Dash Rattle Around Left Quarter Window

[KJR]

I've noticed an annoying rattle under or around the area of the left (drivers side) dash quarter window in my 2008 Prius. The dealer hasn't been successful in resolving this rattle. There is a gray triangular trim piece with a little vent hole, pointing to the small triangular glass window, that butts up against the black dashboard piece. It seems to be loose compared to the right quarter window piece. It rattles the most in cold weather and during right turns. Does anyone know how to remove this piece so I reinstall so it's in tight? I was also thinking of laying a thin bead of laytex clear caulk in the gapes between the window and vertical trim pieces that intersect on this gray panel if there is no way to remove it without removing the main dash.

Thanks

Kelvin

[snead_c]

Originally Posted by KJR

I've noticed an annoying rattle under or around the area of the left (drivers side) dash quarter window in my 2008 Prius. The dealer hasn't been successful in resolving this rattle. There is a gray triangular trim piece with a little vent hole, pointing to the small triangular glass window, that butts up against the black dashboard piece. It seems to be loose compared to the right quarter window piece. It rattles the most in cold weather and during right turns. Does anyone know how to remove this piece so I reinstall so it's in tight? I was also thinking of laying a thin bead of laytex clear caulk in the gapes between the window and vertical trim pieces that intersect on this gray panel if there is no way to remove it without removing the main dash.

Thanks

Kelvin

Kelvin, I've had a similar problem. Seems rattles are a fact of life...irregular ones are the most difficult. Mine is temperature dependant as well. I've pushed and shoved on the dash area around the air inlet and sometimes seemed to make a difference. I'm hoping it becomes regular enough to properly identify. I'll monitor your thread for help as well.

[KTPhil]

I get a noise, but it's going to get fixed by popping it out and using small pieces of double-stick foam tape underneath at a couple fo points.

[snead_c]

Good luck. Please let us know how it works.
Thanks,
Charlie

[Marvinh]

Originally Posted by KJR

I've noticed an annoying rattle under or around the area of the left (drivers side) dash quarter window in my 2008 Prius. The dealer hasn't been successful in resolving this rattle. There is a gray triangular trim piece with a little vent hole, pointing to the small triangular glass window, that butts up against the black dashboard piece. It seems to be loose compared to the right quarter window piece. It rattles the most in cold weather and during right turns. Does anyone know how to remove this piece so I reinstall so it's in tight? I was also thinking of laying a thin bead of laytex clear caulk in the gapes between the window and vertical trim pieces that intersect on this gray panel if there is no way to remove it without removing the main dash.

Thanks

Kelvin

Kelvin - This piece is easy to remove. A small portion of it probably sticks up at the pointed corner. Just wedge it up with your finger and it will pop off. There are about 4 plastic clips that hold it in.

For the fix, I took some soft foam weatherstripping and placed it around the vent opening on underside of the triangular vent cover. I also put a little weatherstripping where it attaches to the main part of the dash (the darker gray portion). There is a small ledge that 2 of the clips attach to. These are the only 2 areas that have any contact with the triangular vent cover.

I just tried this fix today, so I have to drive around awhile to see if it helped. I don't know about clear caulk. The gaps between the pieces is so small I think it would show.

Please let me know how the fix works for you.

Marvinh

[KJR]

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't sure if you could pop it off without removing other pieces. I'll try it this weekend.

Kelvin

Originally Posted by Marvinh

Kelvin - This piece is easy to remove. A small portion of it probably sticks up at the pointed corner. Just wedge it up with your finger and it will pop off. There are about 4 plastic clips that hold it in.

For the fix, I took some soft foam weatherstripping and placed it around the vent opening on underside of the triangular vent cover. I also put a little weatherstripping where it attaches to the main part of the dash (the darker gray portion). There is a small ledge that 2 of the clips attach to. These are the only 2 areas that have any contact with the triangular vent cover.

I just tried this fix today, so I have to drive around awhile to see if it helped. I don't know about clear caulk. The gaps between the pieces is so small I think it would show.

Please let me know how the fix works for you.

Marvinh

[Marvinh]

Originally Posted by KJR

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't sure if you could pop it off without removing other pieces. I'll try it this weekend.

Kelvin

Here is a picture of the weatherstripping I put under the triangular vent window piece. It seems to stop most of the vibration.

Marvinh

[snead_c]

Originally Posted by Marvinh

Here is a picture of the weatherstripping I put under the triangular vent window piece. It seems to stop most of the vibration.

Marvinh

Thank you for the photo. It helps

[Karkus]

I think I fixed it !!!!!

This has been driving me nuts for months, and pushing down on that triangular plastic piece only fixes the problem for a few minutes. Foam and tape didn't totally fix it either.

BUT....it's NOT the triangular piece that rattles. It's the plastic cover on the beam coming down form the roof that rattles against the beam.

So I stuffed foam underneath the plastic piece covering the beam (take out the triangle piece and reach back up underneath the beam covering on the side of the triangle piece towards the door)) , and that solved most of it.
Then I also jammed something in the crack between the triangle piece and the beam (on the side closer to the windshield).
You may have to do one or both things.

[Andydrove]

Just checking back, is the mysterious Foam Triangle Rattle now 100% solved with these fixes? I have suffered this one for quite a while on my 2008, and was wrongly addressing the drivers vent (replaced it twice, covered the vent's inner workings with undercoat spray) only to find that the source is coming from the triangle area.
Thanks...