happy0180:

I had a tick coming from the turn signal stalk. I took it in and got it replaced under warranty after recording a video of the noise on my phone.

The dealership where I bought my 86 recently agreed to look into my annoying dash rattle / ticking sound. After 2 days it was given the all clear and I confirmed that they had at least opened up the cluster. Driving out of the dealership I heard the sound literally as I got onto the first road. I guess they weren’t sure what to listen for, as it’s not always prevalent, only certain roads cause the noise. Anyhow, I suggested that I would record it and also find a road near them where they can recreate the sound to verify. Anyhow, here is my first recording, I found it happens quite intensely on tram track type concrete, going uphill. A friend was filming and I was going under 60kms. The iPhone does make it sound more tinny than normal, but regardless, it’s no longer fun driving this car!

[ame]http://youtu.be/eXj11ZZVuz4[/ame]

I have the same problem: when the turn signal is engaged and you turn the steering wheel in that direction, it clicks roughly every 1/3 of the wheel rotation. It's clearly related somehow to the turn signal stalk return mechanism. Brought the car to the dealer, they dissasembled the steering wheel column and said that visually there are no issues. Now checking with Toyota guarantee officer. Will post what the outcome of the story is.

wow I thought I was the only one, we got the exact same noise, I would assume the dealer wouldn't do anything about it as it's difficult to pin point where from, and I don't want to leave my car there with the dealer for a day or two, might be more harm done to it than goods, really hope someone from Toyota can hear this clip and let us know what is the problem. good job with the video mate, I tried recording the noise with my iPhone but the sound quality is worse than yours.

any update on this? i've had the car for a week and a half and only have 600 miles and i've already got this rattle. i came from a 97 buick that didn't have any rattles at all, so it's surprising that this happened so quickly

Also interested on any information about this. Only happens over moderate to large bumps.

The ticking is not from the gauge cluster. I believe mine is coming from the front speaker grill on the dashboard.

I do have this rattle that came from the center clip that holds the gauge window to the gauge cluster. I drove around with the gauge cluster hood off for a few days and holding the clip down stopped the rattle. I 3m taped all the clips down and taped the seams for a tighter fit. Also foam taped that area while I was at it.
http://i59.tinypic.com/1jsps8.jpg

OK it has been fixed!

I had many rattles, initially the parcel shelf, which was fixed, and re-fixed 2 more times after 6 months each time.

Then the dash which had a strange rattle near the window (probably in the above pic), this was fixed with insulation, then again with more insulation and was gone.

But the car returned with more noise, a metallic type sound in the steering column. I was so angry, I escalated the issue to customer service.

The dealer removed my entire dash again, and I even test drove it without the dash, I have pics and videos LOL! A Toyota Engineer even visited and said it was all by design, no issues!

I was pissed! We could not pinpoint the issue, but it returned with a little less of the metallic rattle.

Today I had the dealer replace a panel near my cluster that was scratched. As I was driving out, I decided to adjust the steering wheel a little higher. I notice that it made a slight difference, but didn't completely fix the problem.

Then, today, as I was adjusting up and down, I think I accidentally accelerated and the break through. The bloody steering wheel also comes out, not just up and down. I am sure I knew this, but seem to have forgotten.

SOLUTION:

Anyhow, I kept adjusting the setting, and found a spot where the steering wheel wasn't touching anything, in terms of both up and down and also out towards me.

Believe it or not, the problem is gone, no more metallic rattle!

F#@cking amazing, I love my 86 again! I was so upset with this rattle, but now, finally after months, it's fixed. A combo or rattles and human error! All solved!

I hope this helps others out there! Cheers!

You mean the rattling / clunking noise (that seem to be coming from the steering column when going over corrugated roads) is gone just by adjusting the steering wheel position??

Like what setting? how many % towards you / up / down?

tried adjusting the steering wheels and the noise still come up.

Any fix for this ? I'm having the same issue. I notice anything below half the adjustment point will have this sound.

Yea try adjusting your steering wheel it stopped. For me after I did that

But do you know the cause ?


Because if I adjust the steering wheel till it stop, the steering position is too high for me :(


I would like to solve it instead

I have this noise also, and have heard that it may be caused by a loose skid plate. When the filter / oil I ordered get here I intend to get under the car and take a look. You might check that before you try to rip your dash out...

Nope no clue, did you try pushing the wheel forward towards you? That also helped

Sorry if this is a thread revival, but I had this same rattle from cluster hood. I placed foam tape (3/8w x 3/16 thick at front and sides of contact edges of the hood. 3,6,9 o'clock. I then wrapped an inch or so around a putty knife edge, compressed it, then pushed it into the corners of the cluster frame to dash surface to create a wedge. There was obvious noise coming from here when evaluating where to put the foam.

Wife test drove, seems to be fixed. Just did it, will chime in if a quick redo is required.

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but I recently developed this issue in the steering column/cluster area, putting forward pressure or pulling on the steering wheel while driving seemed to stop it, at least while the pressure/pulling was applied, so today I pulled out the bottom plastics and had a look underneath on my back.

I found that if you wobble the steering shaft theres a click that sounds identical to the one happening while driving, after probing around for a bit i narrowed it down to a particular part. (Ignore the cable ties, those were applied while diagnosing the clicking issue as I wanted to rule out movement in the cables).

http://i.imgur.com/AJF65iV.jpg

This plate circled in orange, if you apply really light pressure with your finger you get the click, if you apply a little force to it and try wobbling the steering shaft again the click doesnt happen, I figure there is metal on metal rub going on in this area, would also account for the click being intermittent depending on if it was a hot or cold day too.

So i disconnected the black connector (in the orange socket, right in the way), backed off the silver screws a few turns, took a syringe and some copper grease and applied a little to everywhere the highlighted plate and bolted on plate meet, then torqued it back till the blue markings matched up, put everything together and the noise is now completely gone even on the bumpiest of ground.


tl;dr :
Before you go ripping the car apart, do this quick and easy check.
Scoot the driver seat back, reach under the footwell, grab the steering shaft and give it a wobble, if you hear clicking while wobbling it, it's coming from the above location.