Headlining cracking sound

[mikolandio]

Hello, 

 

I own a 2011 Toyota Auris 1.6. I've noticed that in recent months there appears to be a consistent cracking/crackling noise coming from above (from the headligning area) where the sun visor arm is located. 

Has anyone experienced this noise and know of a fix? 

I've made a quick recording of the noise. Focus on the "cracking" rather than the roadnoise. 

Any ideas what this might be and how to fix it? 

Many Thanks, 
 

[TonyHSD]

This sounds like plastics along the dashboard.
These cars are known for cracking noises from hard plastics thermo expansion. Even if you stop the car somewhere and remain seated in after some time when the sun goes down or covered by clouds you can hear the dashboard is cracking like it will break apart, same during winter when you had used the heating but then after you had switched off the engine and the cabin gets colder the dashboard again start to make similar creaking noises. 
Happens to me sometime and I have learnt not to pay attention to it, it will go away by itself. 👍

[mikolandio]

2 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

This sounds like plastics along the dashboard.
These cars are known for cracking noises from hard plastics thermo expansion. Even if you stop the car somewhere and remain seated in after some time when the sun goes down or covered by clouds you can hear the dashboard is cracking like it will break apart, same during winter when you had used the heating but then after you had switched off the engine and the cabin gets colder the dashboard again start to make similar creaking noises. 
Happens to me sometime and I have learnt not to pay attention to it, it will go away by itself. 👍

Hmm.... I've always known for the trim around the centre console to be a bit creaky, however this one is persistent and annoying on longer drives. I've owned the car for a number of years now and I safely say that this noise - wherever its coming from is new. Its far different from all the others that I've grown to live with. 

The thing is this noise is coming from the headligning area rather than the dashbaord..... I've known the dashboard to crack from time to time from the heat - that's expected. The noise I'm experiencing is consistent cracking/cling - it doesn't seem to go away. 

[Bper]

This is from a post on a corolla with a similar problem.

The dealership told me that the headliner is only held in by the screws of the hand grabs, sun visors, dome light, etc. I asked if it was held in by clips, and they told me it was not. I asked if a sound deadening product or foam would make a difference, and the dealer said no. They informed me that the noise is just characteristic of the type of material the headliner is made out of. I really want to like this car, but I can't deal with the noise unless it can be corrected. I expected more from Toyota for a nearly 27k car, or at least as good as the used Civics or Elantras I had that did not have this issue.

[mikolandio]

1 minute ago, Bper said:

This is from a post on a corolla with a similar problem.

The dealership told me that the headliner is only held in by the screws of the hand grabs, sun visors, dome light, etc. I asked if it was held in by clips, and they told me it was not. I asked if a sound deadening product or foam would make a difference, and the dealer said no. They informed me that the noise is just characteristic of the type of material the headliner is made out of. I really want to like this car, but I can't deal with the noise unless it can be corrected. I expected more from Toyota for a nearly 27k car, or at least as good as the used Civics or Elantras I had that did not have this issue.

I agree. I bought my car at nowhere near that price and mine is an older model (2011). The issue, I have is that the noise has only began after almost 5 years of ownership. Otherwise the car has been nearenough faultless. I am quite noise sensitve in nature (nothing I can do about it sorry) and I'm convinced this noise is new and I would be keen to find a solution for it and/or the cause. 

Its a frustrating experience on a longer drive. 

[tavy]

Hi,

try to remove sun visors, headlamp and A pillar trims and put some silicone vaseline there.

[Bper]

Have you tried holding the liner in various places when the cracking starts to see if it stops. It could be transfer of sound from the A pIller. This has been talked about before.

If you can't hold the liner when driving ask a passenger to do so in the front and back seats as it may be transferring through from the back. 

[TonyHSD]

That’s right . You will need to find out where the noise comes from first. Touching the different details while driving may help. You can turn off hvac first so no fan spinning, just work by exclusion and you will hopefully find it. 
Outside the rooftop there are two long plastic trims , you can check these too, particularly driver side if the noise comes from there. Rain sensors or mirror fittings too.