Creaking Seat/buckle?

[Stonkn]

Hello - I wonder if I could call on your collective knowledge. I have recently bought an 18 month old RAV T180 & have a strange creak that seems to emanate from the area of the drivers seat around the seat belt buckle mounting. The problem is that it seems to mainly happen on RH bends as you effectively load up the LH side of the seat. I cant replicate it when stopped at all. I have checked the seat & moved it up/down & back & forth + lubricated the buckle mechanics & the area where the loom comes into the housing.

Its almost as though something moves & catches so you get a number of small creaks through the corner or if you go over a long, gentle bump. Sometimes I can even 'feel' the creak through the seat.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks Marco

[Davrav]

Hello - I wonder if I could call on your collective knowledge. I have recently bought an 18 month old RAV T180 & have a strange creak that seems to emanate from the area of the drivers seat around the seat belt buckle mounting. The problem is that it seems to mainly happen on RH bends as you effectively load up the LH side of the seat. I cant replicate it when stopped at all. I have checked the seat & moved it up/down & back & forth + lubricated the buckle mechanics & the area where the loom comes into the housing.

Its almost as though something moves & catches so you get a number of small creaks through the corner or if you go over a long, gentle bump. Sometimes I can even 'feel' the creak through the seat.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks Marco

Have you checked/tightened the seat mountings to the floor?

[bothwell_buyer]

I get the same problem - its to do with the centre of gravity of my 134kgs bulk. I'm getting the seat lowered to see if it makes a difference!

[Davrav]

Hello - I wonder if I could call on your collective knowledge. I have recently bought an 18 month old RAV T180 & have a strange creak that seems to emanate from the area of the drivers seat around the seat belt buckle mounting. The problem is that it seems to mainly happen on RH bends as you effectively load up the LH side of the seat. I cant replicate it when stopped at all. I have checked the seat & moved it up/down & back & forth + lubricated the buckle mechanics & the area where the loom comes into the housing.

Its almost as though something moves & catches so you get a number of small creaks through the corner or if you go over a long, gentle bump. Sometimes I can even 'feel' the creak through the seat.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks Marco

Is the 'creak' actually coming from inside the cabin? Is it possibly being transmitted from under the floor? I haven't investigated under there on mine but it maybe that there is an attachment that has worked loose.

That would explain why you cannot replicate when the vehicle is stationary. Other, wiser folk should be able to tell you what is attached in that area that could possibly cause the problem.

I know how annoying these things can be - on a previous vehicle my family and neighbours thought I had gone mad in trying to locate a rattle that sounded like a stone in a bean can every time I drove over a gentle bump.

Three trips to local garage, wheels off, Brakes removed and refitted, splash guards tightened, heat shields riveted to death and it was still there. I spent several hours over many weeks searching the net and checking everything I could see, touch or tap under the car. I eventually found a pebble the size of a pea that was sitting in a hollow in the bottom of one front strut, behind the brake disc shield. I only found it because I pushed on the disc shield accidentaly and it fell into the resultant gap and wouldn't allow the shield to go back in place. Driving without the rattle was akin to the relief after having a bad tooth extracted.

[anchorman]

Hello - I wonder if I could call on your collective knowledge. I have recently bought an 18 month old RAV T180 & have a strange creak that seems to emanate from the area of the drivers seat around the seat belt buckle mounting. The problem is that it seems to mainly happen on RH bends as you effectively load up the LH side of the seat. I cant replicate it when stopped at all. I have checked the seat & moved it up/down & back & forth + lubricated the buckle mechanics & the area where the loom comes into the housing.

Its almost as though something moves & catches so you get a number of small creaks through the corner or if you go over a long, gentle bump. Sometimes I can even 'feel' the creak through the seat.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks Marco

Ah ha!

Mine does it as well!!!

It is in fact the seat and if you move left your leg up and down you can make it do it. I believe the inside of the seat cover is rubbing on the cushion or frame.

What to do about it?.............

