FINALLY found the source of the dash rattle!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-31-2007, 08:31 PM
  #1  
VIP
Thread Starter
 
skiunow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Boise ID
Age: 45
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talking FINALLY found the source of the dash rattle!

After almost a year of putting up with the dull rattle that seems to eminate from within the drivers side dash, I found the source of it!

I'll make this short... The next time you hear the rattle raise your left foot until it touches the panel that is directly located above your feet. I've found that it is just loosely held in place and allows the panel to vibrate. Or if you want to test and see if your panel rattles, just kick it lightly and see if you can hear it.
Old 01-01-2008, 11:48 PM
  #2  
Racer
 
acuralvr1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 303
Received 7 Likes on 2 Posts
Congratulations!
Old 01-02-2008, 07:17 AM
  #3  
Safety Car
 
miner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Age: 67
Posts: 3,644
Received 312 Likes on 198 Posts
Thanks for the heads up.
Old 01-02-2008, 05:01 PM
  #4  
The Doctor
 
UW RL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Bellevue, WA
Age: 47
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
my ever-lasting haunting dashboard creaking was actually from the exterior windshield plastic trim right on the A-pillar. It went away if I pushed the pieces around. Incredible, isn't it?
Old 01-06-2008, 02:32 PM
  #5  
Intermediate
 
Strategr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NV
Age: 57
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a rattle on the passenger side around the a-pillar.. more of a creaking almost on city driving and goes away when on the highway at 60+. So I figured the air pressure at higher speeds must be pushing something to keep it from rattling. ..maybe that windshield trim you mention.. I will have to try it.
Old 01-06-2008, 02:54 PM
  #6  
Burning Brakes
 
dwboston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Age: 55
Posts: 1,146
Received 30 Likes on 18 Posts
Originally Posted by Strategr
I have a rattle on the passenger side around the a-pillar.. more of a creaking almost on city driving and goes away when on the highway at 60+. So I figured the air pressure at higher speeds must be pushing something to keep it from rattling. ..maybe that windshield trim you mention.. I will have to try it.
I have the windshield trim rattle. I can reproduce it by pressing on a specific part of the trim. It's more noticeable when it's really cold outside. It's a minor annoyance at this point.
Old 01-06-2008, 04:51 PM
  #7  
Racer
 
acuralvr1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 303
Received 7 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by skiunow
After almost a year of putting up with the dull rattle that seems to eminate from within the drivers side dash, I found the source of it!

I'll make this short... The next time you hear the rattle raise your left foot until it touches the panel that is directly located above your feet. I've found that it is just loosely held in place and allows the panel to vibrate. Or if you want to test and see if your panel rattles, just kick it lightly and see if you can hear it.

I had a rattle in the dash of the car that I replaced my RL with- a 2004 TL. I actually heard it the night I drove my brand new TL home. It turned out to be a loose bolt in the dashboard. Easy fix, but timie consuming. The dealer had to remove the entire dashboard.
Old 01-13-2008, 03:47 AM
  #8  
Intermediate
 
Strategr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NV
Age: 57
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I found my rattle. It is in the area above the passenger sun visor, inside the roof area. I can press and hold it and the rattle goes away. Hopefully the dealer can fix it without too much dismantling.
Old 01-17-2008, 10:08 PM
  #9  
The Doctor
 
UW RL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Bellevue, WA
Age: 47
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Have you tired to do anything to your trim yet?



Originally Posted by Strategr
I have a rattle on the passenger side around the a-pillar.. more of a creaking almost on city driving and goes away when on the highway at 60+. So I figured the air pressure at higher speeds must be pushing something to keep it from rattling. ..maybe that windshield trim you mention.. I will have to try it.
Old 01-19-2008, 04:07 PM
  #10  
Intermediate
 
Strategr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NV
Age: 57
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I found the exact piece that rattles now. It is the inside trim piece of the sunroof. If you were to slide back the sunroof cover, then reach up on the passenger side like you were hanging from a ledge, there is a metal trim or frame piece there. It doesn't feel loose but pushing it gives a rattle and holding it while driving stops the rattle.

