2000 TL, 91,000 mi. Bad dash rattle developed and an inspection from below revealed nothing. I do have the rattle isolated to the area above the three main instruments. Looks like I will have to investigate from above. Can anyone tell me how to remove the top of the dash or otherwise get access to the area noted?
I plan to keep the car for another 2 or 3 years and this rattle is driving me crazy.
Perhaps if I remove the instrument cluster, I can get access to the area. How to remove the cluster ? Thanks for your help

 

This link will help you get the dash trim off. If it is the cluster area, others have had it before and its usually the wired to the cluster or the cluster rubbing, where you need some felt tape to help keep them from rubbing/bouncing

http://files.subtledream.com/TL/reve...low_gauges.htm

 

thank you very much, this is helpful, a good weekend project. if i isolate the problem i'll report back and maybe that will help someone else

 

 

Before I started taking the dash apart, I decided to check a second time, some of the items I thought might be the source of the rattle and I managed to find it. The noise is coming from the dash panel, forward of the defrost vents at the base of the windshield. Apparently, some mastic deteriorated over the years and the Arizona heat and the panel is rattling against the base of the inside of the windshield. I had some black felt and since the interior is black it won't be visible. I folded the felt over until it was about 1/2 inch thick and 12 inches long, formed into a strip and then I wedged it into the space between the dash top and the windshield base, I used a plastic spatula to push it into the crack. The felt is totally out of sight and the rattle is gone. Maybe this will help someone else.

 

havent seen the dash be a problem up there yet. Glad you found it, now maybe anyone else with that can solve theirs as well

 

Great idea. Mine is doing the same thing except it's when it's below freezing that it really rattles. I was waiting until the summer to do it when I could take the whole dash apart, but your solution seems better.

Between the dash rattle, idle issue, and suspension falling apart, I'm less than thrilled with the build quality of the TL for being a near-lux vehicle. I had a few early nineties accords and maximas that were all 10-12 years old and they never seemed to have as many issues as the TL and especially no dash rattles.

 

Went to Menard's and got 1/2 " x 1/2 " foam insulation tape and shoved it in there and now it's nice and quiet. Thanks!