initial

What's up clublexus family, I have a 2013 GS350 premium just shy of 70k miles and still running strong. This Louisiana heat recently caused a lot of things in my car to start rattling. I was sitting in my car one day just waiting for my shift to start and I could hear the plastic expanding inside the panels from the heat. Now the car has rattles like you'd never imagine. These rattles happen less at night when it gets "cooler." During the day, it's just awful since the heat makes the plastic expand. This did not happen the last two summers I had owned the car, so this is a first. The car used to be so quiet, and now the rattles make me want to drive the car off a cliff. I was wondering if you guys could give me some guidance on how to tackle these rattles and how to fix them as it will be my first time taking apart anything in this car.

Here's a list and locations of the rattles:

Dashboard/Gauge cluster area: two rattles that seem to be making a clicking sound whenever I go over certain bumps
Driver's side door: two rattles, one under the window switches (they stop rattling when I press my hand against it), and the other rattle I can't figure out. The other rattle sounds like it's coming from inside the door panel, but it sounds like it maybe coming from the door jam/seal.
Passenger side door: a rattle inside the door panel itself
Rear driver side door: slight rattle inside the door panel once in a while
Rear passenger side door: rattle inside the door panel that also seems to happen once in a while
Rear passenger side pillar behind the rear headrest: there's a loud creaking and rattling sound ONLY when going up and down curbs.
Rear driver side pillar behind rear headrest: rattles only over bumps
Sunroof rattle: already have the new sunroof seal on the way.

byungkuk

It might all be the sunroof issue - some people thought there was a rattle coming from the dashboard when in fact, it was the sunroof. Now if you have really great hearing and you've distinctly identified these noises then I beg to differ...

slvrcrz

+ on the sunroof. had me put my ear to everything while driving until i went to clublexus lol

initial

The sunroof seal is coming in next week, so I'll see if it changes anything. I've been driving like this for the last month so I decided to start paying attention to the rattles more with the music off. I was planning to pop the panels off to see if anything maybe loose, but I didnt want to do that just yet. Since you mentioned it might just be the sunroof causing all of this, then I'll replace the seal and pray that's the cause of everything. But as of right now, even with the music on, all of these rattles are very frustrating.

initial

The sunroof caused random rattles inside of the cabin?

lexo98

iTrader: (2)

Ive been tackling the rattles on my 2013. The worst rattles went away with the sunroof seal. Then I popped off the drivers door switch and duct taped the housing together. Pop the switch out and you will see what I’m talking about. That’s a source of one of your rattles. I’ve noticed that both driver and passenger door panels aren’t properly installed so I think I’m about to check those out right now.

initial

You'd think these rattles wouldnt happen cuz it's a lexus.

Measured

iTrader: (1)

Every first year of production has issues regardless of brand or reliability history.

lexo98

iTrader: (2)

I popped of the drivers door panel and think I got it aligned right but pretty sure one of the clips isn’t catching. Does anyone happen to have a picture of the inside of their door panel so I can see clip locations?

lexo98

iTrader: (2)

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure the switch rattle abs sunroof rattle are issues on more than just the first year

peteharvey

Not so much due to first year production run, but the 2013-15 4GS has more creaks and rattles due to firm spring rates.
The 2016-18 will creak rattle less thanks to its softer spring rates.
While the 2019-20 will be intermediate with creaks and rattles due to use of intermediate spring rates.

Do keep in mind that 2016-20 has more laser welds for a stiffer platform, so these years may creak rattle a little less.

bclexus

Heat actually causes expansion and will usually tighten connected or fitted parts whereas cold contracts and tends to open or loosen connected/fitted parts, which then creates the likelihood for rattles.

I'm in Dallas,Texas where we often see 3-digit summer temperatures and I've never experienced any rattles due to high temperature. If anything the high temperature snugs things up.

initial

That's pretty neat actually lol. For me and a lot of my friends, the heat tends to expand and make stuff pop out or become a little loose cuz of the expansion. I wish I had your effect lol. It would save me from the rattles.

initial

Your clips arent attaching huh? Send pics so I can have an idea of what I should be seeing when I pop mine off.

Cwang

What condition are your shocks in? Unless you've changed them already they may be shagged....depending on your driving style. It's amazing how many small rattles go away when the car is sitting on good shocks.