I feel screw holes in there, but not sure if a quick turn would do the trick... haven't looked at it closer yet.
Old 01-24-2008, 06:32 PM
  #11  
Advanced
 
parlownr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Schuylkill County, Pa
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I still have a rattle by the driver's side a-pillar for 2 years now. If I push on the air vent on the dash, the noise stops. One dealer tried to fix it 4 times, with no success. Another dealer couldn't hear it. It eventually goes away for a while, but always comes back. When it comes back it sounds like a typewritter--very annoying to say the least!
Old 03-24-2008, 01:27 PM
  #12  
Burning Brakes
 
Rob144's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego
Age: 62
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 20 Posts
I'm trying to diagnose a passenger-side dashboard rattle without starting a new thread. This one emanates from the passenger side when going over certain bumps.

It is also a dull-sounding rattle, which has me wondering if it isn't similar to the OP's problem, but on the other side. Has anyone tried removing the passenger-side underdash panel to poke around under there?

I've tried emptying the glovebox, and taking out the brochure tray as the source seems to be coming from behind that area.

Rob144
Old 03-24-2008, 10:52 PM
  #13  
Advanced
 
AmBiGuOuS626's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: V I P | 6 2 6
Age: 36
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
I had the same rattle and didn't do anything about it for about three months until it finally "got on my nerves". So I brought it to the dealer and started tapping on the passenger side underdash which it made that annoying rattle. The dealer put some stuffing which stop the rattle FOR A WHILE as the horrible road conditions in my area losin' it up again. I just keep some trance playing so I don't think or hear about it. Hope you have better luck than me. =)
Old 03-24-2008, 11:49 PM
  #14  
Proboscis-free zone
 
VOdoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SoCal
Posts: 535
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a tiny rattle in the driver's side B pillar. It seems to be coming from the shoulder harness adjuster.
Old 03-25-2008, 12:53 PM
  #15  
Safety Car
 
Chas2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 4,217
Received 38 Likes on 29 Posts
Search on NavyDoc's rattle fixes

Originally Posted by VOdoc
I have a tiny rattle in the driver's side B pillar. It seems to be coming from the shoulder harness adjuster.
NavyDoc had a fix for this one, I seem to recall that he even had pix on how to fix it.

I have heard something by my left ear once, but could never reproduce it.
Old 10-15-2008, 04:53 PM
  #16  
Burning Brakes
 
Rob144's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego
Age: 62
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
Received 21 Likes on 20 Posts
Originally Posted by Rob144
I'm trying to diagnose a passenger-side dashboard rattle without starting a new thread. This one emanates from the passenger side when going over certain bumps.

It is also a dull-sounding rattle, which has me wondering if it isn't similar to the OP's problem, but on the other side. Has anyone tried removing the passenger-side underdash panel to poke around under there?

I've tried emptying the glovebox, and taking out the brochure tray as the source seems to be coming from behind that area.

Rob144
Bumping my rattle!

This one seems to be getting worse as time goes on (along with the miles). Has anyone had any luck curing a passenger-side dash rattle that seems to coming from under the dash somewhere?

I took out the passenger underdash panel and added some sticky-back padding to the piece that holds the blue footwell lighting, but no change. Sometimes, it really is hard to tell where sounds are coming from...

Rob144
Old 08-29-2020, 11:48 PM
  #17  
Instructor
 
Imperial's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Age: 43
Posts: 138
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Rattle in my 2010 RL seems to be coming from the dash area, from the top maybe when driving over 60 MPH. I have checked the windshield trim pieces and saw that right side is a bit loose and I might need to use some adhesive. I don't really think that the rattle is caused by that trim piece as the sound is on the left side, not the right. I put the phone while recording to the door, lowered it to the left kicker panel, bigger left side vent, to steering wheel and pretty much only top of the dash above the speedometer seems to rattle. I have also read that there could be something loose in the steering wheel such as screws, wires, will check that too.

Here is the video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uyP1n5Ecm2NfxVYV9 - rattle is heard when I lift the phone to the upper dash

Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
schen72
1G RDX Problems & Fixes
3
06-11-2009 04:35 PM
DDT-TypeS
2G CL (2001-2003)
37
12-07-2006 02:02 PM
wstevens
3G TL (2004-2008)
20
03-10-2005 08:52 PM



Quick Reply: FINALLY found the source of the dash rattle!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:40 PM.