Buzzing Noise under dash of 2004 Corolla

Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
more frequent during cold weather and windy days.

I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.

It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
occurs frequently.

Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin

On Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:20:52 -0800, wimastyle wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin[/color]


On a 240SX I had, it was a wiring harness.

It could be anything, hopefully, removing the instrument panel might
locate it. I drove my SX around for a day without instruments to isolate
the noise!

[email]wimastyle@gmail.com[/email], 10/30/2006,4:20:52 PM, wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it
> is more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems.
> I took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired,
> but they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9
> miles) and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the
> dashboard in many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if
> it's some sort of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The
> noise doesn't occur when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine
> to high RPMs -- only when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin[/color]

I can't help you but there were tons of hits on Google Groups that
might isolate the problem. Cut and Paste link if it doesn't come up
properly.

[url]http://groups.google.com/groups?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGL[/url]
D:2004-52,GGLD:en&q=dash%20buzz&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wg

<wimastyle@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162243252.166189.152040@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin[/color]

aside from the fact that your car is so new, my first guess would be a dried
up, or possibly kinked, speedometer cable. You could try disconnecting it
or pulling the interior cable out of the surrounding sheath to see if the
noise abates. then lubricate it well.[color=blue]
>[/color]

"mack" <mackerel@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:12kcu7pjioj4d36@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
>
> <wimastyle@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1162243252.166189.152040@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
>> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
>> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
>> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
>> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
>> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
>> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>>
>> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
>> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
>> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
>> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
>> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
>> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
>> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
>> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
>> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>>
>> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
>> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
>> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
>> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
>> occurs frequently.
>>
>> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin[/color]
>
> aside from the fact that your car is so new, my first guess would be a
> dried up, or possibly kinked, speedometer cable. You could try
> disconnecting it or pulling the interior cable out of the surrounding
> sheath to see if the noise abates. then lubricate it well.[/color]

Another vote for this idea, but make the dealership do it.

"mack" <mackerel@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:12kcu7pjioj4d36@corp.supernews.com...[color=blue]
>
> <wimastyle@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1162243252.166189.152040@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
>> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
>> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
>> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
>> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
>> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
>> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>>
>> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
>> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
>> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
>> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
>> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
>> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
>> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
>> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
>> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>>
>> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
>> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
>> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
>> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
>> occurs frequently.
>>
>> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin[/color]
>
> aside from the fact that your car is so new, my first guess would be a
> dried up, or possibly kinked, speedometer cable. You could try
> disconnecting it or pulling the interior cable out of the surrounding
> sheath to see if the noise abates. then lubricate it well.[color=green]
>>[/color][/color]

I am pretty sure that there is no mechanical speedometer cable since it
probably has an electronic speedometer.


Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

<wimastyle@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162243252.166189.152040@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
>[/color]

Noises are very difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to fix without
hearing the noise. Have you tried pushing in on the clear plastic that
covers the instrument panel or tugged gently at the wires under the driver's
side of the dash? If that doesn't work, take someone from the dealership on
a test drive so that they can experience what you are describing.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Check this out. I have had 3 Toyotas over the last 10 years and all had a
funny buzzing noise over bumps especially when cold out. It seemed to be
coming from the dash. On my latest 2005 Camry (which by the way has more
rattles and sqeaks than a GM car) I just happened to notice the rattle
coming from the shifter handle (Automatic). If I knock the top of the
shifter with my knuckles I can reproduce the extremly annoying buzzing
sound. I am going to take it in to the dealer next month, to check out this
noise and I suspect it has to do with a poor design of the spring mechanism
that holds the shifter button out. I will also be having them check out a
terrible creak in the dash when I go over bumps, a sqeak in both doors that
I can replicate by lightly pushing on the trim, a loose seat track mechanism
(which they had to replace on my 2001 Camry), and a terrible rattle in the
headline4r console in front of the moonroof. This thing is a real rattle
trap much unlike my 2001 and 1998. It must be when car companies get big
that they loose control of the sqeaks and rattles. I'm going to give Honda a
good look next time, I think Toyota has lost it quality edge.

