annoying rattle in dashboard

I have an 02 double cab Tacoma that has a rattle in the dash on the passenger side, on top where the airbag is. Has anyone had this problem? If the airbag unit is loose, how do I get up in there to tighten it? The rattle seems to be coming from the top of the dash above the glovebox.

 

I have an 03 xtra cab that makes the same noise. Haven't been able to figure out the issue but I'm fairly certain you have a good diagnosis. When the dash starts to rattle I can get it to stop by holding my hand to the airbag cover and applying a bit of constant pressure. If anyone knows how to get that cover off without the bag blowing up in my face, I'm pretty sure I can get the rest figured out. Anyone?

 

Mine rattles like a baby on crank. I can stop it with one fingers pressure right in the center of the dash, about 6 inches back from the dash edge.

My daughter also noticed pushing on the passenger airbag will stop it.

Planning on pulling the console out tomorrow (oops today) and seeing if I can finger it out.

 

My 2000 did it from day one until the day I traded her in on the '08. I never could stop that stupid rattle.

-Dan

 

Pushing in a piece of black foam weatherstripping between the glass and the dash has helped, I first used a piece of door weatherstripping but it did not stay in place as well. with the black you don't see it and it quite's it all down.

 

foam good

 

I have one of those coming from the passenger side dash when on a rough road. I also have this buzzing noise coming from that side of the truck as well. I hae 2500 miles on my 09 and had it in for the buzzing noise once but didnt have time to leave it with them to figure it out. So they will get to figure that one out along with the loud rattle in the dash.

 

Ok, my kid got this one right. I yanked the radio bezel out, since I could stop the rattle with just one finger about six inches from the front of the dash, dead center.

First thing I found was the center air duct was rattling. There's a metal mounting bracket at the bend in the duct, adjusting that fixed the rattle I could stop with my finger.

But it still buzzed. Sure enough, loosening and re-tightening the airbag assembly stopped it.

It appears the previous owners (or some poor service tech somewhere) was driven nuts with this rattle. There was a piece of rope gasket, and a piece of a pencil, and a bunch of foam tape all over the place behind the radio bezel.

Buzz free, for now. We'll see when the temp is below 90 tomorrow morning if I got all of them. Looking at the TSB chris4x4 posted it appears there's a bunch of places in there causing problems.

Also painted my calipers today, red to match the truck, looks sweet!