I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma pickup with a 5-speed manual transmission.
A few days ago I noticed a strange noise coming from the front end as
I slowed down. It was a day in which ice was building up, so I figured
something was rubbing on an ice chunk. The noise persists however,
even now when all the ice is gone. I thought it might have something
to do with the fact I hadn't used 4WD for several months. The noise is
most apparent when I am slowing down and nearly stopped. I am likely
to hear a noise when I hit a bump, too. Occasionally, the noise just
appears at seemingly random times. Most of the time there is no noise.
I guess I would describe the noise as a clunking, and it sounds like
it appears once every revolution of something.

I experimented around, and found that the noise would disappear
immediately if I move the shift lever to 4 HI (hubs unlucked.)

I brought it in to the dealer, and of course the noise disappeared. As
I drove home, 50 miles away, it reappeared, worse then ever. The noise
still almost completetly disappears when I shift to 4 HI.

I'm not mechanically inclined, but I'm sure some of you are. What do
you think it is?

Thanks!

First, clean out the cab completely, especially any loose items under
the seats.

Second, make sure there are no loose items, especially change, in the
boot around the shift levers.

Third, empty the glove box and, if applicable, the center console or
any other storage spaces where loose things can roll forward when you
decelerate and may be influenced by the rattling of the transmission
and/or position of the shift levers.

Finally, if you have any hanging storage gear or organizers, like
those along the back of the seats or cab, remove them completely and
take it for a spin.

Hope that fixes it!


On 12 Nov 2003 06:08:54 -0800, buck@bucktrack.com (Bruce Buck
Nelson) wrote: