Please help me with these freaking rattles

I wouldn't pull the dash apart over a rattle or two. Give it a while at least, they may subside.

 

I can post the write-up in a day or so, but if you can wait, I could do some more pictures of the next Prius showing the components and which way to extract them during the tear-down process. Let me know...I'm considering a new thread to show all of this.

 

I am sure if you do a In depth how to ! It would used thousands of time as reference! Thanks !

 

That would be awesome! I want to wait to do this later this spring so take your time. Thanks in advance!

 

Unfortunately, the Prius that we were going to work on next was just involved in a serious accident. I will post a write-up here that describes how to remove the dash, but without pictures.

DISCLAIMER: The author assumes no responsibility for any damage or injuries resulting from the process listed below. Driving any vehicle with the airbag system even partially disabled is not condoned or recommended. If you decide to do these modifications, you do so at your own risk.

Prius dash removal

Before starting, you’ll need a 10 mm socket and 12 mm socket with a long extension on the wrench. You’ll also need a flat-head screwdriver for prying, a Philips head screwdriver and a small 10 mm crescent wrench for the front speaker bolts. On the various electrical clips, you will find one side that has a press-in area to release it. They can only be re-connected one way.

Locate a large, clean work table or area to stage the removed dash components in an order that resembles how each component relates to its positioning the dash. This will make reassembly much easier and intuitive.

Passenger side

1. Remove upper AC vent (passenger) by prying carefully on right edge. It comes out forwardly.
   
   
2. Remove lower AC vent (passenger) by prying and pulling forward (open upper glove box first)
   
   
3. Remove "A" pillar (passenger) by starting near headliner. It will pop out and stop about an inch or so out. There’s a special black plastic retainer tab behind it that you need to rotate 90 degrees before the A pillar will completely release. NOTE: you MUST re-lock this tab when reinstalling as it’s a safety feature for the side airbag release.
   
   
4. Remove small side window vent plate – it pulls up
   
   
5. Remove black dash speaker grille by prying up from front. Once lifted, extract towards you as there are clips on the back of it that hook into the car framing.
   
   
6. Remove (2) 10 mm bolts holding front right speaker. Lift out speaker and un-clip its harness.
   
   
7. Remove exposed 10 mm bolt holding right front side of dash-plate to frame
   
   
8. Remove lower curved side panel next to and below right AC vent by carefully prying it towards door. Once clips are free, pull upwards to extract it from location.
   

Driver’s side

1. Pry mirror and dash-dimmer lower left control panel starting from the leftmost edge that adjoins the lower side panel. You will not be completely removing this panel, but brining out from its upper clips by a couple of inches. This gives you access to the driver’s side AC vent assembly from the bottom and left edge
   
   
2. Remove AC vent (driver’s) by prying from left edge and bottom pulling it forward and out
   
   
3. Remove "A" pillar (driver’s) by starting near headliner. It will pop out and stop about an inch or so out. There’s a special black plastic retainer tab behind it that you need to rotate 90 degrees before the A pillar will completely release. NOTE: you MUST re-lock this tab when reinstalling as it’s a safety feature for the side airbag release.
   
   
4. Remove small side window vent plate – it pulls up
   
   
5. Remove black dash speaker grille by prying up from front. Once lifted, extract towards you as there are clips on the back of it that hook into the car framing.
   
   
6. Remove (2) 10 mm bolts holding front left speaker. Lift out speaker and un-clip its harness.
   
   
7. Remove exposed 10 mm bolt holding left front side of dash-plate to frame
   
   
8. Remove lower curved side panel next to and below left AC vent by carefully prying it towards door. Once clips are free, pull upwards to extract it from location.
   

Center area

1. From the leftmost seam on center console, begin to pry up the black shifter knob panel. There are several clips to work free. You do not need to disconnect this panel – you just need to move it back and forth to remove the cup holder panel and radio bezel piece.
   
   
2. Carefully begin to pry up from left and right seam the cup holder and trim piece. As it releases, begin to pry up on the upper right side of it, which is long, and goes up alongside the upper glove box. Be sure not to break this long assembly as the clips come out of many slots.
   
   
3. Now remove carefully the black radio/NAV plastic bezel piece by prying upward on the side seams – it includes the HH MM adjustment control which you will need to un-clip
   
   
4. Carefully pull towards you the curved Power button panel to release it from its clips – for now, just leave it hanging by the wire
   
   
5. Using a socket wrench with extension, remove (4) 10 mm bolts holding the radio/NAV unit in place and pull it forward a couple of inches
   
   
6. Open lower glovebox and grasp upper glovebox from its base. It lifts away from the bottom and slightly rotates upward as you release the upper clips.
   
