Vibration and Flapping noise from Drive Train

[diydave Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close diydave]

I recently purchased a used 2006 Prado Grande Petrol, twice since i purchased it which was about 2 months ago i have had a weird occurrence.

Both times was when the vehicle was cold, drove down to the motorway slip road which is about 1 km from home, got up to 70 - 80 km and their was a flapping noise from the drive train, at the back i believe, and a vibration coming thru the drive train, also at the back.

Both times i slowed down, and stopped, checked underneath, tires etc and found nothing. Got back in it drove home without the noise or vibration happening again. I drove it for over a month between occurrences with no problems. Driving so far has just been around town and motorway running. Haven't had time to do anything else. (Don't want to until its sorted)

The vibration i think is coming from the back, first time it happened it thought i had picked up something on a Tyre (which are brand new), nothing. The second time the flapping was far more pronounced. The flapping noise slowly wound down as the vehicle slowed down to a stop.

Both times when i got home, did a complete inspection, checked everything in the drivetrain, brakes, tyres, couldnt find a thing.

Its currently back at the dealer again, they cant find anything either. Obviously it wont make the noise for them.

Anyone got any thoughts

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

There is a useless bit of plastic that hangs of the back the transmission bash plate, not really at the rear of the Prado but it can make a similar noise to the one you mentioned. Might want to check that, its a long shot but throw that away and see how you go.

Like a lot of intermittent problems, you may have to wait for it to become more consistent to find out what it is.

Cheers Andrew

[diydave Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close diydave]

Cheers Andrew, thought of plastic moldings, but the severe vibration let me to rule those out, will definitely look at that though. Its back at the dealer today for them to have another go.

Dave

[diydave Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close diydave]

Hi All

Had the Grande back to the dealer we bought if from for the 5th time last week for a rotten egg smell and the mystery noise. (PS the rotten egg smell was because the exhaust was full of water (or so they say, time will tell))

Anyway, the new service manager reckons he had the same problem with a vehicle he owned years ago. He says that its coming from the read LSD and that the oil is nackered or the wrong grade oil in it. In his vehicle (not a prado) it had a high powered engine and standard diffs, he said he had to change the oil every 6 to 12 months of it would do the same thing.

My explanation of the noise was someone had nailed a length of timer to the back tyre and it was smacking the guard every time it went around. In other words very loud. He said "that's a perfect discription of the noise mine made"

If the oil is worn out, or wrong oil, the LSD under certain circumstances will engage/disengage/engage etc under load. He did explain it in detail, but was driving the car at the time with the son the passenger seat trying to negotiate traffic so wasn't really listening to hard.

Its now had all its oils changed, time will tell if its fixed. Will keep you updated