Finally fixed my dash rattle

[moto22]

I had the clack behind the radio - and lo and behold after months of thinking that was where the sound was coming from I found it was the rear view mirror mounting arm. The plastic just prior to the headliner was where the creak was coming from. It did sound like it was behind the radio though until I got my girlfriend to drive while I listened and zeroed it to the mirror mount arm. I pressed on it a little and no more clack.

Try it - it may help in your case too.

[Jumbo Jet]

Originally Posted by Canadian_Yoda

Jumbo, I've got the creaking/popping dash as well... I just want to clarify a few things:

1. My passenger side dash doesn't quite line up at the bottom front corner of the A-pillar. The dash (black) is about 1cm lower than where it looks like it needs to be on the A-pillar (white). Is this the same situation you had? Did this actually line up perfectly after you did your fix?

2. Thanks for the photos, they help a lot. I tried to reach up there the other day to see if I could feel what you were describing, but all I found was something that was REALLY farking hot... Most likely the heater core inlet pipe. I'll try again when I have a bit more time (and when the truck is cold). My question is: how big is the gap you have to fill? or, how much material will I need to stuff in there?

3. From what you have said, I understand that the rattle fix also has the side benefit of the dash alignment fix. I want to make sure that this isn't done in two different fixes, so I don't have to contort myself under my dash more than once.

Thanks again for the excellent info!

Yeah, mine didnt line up on the pass. side either. I had the clicking noise on that side where the dash didnt sit tight in the clip. Mine only made the clicking noise on cold mornings. I just stuffed a tight wad of felt up under the clip to create a tight fit and the clicking noise quit and hasnt returned. The dealer is doing the same thing with their "Toyota sound dampening". That fix took about a minute and I didnt have to waste a trip to the dealer.

The air duct rattle behind the radio is about a 1" space that needs to be filled to force the two ducts tightly together. Again, about a minute fix.

Mark

[cirrus65]

Originally Posted by Canadian_Yoda

Elaborate please

Did you have a misaligned dash to A-pillar? What is this contact point you speak of? What did they have to dismantle to get in there? Got pics?

I had the dash rattle when cold. The dash on the passenger side sat below the lip on the 'A' pillar. When I had my 5k service they duplicated the rattle, and they said they removed the dash and found "insufficient damping" on the contact points and added "Toyota damping material". This eliminated the rattle and brought the dash flush to the 'A' pillar. It was a one day service including the 5k service under warranty.

Sorry, I didn't stick around to take pics, nor did I have them elaborate. It's fixed and I'm happy.

[a_gunslinger]

Originally Posted by Black_Rifle

I've had a periodic "clack" type noise coming from the middle part of the dash, seems like somewhere around the radio area. It doesn't necessarily occur going over big bumps, just minor road irregularities; even then, it doesn't appear all the time.

When pushing/pulling on the coin holder, it seems like the clack does disappear, but since I can't replicate the clacking on demand, I'm having a hard time determining if I've found the cause.

When trying to search out the clacks, be sure not to rest arm on center armrest console. My armrest clacks when I rest my arm on it or move it

[VX_R-V8]

Originally Posted by Jumbo Jet

After 7 months of dealing with this annoying rattle, I finally beat it. I took the radio, climate control and both glove boxes out and had my wife drive around the block while I looked for it. It appeared to be coming from passengers side right behind the lower glovebox. Once we got home (was getting car sick from laying upside down under the dash) I stuck a light up there and felt around for a few minutes before I was able to get it to make the noise again. I dont know if its the same rattle that TerryB47 had but I found mine where two airvents connected just under the dash behind the lower glove box. There is a small piece of plastic that sticks out and if I grabbed it and moved it, it would make the sound loud and clear.

The piece is most visible if you come in from the radio, but you dont have to remove the radio to get it.




This is a close up of the culprit.



I found that if pressure were put on the vents the noise stopped. I had a bunch of felt laying around so I stuffed it tight between the vent and dash to push the pieces snug together.




Then I grabbed that small piece of plastic sticking out and shook the heck out of it. No more noise!!! Drove it around the block and down the road a few miles and its perfect!!

To fix this you dont have to take out the radio, but it does make it easier to see what you need to grab.

Hope the photos help someone out.

Mark

I took the dash appart today and shook everything.. i did what's explained in order of re-creating the chirp with no luck of finding it.. i reinstalled everything and went for a spin, the chirp was gone.. 5 mins later it came back.. any help?? what should i do???

[VX_R-V8]

buuuuuuuump!