Noise in Dash...Arrghh!!

[texassalsa04]

I now have 4651 miles on my Salsa and I have chased down almost every single rattle in my Salsa since I took delivery. Just a few days ago, I started to get this anoying rattling coming from somewhere, I think, inside the dash in front of the steering wheel. It sounds like something has pop loose and it sounds like plastic hitting plastic. Thank goodness it does not make squeeking noises. Has anyone chased down or have a similar plastic rattling noise coming from inside their dash in front of the steering wheel?? I would love to chase this sucker down and kill it!! Only problem is, I am afraid of taking the dash apart to find the offending problem.

[wb9tyj]

had the "blower vents" rattling...the vents push on the outer contoured piece(on the inside)...to get to it...you can "grab" the top of the vents on the pasenger side and pull toward you from the top...the vents snap off...then the vents on either side of the Display snap off the same way, as well as the driver one by the left door...the piece across the drivers side snaps off by pulling up...just be careful when you resnap everything back...go right to left in sequence ...seems like it snaps back easier when working right to left...dont know if that would be your rattle, but i know it was mine...now its quiet as a mouse.....

[jimofdg]

You have 4300 more miles than I do! I will post my coming home story.

My suggestion for a dash noise is the center speaker on top of the nav screen. My suggestion for a noise that fools you into thinking it's the dash, is that loose shelf inside the center armrest.

And then the dealer's supposed to be helpful in this situation, if you have the time. Good luck!

[texassalsa04]

Thanks guys for the info. I will try all suggestions...

By the way...jimofdg...I like your Avatar! :P

[FredWB]

Try putting your hand on the small panel right under that small window on the dash to your left. That's what where my ratttle was. It happened when I tried 42/40 psig in my new Hydroedge tires. Now if I could just find that dash squeak. Probably the speaker but it's not the center speaker grilll for sure.

Fred

[jimofdg]

The real one looks so much like that avatar (and yours) that there's no point in changing it, at least until I get permanent (and wittier) plates.

[john1701a]

Yes, I had that rattle... and by amazing coincidence, just yesterday I fixed it.

Details to follow.

Stay tuned.

[texassalsa04]

FredWB...I tried that one...thanks though...since I do not have the JBL sound option, I don't think I have a center speaker...maybe the grill is still there...have to look...

John...the Suspense is killing me!!! Please hurry... :P

[john1701a]

Here's the personal log entry I just typed up for this:

Dashboard Rattle Fix.

A couple of weeks ago, a noise appeared. It was too subtle and didn't happen often enough for me to locate the source though... until I started poking at the dashboard and made it worse. It was the reflector that displays the projection of the speedometer/odometer cluster. (By the way, did you know that was just a reflection? The actual illumination equipment is located deep within the dashboard. That's why what you see appears to be within a deep, dark tunnel.)

Anywho, I decided investigate. Pulling up on the dashboard (it's secured by clamps that just push tight) above the reflector revealed the problem. There was a teeny, tiny bit of space above the reflector allowing it to jump up when the car hits a bump... which caused the rattle I was hearing.

So, it was obvious that I needed something to set on top to hold it in place. That object would have to be black, since it would need to cross through the visible vent opening for the defroster to the closest & most secure part of the dashboard. It would have to be flexible enough to endure the routine bouncing of the dashboard. And it would have to be tough enough to take both the extreme heat & cold the car would be exposed to over the years. The length needed to be about 6 inches, the width about 1 inch, and the height about 1/8th inch. Well, by dumb luck (or fate?) I had just purchased that exact object, a man's comb. Sure enough, it worked perfect too. The plastic was made for conditions like that. The spine was ideal for strength. The teeth work great for gripping, and allow air to flow through that small affected section of vent. The length was sweet. And of course, the black color conceals it well.

I was shocked to discover how well the dashboard secured down on top of it. But with the nearly invisible fit and the dead silence it now provides, what the heck! That fixed it. And it was a quick, easy, and cheap too.

Now I'm curious as heck what other will think of my bizarre ingenuity and if they will actually try it themselves, should the need arise.

[texassalsa04]

John...thanks for the info...I will certainly investigate...my noise sounds like it is coming from that direction or by the windshield defroster. I was hoping that it was the defrosters that was loose and all I had to do was press down on it. Unfortunately that did not work.

you wrote "Pulling up on the dashboard (it's secured by clamps that just push tight) above the reflector revealed the problem. There was a teeny, tiny bit of space above the reflector allowing it to jump up when the car hits a bump... which caused the rattle I was hearing."

are you talking about the whole top dash piece (see picture)? this "upper dash" is very large and covers the entire width of the dash board. How many clamps were there under this piece and how can I take it apart without damaging the clamps or the dash itself? You did not take the dash board completely out did you?

Thanks again,
Tony.