chirping/squeaking noises from body

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Vijay Bajwa - 30 May 2007 15:28 GMT

On a rough road, I my '97 camry makes chirping/sqeaking noises which
seem to come from the body generally (sounds like stuff behind the
dash is loose). The ride itself is pretty good, the car is not low
(ground clearance is better than most).

Do some body bolts need tightening or is it time for new struts?

Thanks a lot,
Vijay

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hachiroku ハチロク - 30 May 2007 15:41 GMT

> On a rough road, I my '97 camry makes chirping/sqeaking noises which
> seem to come from the body generally (sounds like stuff behind the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks a lot,
> Vijay

There used to be a recommendation in the manual (nobody ever follows it)
for tightening body bolts. Where are they? I don't know! Could be this is
the source of the noise.

How many miles on the car? Could be the springs, but you say it comes from
behind the dash. This would require removing the instrument panel and
hunting it down. I had this happen with a Nissan, and it was a pain.

If there's a clunking with it, it could be the strut mounts.
Unfortunately, squeaks, rattles and groans are hard to pinpoint even when
you're in the car!

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Vijay Bajwa - 30 May 2007 16:03 GMT

> There used to be a recommendation in the manual (nobody ever follows it)
> for tightening body bolts. Where are they? I don't know! Could be this is
> the source of the noise.

My chilton manual pin-points these bolts. I need to raise the car
though. Will try this week-end and let you know.

> How many miles on the car? Could be the springs, but you say it comes from
> behind the dash. This would require removing the instrument panel and
> hunting it down. I had this happen with a Nissan, and it was a pain.

There are 148K miles on the car. The noise generally comes from under
the car and it appears though it's coming from behind the dash, and
from under the automatic shift column. Transmission, engine smooth as
new though.

> If there's a clunking with it, it could be the strut mounts.
> Unfortunately, squeaks, rattles and groans are hard to pinpoint even when
> you're in the car!

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Ph@Boy - 30 May 2007 19:53 GMT

> On a rough road, I my '97 camry makes chirping/sqeaking noises which
> seem to come from the body generally (sounds like stuff behind the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks a lot,
> Vijay

Can you "bounce" the car's suspension while parked by vigorously pushing
down on the front end and hear the noise? It's difficult to diagnose
noises on a NG.

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Vijay Bajwa - 30 May 2007 22:11 GMT

> > On a rough road, I my '97 camry makes chirping/sqeaking noises which
> > seem to come from the body generally (sounds like stuff behind the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> down on the front end and hear the noise? It's difficult to diagnose
> noises on a NG.

No, but I found a good resource for my problem. Sounds like what I am
experiencing. The chirping noise (on a rough road, like crickets
mating) I think comes from loose parts inside the console where the
shift shaft sits. See below:
http://www.greenhybrid.com/discuss/archive/index.php/t-7908.html

Although the problem they report is for hybrids, I believe my problem
can be fixed the same way.

Thanks,
Vijay

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Jeff - 30 May 2007 22:22 GMT

>>> On a rough road, I my '97 camry makes chirping/sqeaking noises which
>>> seem to come from the body generally (sounds like stuff behind the
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Thanks,
> Vijay

That might be it. Otherwise, you might have chipmonks or something
living the car.

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