Humming noise

Hello everyone!

I'm kinda new here but a Toyota fan for a while, I've gave up on my 2014 Tacoma and bought a 2020 4Runner six months ago, so far the vehicle has been really good and I'm very happy with it, however a few weeks ago I started noticing a humming noise while driving it, I thought it could be caused by the really low temperatures where I live in Canada -35º C (-31º F) so I waited to the weather to improve but nothing is changed.
It's a very annoying sound that seems to be coming from the drive train as I notice a change on the frequency of the noise as I change the speed. I can also feel in my feet a little vibration, it's not major but I can tell something is not right.
What it's really frustrating is that it has only 8000 Km and I've never experienced nothing like this, specially in a Toyota.
Has anyone here seen or experienced anything like that? Thoughts?

Thanks,

Orlando

 

I'd take it to a Toyota dealer and get the problem diagnosed. It could be the differential and the extreme colds where you are. Could also have to do with the drive shaft (a bearing noise/failing)?

I have a 2005 4runner with 150,000 miles and drive like a dream-like when it was new off dealer's lot. I've looked at the driveshaft (everything tight) and changed the gear oil in the differential. I have 2WD.

Hoping for another 150,000 trouble-free miles.

 

Is yours 4x4? Sounds like what Im going to have to deal with as well. Humming is one way to describe it. Or like the sound of mud terrain tires. Mine started making the sound the day I brought it home at about 60-80 miles on the odo.

Seems like it may be the needle bearing in the front differential as there is a TSB regarding this. If the noise goes away when you engage 4wd, then it points to the needle bearing.

Mine isnt making the noise anymore ever since the temps rose to the mid 30s F

 

Thanks for the reply guys, mine is a SR5 Premium 4X4. I took it to the dealer this morning and I'm waiting to hear back from them, I told them I was having this issue on the first oil change and was advised to wait for the weather to get warmer, which I did but still not convinced that this is weather related. Now that you mentioned, it does get better when I engage 4X4, but I can still hear. Do we have access to the TSB's or just the dealers? I'll let you know what my dealer comes up with.

Orlando

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10154805-9999.pdf

 

Thanks Matt!

 

Guys,

I wanted to let you know that I went to get my 4Runner back from the dealer and the Tech couldn't hear the noise, I showed them the TSB on the link above shared by Matt83, I even spoke with the tech and he said that he couldn't hear when he drove but that problem is kind of common to happen, but they wouldn't be able to replace it since they couldn't hear/identify anything.
It sucks because it's a intermittent problem and it seems to happen more often in colder temperatures. I was told to go back should the noise appear again. I was looking at other 4Runner forums and there are quite a few owners with the same issue, it's clearly a design flaw on the front differential (needle bearing). Apparently there's a back order for this part as well, I don't care I'll bug them until I get this fixed, this noise is driving me crazy and I don't even drive it so much, it's my wife's ride.

Thread on the other forum about the same issue:

 

There are about a million threads on this between 4Runners.com and TacomaWorld.com

Has been an issue since about 2005 I believe.

Mine had this issue and I replaced the needle bearing with the ECGS bushing. It seems to be the only reliable fix.

 

Exactly what is the needle bearing?

 

Since mine seems to have gotten quieter as things are warming up, I’ll be patient until it’s making the sound 100percennt. I still have the luxury of a full three years warranty (or does this fall under 5?).

That said, it doesnt sound like noise leads to any serious problems, so risk of waiting is low.

 

I have a 2019 SR5. It makes a weird hooting noise that’s usually more noticeable at about 40-60 kilometres an hour. I can’t tell exactly where it’s coming from. At first I thought it was the front passenger side, but now I’m not sure. It’s intermittent. Sometimes I don’t hear it at all. I thought it was something to do with wind noise on something, but now I’m worried it’s something more serious. Really annoying. I’m not close to a dealer to get it checked out.

 

I believe the humming noise you are experiencing is your ECO mode engaging. It is quiet annoying but is normal.

 

I’m pretty sure ECO is not a mode. I think the manual says it’s an indication of when you are driving economically/ecologically. In other words, there is nothing that engages.

 

True, I worded it wrong, but when eco is engaged it can cause the humming at certain low speeds and rpms. I believe it disengages 3/6 cylinders. My 4Runner does this, my buddies highlander does it too.

 

That’s news to me. I know certain GM’s have cylinder cutout but never heard of the 4Runner?

 

You've never heard of it because it's not a real thing.

 

You went even more specific and without a doubt are describing a “mode” actually “engaging.”

Dont blame you for the confusion though. Sounds like information salesman might imply to a customer (because they dont lie) as a “possible” explanation for the eco light, because they’re “not totally sure”, and would have to “look it up, but it’s probably cylinder deactivation…because all GM has had that since forever and toyota is a high tech company, so…”

Frankly, it’s not any worse than toyota putting the stupid light in there to begin with. Our 18 Highlander has the same thing. It’s really just meant as a little white lie. Toyota implies they are being green when they are not, and green-conscious owners feel less guilty for not getting a hybrid (because “look! I made the green eco light come on!”)

Next, dealers will be saying the eco “mode” is making the needle bearing sound lol.