Noise from the driver's side roof area

[campoj2]

I am about at my wits end with this issue, and after owning three of these rigs...this issue is the most annoying of them all.

There is a noise coming from the drivers side area, between the A and B pillars. It's not a wind noise, more like a rattle or something is loose noise. You hear when you are driving straight, turning, cruising or speeding.
The noise occurs while driving and going over bumps. You can here it at 20mph though 90mph.
It also occurs when the sunroof is open or closed.
Stock roof rack with nothing else up there.


I have removed (and broken) the mounting plastic on the drivers side leading edge roof rack mount and tightened the bolts, they were tight and now they are more tight
I have removed the plastic cover behind the leading roof rack mount and tightened the bolts, they were tight and now they are more tight
I have removed the rubber gasket trim the is in the canals and the noise continues
I have removed the drivers side upper oh-s*** handle and the noise continues
I moved both cross members to the full aft position on the LC, meaning they are towards the tailgate
I have checked for gnomes, zombies and unicorns and guess what? They're not up there -
I have screamed incessantly at the noise and the noise continues....

RFIs:
1. Are there any adjustments to be made with the sunroof?
2. Are there any cables on between the A and B pillars on the drivers side that could come loose?
3. Does the FSM address anything about noises coming from this area?
4. How hard is it to remove the headliner??

Has anyone else had this problem? I ran my searches on the forum and came up empty.

H-E-L-P!

 

[indycole]

A couple things come to mind...

The "reveal molding" that extends from the windshield to the roof rack can get loose and chatter. Make sure it's secure... there are glued clips that should keep it in place.

Second, is there any chance your roof rack mounting retainer fell into the headliner / A-pillar? The headliner comes down pretty easily but it's easy to crease.

 

[Big Timber]

most likely that windshield reveal molding is loose. The one that runs from the top of the windshield down the A pillar. Has the windshield ever been replaced? Some window replacement shops don't know how to deal with removing and reattaching correctly.

 

[campoj2]

The only issue I have with the windshield reveal molding is that the noise is no-kidding right above my head between the edge of the sunroof and the driver's side grab handle. It's pretty far back from the leading edge of the A-Pillar. When I was up there the last time I checked all of the bolts and they are tight and still have their backing plates.

I'm still wondering if there is an adjustment on the sunroof that can be made, perhaps an alignment or something...

I'm stopping by the Lexus dealership (because they are way better than the local Toyota dealership) tomorrow night and I will ask them if they have any ideas of what that noice could be.

 

[OregonLC]

Noises are very hard to pinpoint. You'll swear it's coming from location X, but in reality its bouncing around and coming from location Y.

Does the noise happen year round or just when it's cold? I've found that expansion rates in the windshield/body interface are just different enough when very cold that the glass chatters against something. Only happens at < 30F.

 

[campoj2]

She's a year round noise, very pronounced once the sunroof shade is in the back (stowed) position. It's even there when the sunroof is open which really baffles me.

 

[TexAZ]

Probably the windshield molding. Very annoying. Sounds about where you are describing.

Push on the very end of the moulding at the top. If there is any flex or movement, well, bob's your uncle.
You can squirt some RTV inbetween the moulding and the useless clip and it should eliminate the vibration.

 

[campoj2]

I going to be getting into the headliner and will post pictures of that nightmare once it begins