Rear windshield rattle

[Robert S]

I have had my 05 Avalon since February and there has been a annoying rattle coming from the back while I'm driving. After months of trying to figure out what it is I finally found that with somebody sitting in the back seat if they push on the bottom corner of the windshield it stops the rattling noise. I have tried taking a small piece of cardboard and shoving it in the bottom corner and it seems like it will stop the noise for about a day or two then it comes back! Is there a way to tighten the seal on the rear windshield? Thanks!!!

[inov8]

There was a factory Technical Service Bulletin issued for this problem in December 2006 (TSB-NV014-06). The recommended repair involves removing the backglass and adding spot welds at the lower corners of the frame. I think the only practical fix will be to use a resileint material for the shim instead of cardboard (such as rubber or polyurethane).
If you would like to read the TSB for yourself, I can post it.

[Robert S]

wow! another tsb huh? yeah if you could post it that would be great. I don't know if I can afford to have Toyota do the work for me it sounds expensive and I know TSB's are not fixed for free. I had to have the steering wheel clunky issue fixed and it cost me almost 200 bucks. I will try using something other than cardboard and see what happens.

[inov8]

http://members.cox.net/n0v8or/rear_window_rattle.pdf

In case you are typing the URL, the characters between words are underscores, not spaces.

It's hard to believe they would go to such lengths to fix a rattle.

[Robert S]

That looks like a lot of work I'm sure my local Toyota dealer would love to beat me over the head for that labor bill!

[Bob Coates]

I have a 2006 XLS and the rattle was in the front. This is also in the TSB. I went to Toyota as the car was JUST out of warranty to get it fixed. They refused to fix it under warranty, wanted to charge me. I still have the rattle and it drives me nuts!