Sound from windshield?

7k miles on the clock. And all of the sudden today out of nowhere... the windshield (I think) started making this crackling sound just under the driver's side sun visor.

Sounds like it's coming from where the glass meets the roof? I think I can *sorta* make it go away if I press hard on the glass. Or lessen it slightly.

When I go over bumps/cracks in the road (it's pretty much constant) I'm getting these crinkly snap crackle and pop sounds coming from that spot.

Anyone else experience this? It's really odd. It literally started after I stopped at a stoplight and started driving again. Totally came from outta left field. And super annoying. Driving me nuts trying to figure out what this is.

Any ideas?

 

No not sure but someone else posted a suspect windshield noise and it wasn't the windshield at all but a plastic wheel well piece or something like that. Weird noise to just begin out of the blue but anything's possible I suppose. Maybe a dumb idea but are you sure you don't simply have a leaf or pine needle stuck somewhere flapping in the wind?

 

Yeah I checked that groove above the windshield for debris. Plan to hit the car wash to see if I missed some debris in there.

 

Just turn the radio up and none of these things will be an issue.

 

Ha Yeah the radio would cover it. I never listen to the radio when driving. The sound isn't terrible by any means. I just wanna find the source. I've seen runners rust on the roofline where it meets the window. I'm suspecting maybe water has something to do with the crackling sounds.

 

Mine would crack this winter when I had the defroster on but the windshield was cracked from a rock hit and the crack was spreading. What you have going on is pretty strange.

 

Well, now the sound is coming from all around the entire windshield. Once I get the truck out in the sun it seems to stop. But the first 10 minutes on the road in the morning it's snapping and crackling.

Could this be a bad windshield seal?

 

I get cracking noises with temp changes. For instance, when the truck has been in the sun for a while and I turn the AC on. I always assumed it was the plastics around the vent popping but it could be the windshield. Get the same when blasting heat on cold days.

 

Interesting. The noise itself is not a big deal to me, I'd just like to know what's causing it. If it's a bad windshield seal and water could get in, that would bother me.

I simply can not pinpoint the sounds. At times it's actually a lot of crackling.

 

Sounds about right. I really only hear the crackling with heat changes. Otherwise, most noises I hear are usually my passenger seat shaking.

 

I too have crackling and popping when temperatures swing back and forth a lot. Occasionally I check for any leaks, but all is dry. It honestly sounds like plastics creaking in the temp or humidity changes.

 

Obviously don't know for sure but I'd guess it isn't a bad seal not if your only hearing it with temperature changes. Also, a number of other people are claiming the same thing I'd like to think all you folks don't have bad seals. Good luck don't know what to say dealers are not very good at investigating noises unless it undeniably slaps them in the face and they simply can't ignore it.

 

Bottled water does the same thing, creaks and pops.

 

I have a 2020 4Runner Limited that almost immediately started making a clicking noise in the bottom right corner of the windshield when you drive over the patched pavement and potholes in our crappy side roads in our city. As a passenger, I can make it go away by pressing on that part of the windshield. Despite telling the dealer this, they did not investigate the windshield. Instead, they felted the right front speaker and the post between the windshield and right front passenger door. No surprise, it’s still clicking/rattling. Now, there is a clicking/squeaking noise coming from the windshield right in front of the driver side visor and it’s nearly constant as I drive- over very minor bumps and even just as a I turn a corner- as if the weight shift of the car to the side makes it squeak. Can’t seem to make this one go away by pushing on it but I’m driving so it’s a bit difficult to do while still driving safely. Still seems like a windshield issue to me. Taking to the dealer again in a week. But you all are not giving me much hope the dealer will find a solution.

 

If they do nothing find an independent Glass place and speak with them and get an opinion (costs nothing.) I know people who have cracked their own window themselves to get it replaced/fixed when the dealer did nothing. Lots or most insurance today glass is zero out of pocket. As long as you have a decent record your premium shouldn't change either. I replaced a windshield this summer in an '18 something hit it on the highway I didn't do it myself. No issues before the replacement and none after.

