5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
So here's what is happening.......
In the past 4 weeks or so, I've noticed a slight "clunk" sound when I'm braking to a stop. Not a fast or hard stop, just run-of-the-mill braking at a stop light, from around 25 mph. Again --- not an abrupt stop; very "casual" coming-to-a-stop kind of thing. The "clunk" occurs right about the 5 mph mark.
And, of course, it doesn't happen every time; just enough, at times, to become annoying. Though, on the way home from work this evening, it was really irritating........I was kinda like, "What the &*% is that sound?!!?"
Because I can feel the "clunk" kinda in the lower back of my seat, very slightly, I initially thought perhaps there might be a couple of bolts that may need to be tightened-up a bit , like maybe the seat had just come slightly loose or something.........? But then again, it really doesn't feel like the "clunk" is happening WITHIN the seat itself. More like I might be feeling the vibration caused by whatever the "clunk" is............
But after I've come to a complete stop, and do a little shifting around in the seat, in an attempt to replicate the "clunk" or the sound, or something --- no such luck. The seat feels as solid as ever.
I've looked around under the seat and finger-felt the bolts......nothing feels loose. I've tried to shake the seat a bit, to see if there might be any "give", but again --- solid as ever. No "clunk", no nothing.
I love my Camry, and to date, I've had absolutely ZERO issues/problems. No rattles, no nothing. The car's been great! (Okay, well, the right-side ring to hold the driver's floormat in place did come out of the carpet a couple months after I bought the car, but.......)
So, having searched for posts which were similar to mine (again, see above!), I'm stumped.
I'm hoping it isn't something more, having nothing at all to do with the seat...
Any suggestions or thoughts?
Appreciate any help!
Take care!
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Last edited by dCota; 04-13-2010 at 06:35 PM.
Reason: Clarified the feeling of the "clunk"
Don't think so.......seems to happen regardless of how much fuel is in the tank. At the moment, I'm sitting just below 3/4 tank.
On the way home from work this evening it happened twice --- again, just around the 5 mph mark as I was coming to a stop.
Okay, now I know this sounds weird, but humor me............
This evening, I was paying particularly close attention as I came to a stop, in an effort to pinpoint (as best possible) where I was feeling the "clunk".
Again, it's ever so slight, but I swear I could feel it most in my left butt-cheek!
I know! I know! Odd!
But it really does feel like the seat EVER SO SLIGHTLY shifted forward, and I could feel "clunk" in the seat of the seat. (Make sense?) (IF the seat IS shifting, it's a VERY minute amount of shifting --- just enough to make the "clunk" sound..............maybe, as I accelerate, the seat even shifts back to where it was before the "clunk", and then I hear/feel it again at the next stop. But yet again, it doesn't do this every time..........)
Like I said previously, I didn't feel anything loose when I was feeling around under the seat..........I wonder if it's possible that the seat might need some adjusting/tightening/other on the "rails"...........could it be loose?
And again, you can clearly hear the clunk inside the car............
I am not trying to be insulting by any means, but have you checked around your car for any loose cans, soda bottles, etc? Check underneath both seats, in the pouches behind the driver and passenger seats, inside your armrest storage areas, glovebox, inside the rear passenger cupholder, inside the space behind the rear passenger cupholder where the armrest flips up, etc?
Recently I heard a clunking noise sometimes when accelerating quickly, turning, etc. but it wasn't consistent. Ultimately I found a plastic soda bottle cap rolling around behind the rear passenger armrest... That pissed me off for weeks!
True, okay back and forth and up and down, lets not forget side to side An we are joking a bit but it actually is a good place to start. AN HAVE THE DARN ENGINE OFF AND RADIO OFF!
Sounds to me like you suspect that the seat is broken - usually it is held in by just the 4 bolts plus an electrical connector or two. if you remove it you an inspect the parts underneath. I'd check the sliding part, the rails, and the part where they connect to the seat itself.
I am not trying to be insulting by any means, but have you checked around your car for any loose cans, soda bottles, etc? Check underneath both seats, in the pouches behind the driver and passenger seats, inside your armrest storage areas, glovebox, inside the rear passenger cupholder, inside the space behind the rear passenger cupholder where the armrest flips up, etc?
Recently I heard a clunking noise sometimes when accelerating quickly, turning, etc. but it wasn't consistent. Ultimately I found a plastic soda bottle cap rolling around behind the rear passenger armrest... That pissed me off for weeks!
No offense taken!
But no, it's definitely not anything rolling around. I'm afraid I'm one of the those anal folks (no jokes, please!) who never has anything "loose" laying around in my car. You know the kind --- everything in its place, and no clutter, etc.
BUT......just to be on the safe side, I did do a double-check! All clear!
True, okay back and forth and up and down, lets not forget side to side An we are joking a bit but it actually is a good place to start. AN HAVE THE DARN ENGINE OFF AND RADIO OFF!
Yup! Yup!
Tried em all.......side-to-side, up-and-down, back-and-forth.
Absolutely SOLID. No movement whatsoever!
And yes, tried with the engine and radio both off too....
I swear I'm not imagining it! I can feel it! Yesterday it felt more like it was in the lower-left of my back.......maybe something inside the seat.......?
Interestingly, it was significantly cooler this evening and NOT ONCE did I get the "clunk"!
Sounds to me like you suspect that the seat is broken - usually it is held in by just the 4 bolts plus an electrical connector or two. if you remove it you an inspect the parts underneath. I'd check the sliding part, the rails, and the part where they connect to the seat itself.
Well, I sure hope it's not broken, but I'm at the point I'm just gonna have to have it checked out.
Of course, I've already mentally prepared myself for the inability to replicate the "clunk" at the dealership/service center.......
I'll keep ya posted!
Thanks for all the suggestions!
No offense taken!
But no, it's definitely not anything rolling around. I'm afraid I'm one of the those anal folks (no jokes, please!) who never has anything "loose" laying around in my car. You know the kind --- everything in its place, and no clutter, etc.
BUT......just to be on the safe side, I did do a double-check! All clear!
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Thunk/Clunk Sound
, like maybe the seat had just come slightly loose or something.........? But then again, it really doesn't feel like the "clunk" is happening WITHIN the seat itself. More like I might be feeling the vibration caused by whatever the "clunk" is............
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