What flew off my LX470?

[ballardcruiser]

This morning, I drove the 2000 LX470 up I-90 to go skiing. As I got closer to Snoqualmie Pass, the wind started really gusting (30-50mph). I was cruising along (60 mph) when I started to get this really loud vibration noise from the front right, sounding sorta like plastic clapping on metal. Find a safe place to pull over, check the wheels (wheel bearings just replaced three months ago at the dealer), check underneath. Find nothing. Remember that one bolt is missing from the factory skid plate and assume the wind is causing resonance and moving that corner around... gotta fix that soon. All other bolts on tight.

I get back in and keep driving, all is well, then another huge wind gust, another crazy bout of slapping plastic from front right. Slow down , noise dies down, pull over someplace safe... again, nothing. Gauges all look great, car runs fine. No overheating. Nothing weird under the hood. I drive again regular freeway speed, all is well, then noise kicks in with wind gust, assume it's the factory skid plate w/ missing bolt, and after another bout of 30 seconds of intense noise, big cracking/clunking sound and I notice about 6" of plastic flying in the rear view mirror behind me.

So... freaking out but car ran fine after that. I'm back home and I'm looking at the rig and can't figure out where this came from or if it was important. No more vibration noise on the way home (40 miles, full speed). Trying to figure out what went flying. Is there supposed to be a plastic cover over the assembly of the right fog light? If so, that is missing...could that have been it? The skid plate is the same as always. Anyplace else I should look? It was def. triggered by the cross wind. Roof rack is on just fine. So weird...

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

Is any of that lightweight black plastic trim in the wheel well loose or missing? Look at both wheel wells, there are (2) plastic seals/panels per side for the fender apron that are pretty flimsy. One of those maybe came loose, rubbed for a bit and eventually the fasteners gave up the goat and it flew away.

 

[ReallyACruiser]

Afraid I'm not gonna be of much help on the plastics... But you're up in my neck of the woods! At least when I'm not at college in Florida.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

Check your front headlight/side marker lights. The side marker lights can make the exact sound you mention when the plastic retaining tab breaks... easy to fix with some double sided foam tap or a touch of silicon to hold it to the headlight... worth checking...

 

[ballardcruiser]

Still not finding what flew off. I need a pic of the inside wheel well of an LX470, looking forward. I'll try to find another LX around my neighborhood to examine, too.

 

[Placemotorsports]

Windshield cowl loose?

 

[JayM]

Still not finding what flew off. I need a pic of the inside wheel well of an LX470, looking forward. I'll try to find another LX around my neighborhood to examine, too.

Well, being that you were heading up the pass and we have had a good amount of snow and slush have you considered that you had a good amount of ice accumulation? The vibration noise could have been it getting to a point when it started rubbing on the tire and then the ice popped off and looked like plastic with all of the sand and dirt in it. The picture you posted looks normal to me. If you have running boards ice collection is even more of an issue.