 

what I did in 2016 runner new I put a black tape around the windshield to cover the gap that causes a wind noise.
then I also replaced the plastic inner fender fasteners..I then installed s/steel screws to lock up the plastic fenders into the plastic retainers. that locked up those plastic shields and no movement.. as time passes those plastic shield will wear out the paint on the metal also because from factory it moves.

 

I am also getting a similar noise. It went away when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees and came back when it jumped back up to above freezing. The crackle seems to increase if it’s windy as well.

 

The dealer couldn’t figure out the crackling noise that seemed to travel across the top of the windshield. Took apart everything inside even though I told them it had to be from the outside because it went away every time it rained or I got a car wash. As soon as the windshield dried, the noise came back. At home, we applied some WD40 with a cloth around the entire outer seal of the windshield. Took care of it immediately. Lasted forever about 7 months and just heard it coming back again and put more WD40 around the exterior of the windshield. That noise is gone.

I STILL have the ticking noise in the bottom right corner of the windshield every time I hit even the tiniest bump in the road- a noise that goes away if the passenger pushes on the windshield. This noise has been there from the day I bought my 2020 4Runner. Any ideas on that one? Dealer is stumped as well.

 

I’ve had similar noises after hitting some dusty trails - but, as someone already mentioned a car wash took care of it. I would recommend starting with that and if you do put any “lubricant” in the windshield seal make sure that it is safe and does not deteriorate the rubber.
I have a super annoying crackling noise coming from under the headliner on the passenger side - right above the pillar. I think that it’s the curtain airbag assembly. But, for now I am fixing it by turning up the radio

 

My 2015 4Runner is making the same crackling noise from somewhere in the windshield/dash area. It was doing it last winter as well. I thought the seal was bad in the windshield so I took it to a glass place. The put in up to a high velocity fan to check for leaks. There were no leaks but surprisingly the noise stopped. But it also warmed up right around that time. Now its gotten cold again and the noise is back! Ugh. It does sound like a crackling water bottle. My next step was going to take it to the dealership but doesn't sound like they will be much help.

 

Check the lower windshield corner plastic pieces (see picture).

When mine get dust under them from off roading, they make similar sounds you are describing.

it’s a known source for what sounds like the windshield because they are rubbing the windshield.

if mine starts making the sound, I pour water on the corner plastic piece and noise disappears.

I fixed it by removing them and running a thin layer of RTV on the bottom of pieces, let dry before reinstalling.

 

Check the rubber engine/fender liner in the wheel well!

This seems to be a fairly common source of all sorts of sounds. Apparently not only is this part a ventriloquist, but it can also impersonate all sorts of sounds.

 

This is a common issue. Once the weather cooled down I got a tick in the passenger side lower windshield. I did the RTV thing posted above but what fixed it was addressing the cowling at the bottom of the windshield. Open the hood and the black plastic at the base of the windshield will be loose (up & down). The fasteners aren't large enough. I put a small strip of rubber and RTV'd it between the plastic and metal and so far so good. No need to remove anything. You are not crazy. There are lots of reports on this one.

 

all new vehicles have a plastic breakdown UV damages the new plastic .. my old vehicles last over 20 years and the plastic lasts. my 2016 runner the plastic breaksdown .... the plastic I cleaned it with a white cloth and the plastic has black on it . also the window rubber seals shrink and the water gets into the door panels/rear door hatch ... I put silicone sealer to reduce the gaps and keeps the water / salt in the northeast ...
the other issue is on my old vehicles they did the air screen,, HVAC air input to the system .. 4runner had no screen .. I set it up to put the insect screen over the grill air intake and used a sealer to contact the fabric screen .. the air filter in the vehicle had not big mess .. just had small amounts of dust/pollen no leaves/pine needles ..