Intermittent crackling noise from dashboard

[HomersCanyonero]

I can't figure out what this noise is:

Gx470.m4a

It appears to be coming from the dashboard area. I mounted my iPhone on the dashboard between the steering wheel and the navi screen. I recorded the above noise while I was parked at my work's parking structure.

This crackling noise happens intermittently. I've heard this noise at startup, while driving with radio off, while parked with radio on, while driving, while parked. It comes and goes.

I opened the hood when this noise was happening, but I couldn't hear the noise in the engine bay. I've tried to see if it's coming from the speakers, but I cannot tell. The noise is faint enough that I can't really hear it while driving unless I'm stopped in traffic or pay real close attention to sounds.

Anyone have an idea?

It's a 2003 GX470 with the Blisten coilovers in the front. Air bags in the rear. I didn't do the coilovers in the front myself, so I don't know if that noise is from the front. At least I don't hear it in the rear.

Thanks for any insights.

 

[GXMac]

This could be maybe loose trim or debris in the blower fan.

I think I have a similar noise to yours in my 09 but mine is more of a clunking that's intermittent when starting cold and then goes away after it's warmed up. I also have bilsteins I installed but the noise has been there since before that. I'm thinking I may take out my blower this weekend and take a look.

 

[GXMac]

Here is mine: VIDEO0101_01_high_quality.mp3

This was sitting in park in idle a few seconds after first start-up on a "cold" day but I hear it in idle while the engine is still cold and I'm at a stop after driving.

 

[TheOtherGuy]

It's the diverter door for the air conditioning switching for outside air to recirculate and vis-versa. If you pull the glove box out you will see it behind there.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I'll check that out behind the glovebox. It's intermittent, so I don't always hear it and it's faint. That seems more plausible since I can't hear noise from engine bay

 

[lndshark]

The Other Guy is on it. See if the noise can be replicated by changing modes in the climate control: fresh/recirc, fan speeeds, dash vents to defrost or floor, etc. If a blend door actuator is hanging or sticking, it could make a pop or rattle.

 

[kylebacc]

Pretty sure I have this going on in my 06 right now. I just assumed it was the thing that switches between outside/inside air intake. I've got to take the thing in for a few other warranty items. I'll let y'all know what they say when I have them fix it. Mine sounds like the first sound clip in this thread. May not be for a few weeks (final exam season).

 

[langsen]

Mine does it too. I checked out the blend door actuator on the evaporator and found it had popped off. Tried fixing it and it popped off again, then noticed the plastic was cracked. I disconnected the actuator and moved the blend door to recirculate. Fresh air mode always just sucked hot air off the top of the hood anyway, so my AC is much colder now.

But it still makes that noise. I think the temperature control actuators on either side of the heater core are doing it. If I turn the temp control all the way to "cold" it doesn't make the noise, it's most noticeable when the temp is set just above 70. Basically, there are at least three different actuators that could be making the noise. If you do the AC self check it might help pinpoint which one it is.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

It looks like temperature actuators are the problem. I played around with the temperature setting when the ac was on and I could cause the noise to happen by setting the temperature to 72 o 74 degrees. If I set it back to max cold, then it takes a few seconds to quiet down.

I still can't tell where the noise is coming from, but I can control the noise now by setting my ac to max cold. I'm going to monitor it more, but max cold seems to do the trick for now.