creaking noise from A-piller during turns

[00 scrub]

Whenever I turn my steering wheel to one lock (either left or right) at low speeds (like parking lot speeds) I can hear a consistant creak from my drivers side A-piller, what is that? It sounds bad, the creak comes whenever I make sharp turns in a parking lot at speeds less than 5mph,. I haven't tried it at higher speeds for obvious reasons. My car is a 2001 GT-S with 13k mi on the odo. Anyone else have this problem, or anyone else get this fixed by a dealer? What is causing this?

[nyoneway]

I hear the same thing too. I have a 2001 GTS with 20k miles. It only happens low speed.

Did you lower your car?

[GTS808]

Well I had a major water leak in my 2000 GTS. The problem was the a-pillar weld wasn't complete. The water was running down the pillar and into the interior. Maybe you have a bad weld there. But I wasn't hearing any noises. But then agian my car makes so much noises I wouldn't know if I had that sound or not. :)

[deathrow23]

yep i think i have the same problem....at low speeds and when u turn.sounds like the axle is rubbing together or loose.or something like that.i took mine to the dealer but they couldnt reproduce it...and its not loud but noticable when u listen for it...the mechanic said it was my stock tires rubbing..i was like ok....whatever..but it doesnt happen all the time...which is weird..and oh yea...the belt tensioner thing is squeaking when cold or rain...something i dont wannta hear on a new car......

[bickley]

I have that too but I think it's caused by my APR front strut bar. I noticed that under the hood it has rubbed just a tiny bit of paint off of the hood. One of the bolts on either side of the stut bar touches the hood. And at low speeds I hear this creak by either the driver side or passenger side. Ya'll check it out...it may be the same thing for you. Hope this helps.

[nyoneway]

I have APR front strut bar too. Hmm.. maybe that was it!

[00 scrub]

hmmmm, nope my car isn't lowered, nor do I have a strut bar. My only mod is a AEM CAI, and I'm sure that it doesn't rub the hood, but I think Ishould check the plastic underbody tray know that I think about it.

[Personafied]

Me too....but I think it is coming from the right rear though. My car is lowered but that shouldnt make a difference. It happens at low speeds and it is very annoying.

[Sillycar2001]

I have the exact problem and it is nothing minor. My 2001 Celica GT is stock except for a couple of small mods.

My creaking sound is coming from the passenger rear pillar when I turn, go over bumps or down an incline and so on. The sound is actually caused by a broken weld(s) around the passenger rear piller which have caused panels to seperate from the uni-body.

I my case I have take my car to three dealerships over 10 months and the problem is still not fixed. Toyota has confirned that it is a broken weld. I am Taking Toyota to Arbitration as a result of this issue. There is a lot more to my case.


A 29K car should not sound like it is falling apart.

[00 scrub]

Ouch, I do remember some posts about early model 2000 Celicas having a problems with the C-pillar weld, but I thought they fixed it with the late 2000s and 2001s. I think I should try to find some time and take it down to Toyota and have them look at it.

[rocket celica]

Originally posted by Sillycar2001
I have the exact problem and it is nothing minor. My 2001 Celica GT is stock except for a couple of small mods.

My creaking sound is coming from the passenger rear pillar when I turn, go over bumps or down an incline and so on. The sound is actually caused by a broken weld(s) around the passenger rear piller which have caused panels to seperate from the uni-body.

I my case I have take my car to three dealerships over 10 months and the problem is still not fixed. Toyota has confirned that it is a broken weld. I am Taking Toyota to Arbitration as a result of this issue. There is a lot more to my case.


A 29K car should not sound like it is falling apart.


how can you find out if the welding is broken?
Does someone know how to remove the plastic interior to check?

[Zorn]

I just started noticing an A-pillar sound from the passenger side when going over bumps/potholes/crappy roads at slow speeds. It's annoying.

[Sillycar2001]

If the there is a creaking sound coming from around the passenger rear window area - it is probably a broken wled.

A guy on another celica site stated that it was a broken weld(s), which caused panels to seperate from from the uni-body - causing the panel to creak against each other.

http://celica.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001861

http://celica.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001673

I have had Toyota confim that it is a broken weld. However, Toyota have tried many times to fix the broken weld but have had no success. I believe that Toyota can not access that area wtih out cutting the outside of the car and going in that way. I would recommend to take it to Toyota and see what they say.

Off to Arbitration...

Good luck...

[BrianW]

Originally posted by Sillycar2001

I have had Toyota confim that it is a broken weld. However, Toyota have tried many times to fix the broken weld but have had no success. I believe that Toyota can not access that area wtih out cutting the outside of the car and going in that way. I would recommend to take it to Toyota and see what they say.

Off to Arbitration...

Good luck...

You say that Toyota admitted that the creak was the result of a bad weld? I have had the same problem, but the dealer keeps telling me its just chasis flex, and they won't even look at it. If I had another dealer that was in the area I would try that, but I don't. Could you provide us with something that I can take into my dealer to prove that this problem exists? Given that you are in Canada (as am I), this information would be particularly helpful.

Thanks,

[Sillycar2001]

ATTN: BrianW

I ran into the same problem in the beginning...

The fact of the matter is that your dealership has to look at your problem and if there is something wrong with your car - i.e Manufactured Defective weld(s), then they would have to repair it.

When the chasis flexes, it should NOT make any sound... Have you asked the dealer to test drive another Celica? This is not a normal sound!

Unfortunately I can not give you any help right now, as I am going to arbitration very soon... If you can hold out for a couple more weeks I might be able to give you some tips.

Where are you from?

[Sillycar2001]

FYI,

For those that have a creaking sound form from the passenger rear pillar...


I my case Toyota has confirmed that is a broken weld... My advise would be to see your dealership about the creaking sound and verify the problem with them... It might be a broken weld and it might not be - the best way to find out is to see your dealership and let them handle it.

[rocket celica]

It all sounds easy enough!
"take it to the dealership"
but the truth of the matter is that everytime you take it in, you are risking your car from getting messed up, worn, scratched.

Lot of these guys do not take good care of customer cars when the customers aren't looking esp.

And most do not want to hear your explanation they tell you that the mechanics will determine the problem saying that they cannot go by hearsay. They say every case is different.

The bottom line is that for the dealership to get at the problem you will have to take it in at least 3 times.

Someone should just post how to remove the panel to check

[gsxr60097]

If you take it in and they tell you they can't reproduce or find anything then youare screwed and have to pay like 8o bucks an hour. I am hesitant to take in my car because of the tensioner. If it isn't sqeaking when they see it you pay.