REb


<wimastyle@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162243252.166189.152040@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
>[/color]

Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
[color=blue]
> It must be when car companies get big
> that they loose control of the sqeaks and rattles. I'm going to give Honda a
> good look next time, I think Toyota has lost it quality edge.[/color]

Actually, some newer Hondas have had quality issues too, including squeaks
and rattles.

Do yet anybody kid you ALL vehicles develop some squeaks and rattle over
time. They ALL brake down on occasion, at an industry wide average rate
between 1% to 2%. Now that Toyota is running with the big boys and selling
cars in the millions, in the US, rather than just in the hundreds of
thousands more of their bad ones are starting to show up as well.


mike hunt


"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:62sz6wisrvj6$.dlg@hightech.misfit...[color=blue]
> Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
>[color=green]
>> It must be when car companies get big
>> that they loose control of the sqeaks and rattles. I'm going to give
>> Honda a
>> good look next time, I think Toyota has lost it quality edge.[/color]
>
> Actually, some newer Hondas have had quality issues too, including squeaks
> and rattles.[/color]

I don't agree in this case with my 2005 Camry Mike. Random fails happen on
all cars due to the probabilities, however, loose seat tracks were a problem
on many Camry's in the same as my 2001 vintage according to my dealer. Now I
have the same problem with my 2005. That's not a random problem, that's
sloppy quality and design. Sorry if I offended your Toyota loyalty, but I
have other friends that are noticing the increase in squeaks, and ratles in
their newer Toyota vehicles. Many people on the newsgroup have reported the
squeaks in the doors as well on the 2002-06 vintage. Again, poor design, not
random failure.

My loyalty to Toyota started when many other folks reported satisfaction
regarding no sqeaks and rattles and I bought one in 98 and was satisfied. My
2001 was worse, and my 2005 is a rattle trap all over the place with only
14k on the odo. Don't let anyone kid you when that is the case, start
shopping around. If you notice also, Camry's are dropping in the JD Powers
ratings as well. I suppose that's just a coincidence. Read the consumer
ratings on the 2007 on Edmonds, there too, folks are starting to complain
about the quality slipping.

The same reason I bought my Toyota is the same reason I'm looking elswhere
next time around. Quality.

Reb



"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:tbGdnV980a6qTtHYUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> Do yet anybody kid you ALL vehicles develop some squeaks and rattle over
> time. They ALL brake down on occasion, at an industry wide average rate
> between 1% to 2%. Now that Toyota is running with the big boys and
> selling cars in the millions, in the US, rather than just in the hundreds
> of thousands more of their bad ones are starting to show up as well.
>
>
> mike hunt
>
>
> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:62sz6wisrvj6$.dlg@hightech.misfit...[color=green]
>> Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> It must be when car companies get big
>>> that they loose control of the sqeaks and rattles. I'm going to give
>>> Honda a
>>> good look next time, I think Toyota has lost it quality edge.[/color]
>>
>> Actually, some newer Hondas have had quality issues too, including
>> squeaks
>> and rattles.[/color]
>
>[/color]

On Sat, 04 Nov 2006 22:37:05 +0000, Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
[color=blue]
> I don't agree in this case with my 2005 Camry Mike. Random fails happen on
> all cars due to the probabilities, however, loose seat tracks were a problem
> on many Camry's in the same as my 2001 vintage according to my dealer. Now I
> have the same problem with my 2005. That's not a random problem, that's
> sloppy quality and design. Sorry if I offended your Toyota loyalty, but I
> have other friends that are noticing the increase in squeaks, and ratles in
> their newer Toyota vehicles. Many people on the newsgroup have reported the
> squeaks in the doors as well on the 2002-06 vintage. Again, poor design, not
> random failure.[/color]

Most Camrys are made in the US.

I hate to sound 'unpatriotic', but I noticed a BIG decline in build qualty
and reliability on the US Built Camrys. A 1998 with 250 miles and the
window falls off the track? The driver's seat gets stuck? Not Nice.

OTOH, I had an '88 Accord made in Ohio that was very well built, and went
188,000 miles before we got rid of it.


