weird chirpy noise

[fenrisx]

So.. I recently had my LBJ, and inner/outer TRE's replaced. I was also going to have the steering rack bushings replaced because my mechanic said he'd probably not charge me because it wouldn't take long.. but he didn't realize he'd have to drop the steering rack... so he ended up only replacing one of them. Oh..and I had new tires installed...

Since then I've got this weird noise coming from up front.. it happens when I close the front doors (sometimes the back door will make it happen as well), and over bumps (notice it at low speed, can't really hear it at high speeds over all the other noises).

I'm not attributing it to anything the mechanic did necessarily... that's just the timing of it. So, don't let what work I had done limit your answers! Any ideas, fellas?

4Runner Chirp (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4lgNJ-ZZU8#ws)

[Seanz0rz]

mine does or did that. not sure what it was or if it still does it, i'll have to check.


in the mean time, wipe down your door gaskets with silicone spray, as well as the door latches on the door jambs. also the rubber gaskets around the hood as well as the hood bumpers.

[mastacox]

Does it happen when you shake the car, or just with the door?

[fenrisx]

Just went out, as said in chat, and did the 'ol shake test. No chirps when rocking the truck side to side.

[4x4mike]

Mine used to do that. It was the lower part of the radiator or condensor that rubbed on something. I could never find what it was but it would do it on bumpy roads and when I closed the door. It wasn't as loud as yours but it was there. After jumping the truck around at Pismo it went away. The radiator and condensor kind of float in a cage and I think my noise was the cage or mounting points of it or part of the system.

[fenrisx]

Hmm. I don't think I'll be able to make it out to Pismo to jump my truck anytime soon. :( Maybe I'm SOL.

[paddlenbike]

If my factory skidplate isn't tight, mine makes that same sound.

[Robinhood4x4]

Get underneath it and start hitting everything with your fist or a big rubber mallet. Something is loose and it'll probably show up when you hit it. For me, it was my spare tire on my 4th gen.

[CJM]

Sway bar end links, although the designs different mine used to make this clattering over bumps and when you shut the door. Replaced the endlinks good to go.

Id also second stevs advice too.

[fenrisx]

Sway bar end links, although the designs different mine used to make this clattering over bumps and when you shut the door. Replaced the endlinks good to go.

Id also second stevs advice too.


I'm running without end links up front.

I'm going to check the radiator.. between Mike mentioning it here, and someone OTF saying their bolts being loose caused the exact same noise.. hopefully thats it. I'll check the skid as well, although I only have the front portion of the factory skid left.. the flat part was ripped off a few years back. Third on the list will be going to town with a rubber mallet underneath the truck.

Hopefully I can report back this weekend with good news! Thanks for the advice so far fellas.

[fenrisx]

Let us know if it works.

Update: Chirpy chirp chirp is fixed.

Popped the hood.. was banging on the top of the radiator.. and the part in front of the radiator that runs side-to-side (noted by orange arrow).. whenever doing this it would make the chirpy noise. Whenever I'd press on either one, and hit the other, the noise would go away. So, I thought it was the radiator loose.

That was not the case... turned out to be the bracket that holds the battery that was loose. The bolt on the back (noted by red arrow) snugged up, and chirp was gone. I don't think it was necessarily the bracket making the noise, more so than the bracket not being super snug allowed more movement on the piece noted by the orange arrow.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8151541045_fe1b786670.jpg

Side note: Crawled under the truck while I was out there, and noticed the poor weld job Midas did on my muffler was worse than I thought. Where they welded some extra pipe to make the muffler fit (since it was shorter than stock) isn't fully welds, and is spurting a little condensation and exhaust gas. The condensation is the only reason I noticed, and felt to see if the exhaust gases were leaking.

[fenrisx]

Possibly jumped the gun on this...doesn't squeak when closing doors or banging on the radiator anymore, but I'm still hearing it over some bumps a few miles later.

[rworegon]

Something shock/coil related?

[fenrisx]

Something shock/coil related?


Perhaps. Although, it is the same chirp noise as in the video, it is just limited to happening over certain bumps now... instead of most bumps & when I close the doors/hood. When I was trying to pinpoint the noise earlier today it sounded like it was coming from around the radiator area, not so much the coils. I suspect it probably is the radiator as before.

[rworegon]

In addition to the radiator and radiator shield, maybe a bolt on the bumper, chassis, fuse box, skid plate, etc. is loose.

[Obi..]

Checked the steering wheel boot at the firewall yet? Mine as well as the work Tacoma did this until I replaced them.

Also take silicone spray (IIRC it's ok to use around the body/frame mounts) and spray liberally to see if it stops. Do similar for the torsion bar and links. I had to go as far as to remove and relube my two main torsion bar frame mounts last week b/c of all the dust intrusion.

[Obi..]

**NEVERMIND** Just turn the stereo up more. ;)

I forgot to also list the hood hinge grommets. Mine are completely dry, almost like plastic now and they'd chirp over the slightest thing until I chipped them away from the hinge.

[Stevo3]

I got this same exact noise as im driving through residential roads (also cant tell at higher speeds because of road noise and exhaust)... Ive gone around searching for the noise hitting everthing possible that I can reach. Still no luck on locating the chirping. Its been bugging me for 2 years now. Some days seems louder than others. Just been doing what Obi.. said, turn the music up louder :). Would still like to solve this mysterious chirping though.

[Stevo3]

Ohh yeah, there is one thing I havent checked, and thats the exhaust flange doughnut from the downpipes to the cat.