Right fender area RPM rattle/buzz - FIXED

I just went out and looked at that clip on my car and found that it too was loose. I was the one who stuffed rags in the "rabbit holes" to solve the right fender rattle that was so prevalent on the 2010s. I was surprised to read your problem on a 2013 as we had thought Toyota had solved the issue with an improved fender clip. In fact, there is/was a TSB many members took advantage of to solve the right fender rattle/buzz.

Anyway, the clip you have identified is far forward of the noise and is attached to the body just above the radiator. I have added a zip-tie around mine too even though the buzz/rattle has been gone now for years. Good catch, and if anyone is still having this noise issue, they should try it first before getting the TSB done.

 

Been living with this issue for months. i just brought up the volume and didn't pay attention to it. Great to know there was an easy solution for this annoying issue. Many thanks

 

Sometimes, I think I hear something rattling while accelerating. The dealership refused the TSB repair. I'll check mine this weekend.

Update: there was some movement and applied a zip tie too. Doubt it will make much difference. My main problem is lots of rattles under the dash and in the rear hatch.

 

Thanks for your help! The right fender rattling was driving me insane and all it took to fix was a single zip tie.

 

Thank you . Great improvment . The rattling is gone !!!

 

Plus it's a very simple fix...most owners with some zip-ties could do it in 5 minutes themselves.

 

I tried the zip-tie. No, it doesn't fix my problem.

I brought the car to the dealer, the service manager confirmed the problem, but Toyota financial services denied warranty coverage. Then I called both Toyota corporate office and Toyota financial myself. The corporate office cannot do anything nor a good-will gesture because it is "out of parameter of the factory warranty". The financial office referred me to the long list of exclusions which I should signed for in the certified pre-owned agreement booklet. Which is never mentioned at the Toyota Certified website: "The Limited Comprehensive Warranty covers any repair or replacement of components which fail under normal use due to defect in materials or workmanship."

I got a copy of T-SB-0064-12. It's a very complicated repair. I can scan and upload it later.

 

Here is T-SB 0064-12.

 

I am also worried if the weather strips were not put back properly, there might be leak potential in the area...

 

mycnam, sorry to hear you have the original fender clip problem that many 2010s had. In order to take advantage of the TSB under warranty, you would have had to take your car in when the TSB first came out years ago. Since you are the 2nd owner, Toyota and dealerships will probably decline doing it for free now. The "stuffed rag" method work fairly well but I had to really pack rags in tightly in the lower "rabbit hole" to stop the noise. There are 2 holes: one goes up the windshield support beam and the other goes just under the triangular small window. I think the fender clip that rattles is in that lower channel or "rabbit hole".
DISCLAIMER: This worked for me and if you try it, you do so at your own risk:

 

Thanks, I noticed your solution long times ago. If I go this route, I would rather go for some non-water absorbent material such as sound deadening foam, etc...

 

Thanks for the update on the actual TSB pdf. It looks like the warranty coverage for most owners now is too late. The reason my solution works for me (and anyone in the Southwest) is that it just doesn't rain here anymore so no worries about moisture getting absorbed in the rags. The trick for any substance you try is to pack it tightly enough to stop the sympathetic vibrations from the defective clip(s) from developing at certain engine rpms. That's why I show a "jam tool" which is really just a long flat-head screwdriver with a felted end so you can pack the rags tightly and not do any damage to the fender just below the triangular window(s). (Yes, I actually did the driver's side too). The "rabbit holes" or channels are on each fender.

I actually did some pouring water tests on the windshield to see if draining water would get to the rags and they stayed dry, but I could not verify if the rags would get wet if you were caught in a driving rain. Maybe there's a way to do this simple fix and plug the ends of the rabbit holes with some kind of impervious plug (plastic, tar, other sealant?)

BTW, when I specify "rags", there were actually several smaller rags the size of washcloths jammed in the channel in succession so that each new small rag could be tightly packed against the last one jammed in. You get the idea.

 

What about cutting some foam pads e.g. yoga mats and scroll them tight and squeeze in?

 

It might work if you pack them tightly. At the time I did my fix, all I knew was that the noise was being transmitted thru the channels into the cabin. My goal was to block the channel openings since I thought it was engine vibrations coming thru. It was many months after that when it was discovered to be defective fender clips. My guess is that my "packing" stopped the fender clip from vibrating.

 

I did the zip-tie fix. As far as i see, i think the noise during acceleration is gone. I will keep monitoring.

Thanks a lot!!!


iPad ?

 

I just did the zip tie fix. Thanks! I've had a loud buzz when accelerating from a stop but mostly in cold weather. The buzz would decrease and stop as the vehicle warmed up.

 

What about using expanding urethane foam injected into the area instead of rags tightly packed?