[color=blue]
>
> My loyalty to Toyota started when many other folks reported satisfaction
> regarding no sqeaks and rattles and I bought one in 98 and was satisfied. My
> 2001 was worse, and my 2005 is a rattle trap all over the place with only
> 14k on the odo. Don't let anyone kid you when that is the case, start
> shopping around. If you notice also, Camry's are dropping in the JD Powers
> ratings as well. I suppose that's just a coincidence. Read the consumer
> ratings on the 2007 on Edmonds, there too, folks are starting to complain
> about the quality slipping.
>
> The same reason I bought my Toyota is the same reason I'm looking elswhere
> next time around. Quality.
>
> Reb
>
>
>
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:tbGdnV980a6qTtHYUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> Do yet anybody kid you ALL vehicles develop some squeaks and rattle over
>> time. They ALL brake down on occasion, at an industry wide average rate
>> between 1% to 2%. Now that Toyota is running with the big boys and
>> selling cars in the millions, in the US, rather than just in the hundreds
>> of thousands more of their bad ones are starting to show up as well.
>>
>>
>> mike hunt
>>
>>
>> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>> news:62sz6wisrvj6$.dlg@hightech.misfit...[color=darkred]
>>> Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
>>>
>>>> It must be when car companies get big
>>>> that they loose control of the sqeaks and rattles. I'm going to give
>>>> Honda a
>>>> good look next time, I think Toyota has lost it quality edge.
>>>
>>> Actually, some newer Hondas have had quality issues too, including
>>> squeaks
>>> and rattles.[/color]
>>
>>[/color][/color]

Roadrunner Newsgroup wrote:
[color=blue]
> The same reason I bought my Toyota is the same reason I'm looking elswhere
> next time around. Quality.[/color]

Despite those fit and finish issues, Toyota's mechanical quality is still
near the top. There are 4 fairly new Toyotas in my immediate family: An '04
Corolla, an '05 Corolla, an '05 Prius and an '03 Celica. All of them have
been extremely reliable mechanically, and I am not aware of any fit and
finish issues with any of them either.

Like I said, even Honda has experienced some recent quality issues including
the fit and finish issues you experienced with your Toyotas. And this is
also true of the big 3; I know a guy with a newer Ford Windstar that was
rattling big time from the moment he got it (new). I believe the reason for
this is the use of cheaper quality, more environmentally friendly materials.

BTW, "Mikey Hunt(er)" is an anti-Toyota troll who defends the big 3. Pay no
attention to him.

I have 2005 corolla LE. I have same problem as you have mentioned . I
took it to two dealers so far, but no luck. One dealer mentioned turn
on the air circulate button which is of no use.

Other dealer mentioned they changed the air filter, which is also of no
use.

[email]wimastyle@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello, I own a 2004 Corolla LE. The car drives great and has since I
> bought it new from the dealer in July 2003. However, for about 1.5
> years now, I've occasionally heard a loud, high-pitched buzzing noise
> coming from (as best I can tell) the dash, somewhere behind the
> instrument panel. This noise only occurs when I'm driving on the
> highway at high speeds (usually > 65 mph). I've also noticed that it is
> more frequent during cold weather and windy days.
>
> I have absolutely no clue what could be producing this buzzing noise,
> and haven't had any luck searching the internet for similar problems. I
> took the car into the dealer last year before my warranty expired, but
> they could not reproduce the sound (they drove the car all of .9 miles)
> and therefore didn't do anything about it. I've felt the dashboard in
> many different places when this buzzing occurs to see if it's some sort
> of vibration, but as best I can tell it isn't. The noise doesn't occur
> when I have the car in neutral and rev the engine to high RPMs -- only
> when I'm actually in gear and driving somewhere.
>
> It seems to me to be some sort of either wind effect through the hood
> or loose electrical connection. Since all of my electronics seem to
> work fine, I hope it isn't an electrical problem. But the noise is
> impossible to ignore, and long drives are very painful if the noise
> occurs frequently.
>
> Any help or insight into this matter would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin[/color]