I have pondered for quite some time on this and at the moment I cure it by moving my left leg to the right. Good eh! You have to weigh up the alternatives;

Go to the dealer. It depends on how good they are as to whether they will even take you seriously but even if they do I think the only option is to take the seat apart and even then if there is nothing physically wrong then they might spray it with silicone in an attempt to silence it. I don't really like my car being pulled apart by anyone other than me. That way if I break a clip or something only I can be blamed and I know that at some stage I can get one and fix it.

However, I accept there are some very good people working for the dealers and all may go well - its just my luck to get the one who has just been told he is out of there on Friday!

So! I could do it myself but at the moment I'm busy doing other things and as I said I can fix it by moving my leg - maybe one day soon when the weather gets better I might take that seat out. If you have a go be sure to disconnect the Battery and leave it while you have a brew because if that seat air bag goes off when you unplug it you will think Mike Tyson has just planted you one :crutchy:

If you are lucky the dealer may be aware of it and has a proven fix. I may mention it next time I pass and see what they say (if I remember it).

Now just while I know you are half mad from that creak let me see if you have got this one. Sometimes mine makes a consistent rattle from somewhere on the right of the steering wheel. I have found it is that panel with the window switches in the door and if you just press it you cure it for a while.

My wife gets very frustrated with me and my antics while I'm driving. Left leg moving and panel pressing, not to mention holding that little collar at the top of the gearstick gaiter which makes an infernal din when the engine is pulling hard. She also says I watch her when she changes the temperature on her heater control.

Don't.

[Davrav]

Now just while I know you are half mad from that creak let me see if you have got this one. Sometimes mine makes a consistent rattle from somewhere on the right of the steering wheel. I have found it is that panel with the window switches in the door and if you just press it you cure it for a while.

Those switch panels come out really easily if you simply insert a trim tool [i use a small plastic sculptors spatula] under the pointed end and prise up. I suspect that a small blob of slicone mastic strategically placed would cure that one - very similar to your cure for the rattling mirror cover plate.

I have been investigating the possiilities with regard to adding some LEDs to illuminate the window switches at night and was very surprised at how loose those panels are.

[anchorman]

Now just while I know you are half mad from that creak let me see if you have got this one. Sometimes mine makes a consistent rattle from somewhere on the right of the steering wheel. I have found it is that panel with the window switches in the door and if you just press it you cure it for a while.

Those switch panels come out really easily if you simply insert a trim tool [i use a small plastic sculptors spatula] under the pointed end and prise up. I suspect that a small blob of slicone mastic strategically placed would cure that one - very similar to your cure for the rattling mirror cover plate.

I have been investigating the possiilities with regard to adding some LEDs to illuminate the window switches at night and was very surprised at how loose those panels are.

The problem is........

If I go for a trip out somewhere with anchorwoman it only does it now and again so by the time I get back I forget it!!!

If I put post it notes on the glass I'll have that many I won't be able to see out.

I'll get round to it some day but thanks anyway!!!

Let us see those LEDs - they may go in the pimping section ;)

[Davrav]

Let us see those LEDs - they may go in the pimping section ;)

The LED thing is very much a 'work in progress' I am trying to figure out the best way to do it without making a 'horlicks' of the switch board and panel 'cos I suspect that replacements cost a lot of Nelsons. The LED for the driver window switch is mounted directly on to the circuit board and is minute. Will have another look when it warms up a bit.

My personal vibraton bugbear at the moment is the sunroof [or should it be 'moon roof'?] sliding panel. It is a real nuisance when on tickover at traffic lights etc. as it is so close to the ears. I have managed to damp it to some extent by laying a piece of thin rubber matting on top of the panel but the vibration is still there. It stops if a very light finger pressure is applied. I have a suspicion that it may even be the plastic 'bellows' arrangement in there. Has anyone solved this one satisfactorily?

[i'm sure Bothy will make a meal of this one what with 'rubber' and 'vibration' and 'finger pressure']

[anchorman]

My personal vibraton bugbear at the moment is the sunroof [or should it be 'moon roof'?] sliding panel. It is a real nuisance when on tickover at traffic lights etc. as it is so close to the ears. I have managed to damp it to some extent by laying a piece of thin rubber matting on top of the panel but the vibration is still there. It stops if a very light finger pressure is applied. I have a suspicion that it may even be the plastic 'bellows' arrangement in there. Has anyone solved this one satisfactorily?