   
7. There are two black screws revealed now that holds the passenger airbag/seatbelt warning panel in place. Remove these screws and very carefully pull forward on the panel to extract it from plastic clips behind it. There is one electrical connector to release.
   
   
8. Disconnect the white and black connector attached to dash-plate found behind upper glove box area
   
   
9. Disconnect the yellow airbag connector just below the black and white connectors
   
   
10. Using a 12 mm socket and extension, remove the bolts holding the passenger airbag deployment system from frame of car
    
    
11. Just left of the steering wheel upper opening, carefully pull forward the curved black panel (small)
    

Dash plate extraction

The dash plate is now ready for removal. Lift up on the leftmost and rightmost lower clips to release it. It should now be loose enough to gently lift up and pull forward. Both front doors should be open so you and a helper can maneuver the plate out of the car. Be careful not to mar the dash-plate!

Once removed, place it upside down on a bed or soft blanket. You might have to solve some squeaks or ticking sounds from the central AC vent assembly

Replace some items before test driving

1. Press the radio/NAV back into its location and re-attach the (4) 10 mm bolts
   
   
2. Press the power button panel back into the left and lower clips
   
   
3. Press shifter panel back into place
   

Test drive to find noises (Note: see disclaimer above)

Should you decide to test-drive your Prius with the open area beneath the dash revealed, the airbag warning light in the speedo will stay on. The passenger is at risk of serious injury driving the car this way – again do so at your own peril.

A test drive over a washboard or rough road should reveal where noises are present. You can press foam rubber pieces in these areas to stop noises. Also some white and gray electrical junctions could be sources of ticks, rattles and buzzing sounds. Electrical tape and foam rubber pieces can be used to prevent these noises. Be sure to test your solves insuring all of your noises are quieted before re-assembly

Re-assembly

First, remove the (4) 10 mm bolts holding the radio/NAV unit and pull forward a bit. Also, pull forward the Power button panel from its left and lower clips. Also, pry the shifter panel up.

Reverse the process by replacing the dash plate making sure the forward hooks go into the frame area behind the defroster vents. Also, make sure the central AC vent assembly fits into the proper ductwork under the dash – it should slide into place. Then snap the dash-plate clips into the AC side vent frame area. Re-attach the two 10 mm bolts on each side near the front speakers. Then re-attach the 12 mm bolts behind the upper glove box holding the airbag assembly to the frame.

1. Reconnect electrical clips to speakers and then re-attach each front speaker (two 10 mm bolts each)
   
   
2. Re-attach each speaker grille by hooking the forward prongs into the frame and then press and snap them back into place
   
   
3. Re-attach each side vent panel by pressing into place
   
   
4. Re-attach each curved side panel next to and below side AC vents by fitting the lower prong into its location (tricky) and then once aligned, press the clips into the slots until seated. You might have to adjust the flexible door trim to re-fit them
   
   
5. Re-attach each “A” pillar – remember to re-connect the black plastic tab in the slots and rotate 90 degrees to lock them. Then press the pillar into place. You may need to run your finger over the flexible door trim to fit the pillar into place.
   
   
6. Reconnect the 3 connectors for the airbag system (black clip, white clip and yellow clip – they only go in one way)
   
   
7. With the radio loose again, position and connect the electrical clip for the Airbag warning panel and then press attachment clips into place. Then screw in the 2 dark colored screws. Now re-attach the radio with the four 10 mm bolts
   
   
8. Re-attach the Power button panel into its position (several plastic clips)
   
   
9. Reconnect the HH MM electrical connector to the radio bezel plate and press into place
   
   
10. Re-attach the upper glove box by positioning the upper clips in their slots and then rotate the bottom into place. It should just snap back into place
    
    
11. Stage the cup holder long plastic assembly over the respective slots and carefully snap it downwards until all clips have engaged
    
    
12. Re-attach the gear shifter panel into place and press downwards until all clips have engaged
    
    
13. Re-attach the curved left mini-panel over turn signal stalk
    
    
14. Press the driver’s AC vent assembly into slots
    
    
15. Press the lower panel (dimmer and mirror controls) back into place
    
    
16. Press the passenger’s lower AC vent assembly back into place
    
    
17. Press the passenger’s upper AC vent into place
    
    
    

 

Dang that's a heck of a process. Think that might be my Saturday. I've been actively hunting down rattles for 2 weeks now, and it seems almost futile. I've gone through more rubber/foam tape and dynamite (and tires...) than I care to admit. Even found a nut that unscrewed itself from the spoiler and was banging around in the interior trim piece. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Rattles are still there, but I have to admit it is quite an improvement. Car feels much more solid.

 

I never thought of trying dynamite to fix rattles, but if you're desperate enough...

 

That's a sweet emoticon. How do you do "ツ", special character?