Some 2008-12 Scion xD models may produce a clunking noise from the front suspension when accelerating or decelerating, under braking or when being driven over rough roads.
One likely cause, Scion said, is a loose No.2 retaining bolt at the lower control arm. Retightening the bolt at both control arms to a revised torque of 110 ft.-lbs should vanquish the noise.
For reference, the illustration shows you the location of the No. 2 retaining bolt in relation to the lower control arm.
Once the vehicle is on a lift, look for an orange paint mark on the head of the bolt. If you don't see the mark, retighten the bolt to the revised torque setting. If you do see an orange mark it means the bolt is a torque-to-yield design—meaning it can only be tightened once.
If that's the case, remove the bolt and install a new-design fastener, part No. 90119-14151, tightening it to the new torque setting. To complete the fix, repeat the procedure at the lower control arm on the other side of the vehicle.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via email at [email protected].