No but there is no doubt that although I didn't have a vibrating sliding panel I'll be listening for it now and may even find time to annoy anchorwoman by fiddling with it.

[bothwell_buyer]

Let us see those LEDs - they may go in the pimping section ;)

The LED thing is very much a 'work in progress' I am trying to figure out the best way to do it without making a 'horlicks' of the switch board and panel 'cos I suspect that replacements cost a lot of Nelsons. The LED for the driver window switch is mounted directly on to the circuit board and is minute. Will have another look when it warms up a bit.

My personal vibraton bugbear at the moment is the sunroof [or should it be 'moon roof'?] sliding panel. It is a real nuisance when on tickover at traffic lights etc. as it is so close to the ears. I have managed to damp it to some extent by laying a piece of thin rubber matting on top of the panel but the vibration is still there. It stops if a very light finger pressure is applied. I have a suspicion that it may even be the plastic 'bellows' arrangement in there. Has anyone solved this one satisfactorily?

[i'm sure Bothy will make a meal of this one what with 'rubber' and 'vibration' and 'finger pressure']

ah well theres an excuse to jump in..........

I had a severe vibration with RAV number 2 yesterday - a hefty clunk which steadily and quickly got worse to scraping and lots of metal sounds.....the rear offside sway mount to the lower shock had lost its nut so the whole lot was hanging in mid air. Luckily the guys at the Garage had said they didn't think the design was robust and to test the car/keep an ear open for funny sounds.....now - number 2 has the turbo engine but not quite the straight thru exhaust so I can't hear the engine running. If the same had happened with number 1 then I'd have heard nothing until doing doughnuts unintentionally at a roundabout

Yep - the rubber lower mount and the swivel action of the sway bar simply undid the nut on the lower bolt causing the vibration then clunking. Finger pressure wasn't enough...and my arms wereny long enough!

A trip in number 1 is quite noisy and one tends not to hear vibrations etc!! Until the front wheels hit the ground that is.

[junebug1701]

Let us see those LEDs - they may go in the pimping section ;)

The LED thing is very much a 'work in progress' I am trying to figure out the best way to do it without making a 'horlicks' of the switch board and panel 'cos I suspect that replacements cost a lot of Nelsons. The LED for the driver window switch is mounted directly on to the circuit board and is minute. Will have another look when it warms up a bit.

This guy mounted amber LED's at the top of the door handle recess. If you angle them right, you should be able to light up the window switches:

[Davrav]

This guy mounted amber LED's at the top of the door handle recess. If you angle them right, you should be able to light up the window switches:

Hi James,

I did come across this one but couldn't open the whole thread - is it still active and do you have a direct link to it?

It would be really useful to know where he took the feed from. I was considering mounting very small LEDs in the actual switch recesses.

David

[sywy]

I also have this problem (creaky seat), but on the right hand side of the drivers seat. I have also traced it to the seat foam rubbing against the seat chasis. Although not the reason, I'm having my seat rebuilt on Monday. Some of the leather has come unattached and has torn slightly. So the dealer has ordered new foam and new leather. I'm hoping this will cure the creak (fingers crossed).

[Stonkn]

Hello - I wonder if I could call on your collective knowledge. I have recently bought an 18 month old RAV T180 & have a strange creak that seems to emanate from the area of the drivers seat around the seat belt buckle mounting. The problem is that it seems to mainly happen on RH bends as you effectively load up the LH side of the seat. I cant replicate it when stopped at all. I have checked the seat & moved it up/down & back & forth + lubricated the buckle mechanics & the area where the loom comes into the housing.

Its almost as though something moves & catches so you get a number of small creaks through the corner or if you go over a long, gentle bump. Sometimes I can even 'feel' the creak through the seat.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks Marco

[Stonkn]

Thanks for all your input - I also suffer from a high roll centre!! However, it definitely comes from the seat/buckle - I will have a look at the frame/cushion underneath but it seems to have improved slightly in the warmer weather !!

Marco