[COREYMFT]

Well I searched the forum to find an answer, but haven't had much luck and hoping someone here can help. Brand new stock 2015 4x4, just over 3900 miles, heard this weird sound tonight but only when at a dead stop...not a mechanical sound, not grinding or squealing or rattling/vibrating, ticking...best way to describe it is like tumbling a mouse around in a plastic bucket. It was in the center, where the dash/console meets the floor, and sounded like it was just on the other side of the plastic. Nothing in the cup holders. Not a sound when driving at any speed, or when braking, just when I stop completely. I heard it about three times on my way home, pulled over into a parking lot and looked underneath, saw nothing, drove the rest of the way home and didn't hear it again. No weird smells or leaks or smoke. Any ideas?? Or did I have some animal get stuck in there?? Truck drove fine, no problems. Thank God it went away but I don't ignore anything out of the ordinary when it comes to my vehicles. If there is something wrong I want it taken care of pronto.

 

[TheHops]

...not a mechanical sound, not grinding or squealing or rattling/vibrating, ticking...best way to describe it is like tumbling a mouse around in a plastic bucket...

Haha, interesting description. Quite a specific one though so I guess it works.

I'm honestly not sure what it'd be though. A non-mechanical ticking noise under the engine bay would typically be a leaking manifold, but I'd hesitate to say that considering your mileage. Doesn't sound like your vent actuators either, since that's more of a mechanical sound.

According to the maintenance schedule, @3,000 miles the only items are checking the power steering fluid, checking the ATF level, and changing the oil and filter. I don't expect any of those would make that type of noise either.

Sorry, I guess I'm more trying to eliminate what it shouldn't be, versus diagnosing what it actually is. It could just be something loose under there if it's intermittent. Maybe try to see if you can recreate it under specific conditions. That may help to narrow it down.

 

[SuperTighty5.6]

If it was me id set some pretty good cheese in a mouse trap an see if that lil booger comes outta the bucket. Hes in there somewhere and the better the cheese you have the faster he will come out. Just my opinion.

 

[COREYMFT]

Haha, interesting description. Quite a specific one though so I guess it works.

Haha yeah I was also thinking the way something tumbles around in a dryer, not rolling around on the bottom, but tumbling in all directions lol

If it was me id set some pretty good cheese in a mouse trap an see if that lil booger comes outta the bucket. Hes in there somewhere and the better the cheese you have the faster he will come out. Just my opinion.

LOL! I have fears of little vermin climbing in and chewing wires

 

[SuperTighty5.6]

The electrical gremlins is what you really have to watch out for.. Dont feed them after midnight and definetly dont get them wet!

 

[FishnAlaska]

Passenger seat????

 

[COREYMFT]

Passenger seat????

You know I actually thought it was something rolling around under the seat (I have a huge corrugated mailing tube under there), but at the second stop sign I clearly hear it "tumbling" in the area I circled in the attached pic. I opened the cup holders...nothing there.

It was down near the floor in the center, and really close and clear, not muffled like deep under the truck or in the engine bay, etc. I couldn't believe it when I heard it, listened for it and that's when I found the pattern of hearing it when I stopped at stop signs. It didn't happen once I got home and parked, so hopefully whatever it was "went away". I can't wait to get on the road this morning and see if it happens again

 

[Mach1tosh]

Between the time you heard it at stop signs and the time you got home did you make any adjustments to the HVAC controls?
I suspect something like the fan or linkage for change of air flow in the system.
Oh, and I've always had way more success with peanut butter than cheese when catching mice :wink:

 

[COREYMFT]

I made no adjustments, but as I slowed to a stop, I held the keys so they wouldn't jingle and hit the column (several keys and my office fob)...I wanted to get a good clear sound if it happened. Haven't heard it since, very weird. I still think maybe something was in there panicking and trying to get out lol I'll try the peanut butter laced with coolant

 

[Walrus]

It's the key fob slapping the plastic.

 

[COREYMFT]

Hmm....I've been driving it since August...to death....and never heard it until this one night. Scratching my head Lol