MECHANIC'S CORNER: Rattling Noise on a Toyota Avanza

Rear view of the Toyota Avanza

This week an owner of a Toyota Avanza came in the shop and complained about rattling noises from the rear portion of the vehicle. Initially he thought that there might have been a problem with the rear suspension and thus brought his car to the shop to have it inspected by a professional.

Removing rear spoiler

To locate the specific source of the problem, our technicians took the unit for a test run along the N. Bacalso highway. Once completed they have diagnosed that there is no problem with the suspension of the Avanza and that everything is working well except the rattling noise by the back door of the vehicle. Upon close inspection, it was found that the rear spoiler was loose after years of placement.

Application of double sided tape to the spoiler

To fix the problem, our technician removed the rear spoiler (as seen above) and placed double sided tape on the spoiler (seen on right). The adhesive is placed to ensure a snug fit upon reinstallation of the spoiler as well as tightening the screws that hold the spoiler in place.

With this circumstance, we can learn that we should not jump into conclusions as to the source of the problem but rather we should learn to analyze and take a close look as to the real source of the problem as to avoid unnecessary expense and repair of your vehicle.

We can also see from this illustration, that certain fixes are as simple as adding double sided tape and ensuring that all the screws are tightly placed.

As they say, "Prevention is better than a cure." So whenever you face any minor problems and noises that are not normal, do not hesitate to have it automatically checked by a professional near you. Better to spend a small amount now to prevent a problem than wait later on until the damage is extensive and will cost more.