u/RetroNurd

i have seen this issue reported a few times like this thread but no one has ever posted a resolution.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaAvalon/s/F3CysinjyM

i've seen people post it on other toyota forums as well. i have had another member message me with the same issue.

people often think it's the steering column damper which has more of a metal on metal thud sound. i originally thought that was the source of this rattle and had the damper changed out and it fixed the steering wheel thud/clunk sound but the rattle remains. the rattle does not happen when moving the steering wheel.

the rattle sound happens when driving, anywhere from 30-70 mph, while accelerating and while coasting. it's not speed dependent and not really reproducible. i can get it to happen on most drives but there's no single trigger. it sounds like a metal on metal or plastic on metal vibration. almost like a wire harness plastic clip that goes into a hole is not in the hole and the vibration from the car/engine is causing it to rattle against the metal.

i have checked the various components i can reach while driving. i disconnected the boot on top of the steering wheel, the plastic fuse box cover by the dead pedal. i have tried to move the leather and plastic around on the dash. Same with the door and under the steering wheel to move various wiring bundles under the dash. i've looked under the dash and nothing appears loose. i'm not 100% it's coming from the inside, it could be coming from the engine bay. i removed the fuse box cover inside the engine bay.

has anyone tracked down the source of this rattle? i took it to my mechanic and he put new pop rivets where they were missing and loose around the splash shield and wheel well thinking maybe the wind was catching a loose panel but that didn't fix it. he didn't have any other ideas besides for leaving the car with him and he would charge by the hour to track it down.