[Phant0m51]

My friend's toyota is having some weird issues. He says he can hear a noise at the back of his highlander, almost like the rear hatch is loose (heavy rattling).

The weird part is that it only makes this noise if he's in Drive and stopped, or going less than 20 mph, or when he's turning. If he speeds up past 30 he no longer hears the noise, and if he's stopped at a light and puts it in neutral it doesn't make the noise.

I'm stumped. The only thing I can think of is possibly a loose tailpipe or something like that, unless he's having a problem with his transfer case. I don't think it's a tranny problem because the noise is from the very back of his SUV.

Any ideas are welcome. I wish I could drive it around, but he's a 20 hour drive away from me currently.

*edit* I should probably mention that all this started shortly after he backed into a pole. He didn't hit the pole hard enough to cause any damage to his bumper aside from some scratches though.

[JustinL]

I doubt its anything to do with the transfer case, that is bolted to the transmission. He probably knocked something loose in the back. Has he gotten around back there and wiggled stuff around? I spent close to 500 dollars changing almost everything on the front suspension of my dodge only to find out that the brake pads were so worn down they were loose. What kind of rattle is it? Does it sound like a thud or like sheet metal hitting something?

[sims]

Toyota's don't have problems, so its probably normal.



... :P

a rattle is pretty impossible to diagnose over the internet, he probably knocked something loose hitting the poll, could be something within' the bumper.

It could be something with the Diff, driveshafts, cv, boots etc if its in the rear
but you would probably also feel something like that, Could possibly be wheel bearings or suspension aswell, but again you would feel it.

get under the car and start shaking shit with you're hand, see if you can recreate the sound. try slamming the hatch a few times to, see if you can hear anything their.

[Phant0m51]

Well the problem with it being any mechanical parts in the rear is that it makes the noise whether the truck is moving or not. If he's stopped at a light, it makes the noise. But if he pops it into neutral then sometimes the noise goes away.

He's gotten under the truck and felt for anything loose, and he's also checked his spare tire and jack, which are both seated firmly. I personally don't think it's anything too serious, just something loose that's vibrating.