Hi all,

I am 3 weeks into my 2014 ES300h, my first Lexus and first hybrid. I am hearing this odd rattling noise from the center console, it's almost like two wires touching. The noise comes mainly at low speeds and mostly what it seems like on the hybrid train.

I took it to the dealer who is saying they hear no noise or normal hybrid noise. Since this car is supposed to have a super quite cabin I am wondering if I am being taken for a ride (figuratively) :-)

Can someone please help me confirm there is no noise in my head!

Thanks,
Raj.

 

No one can really confirm if there is a noise or not aside from people who has been in your car. You should ask shop foreman to take a ride with you to point out which noise that's bothering you. Dealers are notorious for not admitting rattles and sloppy fix jobs.

 

I have a minor rattle in my center console, it is by the shiftier. If I press slightly on the chrome plastic around the shiftier, it goes away. It does not happen all the time. The dealer fixed it once but 2 weeks later it came back. I will let them look at it when I go in for my 20,000 mile service.

 

If you can figure out where a trim-rattle is coming from, a piece of foam tape applied behind that piece usually solves it. The foam tape (weather strip) sells for just a few bucks a roll at building-supply stores. Often the difficult part of the repair is finding how to remove and replace that part to put the foam behind it.

Mechanics usually don't want to spend the time to figure out where the noise is coming from. The process of locating a noise is tedious and time-consuming. But, they are often willing to apply a piece of foam tape, and know exactly how to put it in, if you can identify exactly which part needs to be touched to make it stop.

 

The dealer had my ES for 5 hours the first time and it did stop for a while but I guess they did not put in enough foam, they will get another chance when I bring it in for the 20k service. I do not want to dismantle the console.

 

I feel sometimes taking apart the console to fix a rattle produces more rattles, but that's me .