Ratcheting Front End Noise - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

09corollaowner · 05-28-2010, 06:53 AM

My 09 Corolla LE makes a ratcheting clicking sound not the bad CV joints sound under the following conditions.

back up straight cut wheel hard to the right to position car on the street put car in drive go foreword as the wheels straighten out the ratcheting sound is heard. This happens after the vehicle has sat for atleast 6 hours or overnight. Any ideas what the heck this is?

ZO6_Vette · 05-28-2010, 07:06 PM

Someone either installed a detroit locker

or a cv joint is complaining.

My bet is the cv joint.

09corollaowner · 05-29-2010, 06:52 AM

Thanks but like I said not a CV noise it is much higher up. The dealer is replacing strut components as well as ordering in a cam gear for the engine noise. Am I allowed to say the name of the dealer here? They are really working hard to make this car right, but I am starting to feel like I bought a lemon.

1. tires replaced due to flat spots within 1 week of owning car.
2. Dealer installed window tint 3m replaced within 3 weeks.
3. Accelerator recall work.
4. 1st trip for driver seat clicking in and out and front end noise nothing done.
5. Contacted general manager of dealership as engine now noisy on cold start exhaust noisy.
6. At just under 6000 miles seat now being replaced, front end being addressed cam gear on order what do you guys think did I buy a lemon? What recourse recommended I only owe roughly $5000.00 to the bank.

ZO6_Vette · 05-29-2010, 07:45 AM

Is the car moving when you hear the noise or is it still while you turn the wheel.
If the car is still it could be the bearing on the strut, ball joint.

09corollaowner · 05-29-2010, 08:31 AM

The noise occurs during motion specifically after having cut the wheel hard to the right while pulling out of a parking space, so after backing out I bring the car to a full stop, then put the car into drive move foreword turning the wheel but mostly letting the foreword motion straighten the direction of the car for me now comes the noise.

The dealer was able to reproduce the sound by letting the car sit overnight it usually occurs only after the car has been sitting long enough to get cold.

I hope I am describing this clearly. Thanks for your ongoing interest in this post.

sm30 · 05-29-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 09corollaowner

The noise occurs during motion specifically after having cut the wheel hard to the right while pulling out of a parking space, so after backing out I bring the car to a full stop, then put the car into drive move foreword turning the wheel but mostly letting the foreword motion straighten the direction of the car for me now comes the noise.

The dealer was able to reproduce the sound by letting the car sit overnight it usually occurs only after the car has been sitting long enough to get cold.

I hope I am describing this clearly. Thanks for your ongoing interest in this post.

I posted here about this same issue last summer. For me you can't replicate the issue again once heard, you will have to shut the car off and turn it on again to hear the noise.

Have you tried shutting the car off and starting again, then turning to see if you hear it again insteading of waiting 6 hours?

Here is the link to my post:
Cracking Type Noise when turning

09corollaowner · 05-29-2010, 06:32 PM

I have not tried that, but if I take a trip to the store when I come out to leave again it does not make noise. Was the noise you encountered ever resolved? I promise everyone here I will get a resolution one way or the other and post it here. I really am looking for others experience and input so I can bring alternatives to the table when dealing with the dealership to bring this to a quiet conclusion. I will suggest this turning on and off then on again as a test method and try it myself also.

Electric assisted steering is new to me I do not yet understand how it works but on the face of what you describe I would assume it is an issue with a gear in the the electric assist unit or where a gear must mate with the rack.

flamedrgn · 05-29-2010, 06:42 PM

it doesnt sound like a lemon because half of those things are dealer sided(recalls we all have and tint was dealer installed not factory) Having that noise could be a result of hitting something hard like a huge pothole or some other cause. Cold start might produce more noise than a warmed up car because of many reasons and is ran at a higher rpm until warm. I have no clue about your seats although i dont understand what youre talking about clicking in and out. best of luck with your corolla.

09corollaowner · 05-29-2010, 07:02 PM

The dealer determined it was in the upper frame where the two parts of the seat make contact, they are replacing the seat. I am the only driver of the car so I know nothing was hit hard I am in Florida so unlike when I lived in Pittsburgh no potholes to speak of. The engine noise has grown progressively worse so no go on the higher cold start rpms ambient is above 80 degrees so the cold start is really a relative term. The dealer determined engine noise had something to do with cam gear. Don't get me wrong I am very pleased with the way the dealership is taking responsibility I am just not happy about a car that has been a pain since day 1. I could understand and easily forgive many faults in a used car but not a new one.

flamedrgn · 05-29-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 09corollaowner

The dealer determined it was in the upper frame where the two parts of the seat make contact, they are replacing the seat. I am the only driver of the car so I know nothing was hit hard I am in Florida so unlike when I lived in Pittsburgh no potholes to speak of. The engine noise has grown progressively worse so no go on the higher cold start rpms ambient is above 80 degrees so the cold start is really a relative term. The dealer determined engine noise had something to do with cam gear. Don't get me wrong I am very pleased with the way the dealership is taking responsibility I am just not happy about a car that has been a pain since day 1. I could understand and easily forgive many faults in a used car but not a new one.

all true, besides the recalls i would hate to have to bring my car in all the time.

metalbones · 05-29-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 09corollaowner

My 09 Corolla LE makes a ratcheting clicking sound not the bad CV joints sound under the following conditions.

back up straight cut wheel hard to the right to position car on the street put car in drive go foreword as the wheels straighten out the ratcheting sound is heard. This happens after the vehicle has sat for atleast 6 hours or overnight. Any ideas what the heck this is?

Pad shift; this is normal, no it will not explode, no it does not sound like your CV joints, relax and enjoy the car. After reversing and then switching to forward travel your brake pads shift slightly in the caliper. It appears to be common with Corollas and other Toyota vehicles.

You are not alone in hearing this noise, I hear it every time I back out of my driveway. Other users have heard this noise too.

09corollaowner · 05-30-2010, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalbones

Pad shift; this is normal, no it will not explode, no it does not sound like your CV joints, relax and enjoy the car. After reversing and then switching to forward travel your brake pads shift slightly in the caliper. It appears to be common with Corollas and other Toyota vehicles.

You are not alone in hearing this noise, I hear it every time I back out of my driveway. Other users have heard this noise too.

Thanks for the input, the noise does not occur while moving in reverse and applying the brakes. The noise only happens while the wheels are straightening out as the car is moving foreword without the brake pedal being depressed after having first backed out from a parked position while cold from sitting. The noise is also from higher up than wheel level.

I sure hope what you described does not start happening because that is just wrong, I will get rid of the car before putting up with that sort of poor design. The brakes are too soft as it is. Honestly though I am beginning to feel like I was rooked into buying a GM or FORD product with a Toyota label on it..

09corollaowner · 08-17-2010, 07:12 PM

Well here it is August the 17th 2010 the corolla has been to the shop 3 more times they cant fix the noise in the front end it has grown louder and more persistant a loud groaning ratcheting noise with a nice strut pop to finish it off on both sides . What a piece of crap this car is. The engine is even louder since they replaced a cam gear I am so glad to be rid of this beast.

YES I SAID RID OF IT!!!!!!! whooo hooo yay for me. This is just one of those troubled vehicles and it has been since the beginning and I am glad it is gone.

Obviously the one I had was the exception not the rule.

Corolla replaced by the same dealer for nearly full consideration of the original purchase price. I am now the Owner of a 2010 Toyota Prius so far I love it boy what a car.

Looks like I will need to change my username now. Way to go Toyota of Melbourne Florida.

ej063090 · 08-18-2010, 10:13 AM

The prius is a very nice car congrats