STOP TRYING TO LOCATE THE DASH RATTLE! (No!!! Not another DASH RATTLE thread!)

So many threads about the dash rattles! Before you tear things apart try this.
First, drive with a passenger in the front passenger seat. Ask them if they hear the rattle and if they can identify the general location. Then, ask then to firmly press the palm of their hand against the dash, between the passenger air-bag location and the A/C-Heater vent on the right. Does the rattle stop? GOOD!

I took my dash rattle (2000 PreRunner ExtraCab V6) to the dealer.

Technician said, "Yes, there is a Technical Service Bulletin on that. My truck had the dash rattle also."

He took a length of fuel hose (about 3 feet) and stuffed it down between the dash and the bottom of the windshield, from the right A-pillar to the center.

RATTLE GONE! 1/2 hour labor charge, no parts charge, minus my Costco Auto 15% discount. I could have done it myself, had I paid attention to some of the other dash rattle posts.

If this does not work, THEN you can start tearing your dash apart!

 

Or wedge a winter hat between dash and windshield. My formerly black one has faded to a light gray over the years

 

Can confirm this works. I had a crazy rattle that sounded like it was coming right out of the center AC vents. Read here about stuffing a peice of cardboard between the windsheild and dash, didn't think it'd work for me but sure enough it did and I haven't heard the slightest rattle from the AC vents since. Gonna replace the cardboard with some hose so it'll look nicer though.

 

I used a piece of this across the entire dash.

$11 Universal Door Seal Strip for Car & Truck, Rubber Weatherstrip for Windows Sunroof & Engine Cover, Soundproof Protection (33 Feet/2 Rolls, Black)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B085XZVFKY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

You may want to go slightly thicker but it got rid of 95% of the rattles for me.

 

I have a weird one that sounds like the vent tube is actually disconnected from the passenger side dash vent. But it’s not 100% of the time.

Also the airbag module is notorious for loosening up and rattling.

Injust haven’t had the time to remove my glove box and investigate everything.

 

I'm just going to go ahead and tear things apart first

 

You are not paying attention!
STOP TRYING TO LOCATE THE DASH RATTLE!
Tacoma's are notorious for inducing auditory hallucinations. You don't need to know where the dash rattle originates, unless this solution does not work.
Go back and read post #1. Do not pass "Go". Do not collect $200!

 

Easy, Big Fella.

I’m well aware of the solution of jamming something between the upper dash and windshield.

I’m just informing people there are other notorious rattles out there that said solution doesn’t fix.

 

You probably already know this, but your's might be the issue with the foam seal around the joint deteriorating. I know I've got foam blowing out of one of my vents. No rattle yet, but probably only a matter of time.

 

As far as the dash x windshield area, there is at least one other thread where people reported putting rubber washers in the gap. Don't remember spacing, but I'd say you could start with every 12" or so and always add more as needed.

BTW, it's not just Tacomas. My Camry has the same issue from about Nov - Mar when the dash is cold and shrinks just enough to create a gap.

A lot of good ideas in various threads.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/13929995/?q=dash+rattle&t=post&o=date&c[node]=4

 

RIGHT ON!!

 

I keep a roll of TP wedged there. No rattle and a clean ass.

 

I stuffed a 2' strip of this stuff in the window/dash gap. No more rattle. Not adhesive so easily removable. $5 at Lowes.

 

Mine is from the airbag on the passenger dash. Idk if I just need to tighten the bolts or pull the airbag and put foam where it meets the dash. I get a “crack” sound when I hit a bump.

 

Hello, so are you folks just stuffing this rubber in that windshield crack from the top?

I'm changing the ignition cylinder and, while at it, installing a full height HD head with bluetooth and backup camera and . . . I am bound and determined to fix the drone rattle from hell once and for all while I've got it all scattered. Amazing that a horrible rattle won't make a noise for a month, then won't shut up the entire time you're driving it. Mine is dead top center and you can temporarily shut it up by wedging your fingers up top in there. I am considering stuffing a fairly dense chunk of foam in behind from underneath too. Probably will . . . just don't see a way to stuff a long contiguous piece in from under the dash.

 

Gonna jump on this. Been having rattles and it drives me crazy.

 

No replies so I just stuffed about 3' of some 5/16 fuel line in the dash/windshield crack from above, 2 pieces of foam wedged in between the defrost vent and the firewall from underneath, and I have that center vent duct wrapped with some left over rubber drawer mat I bought for my toolbox drawers with another wad of foam wedged in behind it. If this thing rattles now . . . I give up!

The new ignition cylinder was a breeze. Now, on to finishing the new head - backup camera install.

Likely won't drive it for a couple days unfortunately. But, these stupid drone rattles can disappear on their own for a month so it will likely take some time to know for sure it is fixed.

 

Here’s what I did to solve these damn rattles….For the windshield rattle, followed TW’s advice but cut a 1/4 to 1/2 x roughly the length of the dash, strip from one of those workout pads I had laying around. Every few months you have to push it back down. Grey pad and grey dash makes it mostly invisible.

For the glove box / passenger side air bag squeaks & rattles, I removed the glove box and every screw I could find. Everywhere it looked like plastic was rubbing and on every screw location, I put 3m anti-squeak tape.

3M 0.125-5-5430 Transparent Squeak Reduction Tape, -30 to 225 degrees F Performance Temperature, 0.005" Thick, 1 roll

https://www.amazon.com/0-125-5-5430...-Temperature/dp/B00KCMJTLC?pd_rd_i=B00KCMJTLC

$15, plus a couple of hours later and no squeaks for two years and counting. Pretty sure another thread posted similar advice.

Shout out to TW, y’all have always provided such a wonderful resource for wrenching on these beautiful tacos.

 

Wish I could have told you that beforehand. There's actually 3 problems.
1. Rattle against windshield
2. Rattle against defogger vent channel
3. Rattle due to broken retaining clips

I'm currently dealing with #3, but its the least annoying thankfully

Just shoving backer rod between the windshield and the dash will eventually accentuate #2.
Taking dash off multiple times will cause #3.

 

I've fixed so many dash rattles over the years during my time at Lexus.