Dash rattle?

Sorry if this has been covered some place else in the past. I'm new and just getting started here.
On my "soon to be mine" '02, there is a pita rattle in the dash on the passenger side that I think is related to the air bag cover. When I gently push on the dash just below the air bag cover, the rattle stops. This rattle is only when the truck is moving, not at idle. Is this a known issue and is there a simple fix for it?
Thanks for any help/replies.

 

14 years of hitting bumps, could be lots of things. I have an intermittent one on drivers side

 

This seems to me to be an issue with the air bag cover. It is just a constant little buzzing rattle and I thought it might be a common problem with the Tacos. I have tired pushing pieces of rubber band into several locations where the cover joins the dash, but so far nothing has stopped the buzzing/rattle.

 

Not sure, mine doesn't do it. Did you try searching forums?

 

I have not spent an hour or more looking, but I haven't seen any titles that refer to the issue. My bad?

 

Dash rattle search in topic only, in this forum. Returned 20 threads.

 

Thanks! I found a lot of info there and maybe some of the fixes will work for me. At least I have some ideas now.

 

I just wedged a small piece of rubber foam between the dash and windshield glass.

 

I have something similar. I believe it's coming from a screw that holds the dash to the firewall. someone said they were able to get in there from underneath and tighten it. don't remember if they removed the blower and it's case.

 

This ^^

Had the same issue on my '99 for years. Bought 5 feet of 1/4 inch vacuum line and wedged it between the dash and windshield. No more noise.

 

Took the Taco for a drive this am and I do believe the problem is between the dash and the windshield. I'm going to try putting some foam or backer bead in there.
Thanks to all who helped!

 

Try removing your glove box and check all accessible bolts for tightness. It makes the passenger side inner dash quite accessible.

 

There's also a couple bolts behind the glove box that hold the airbag assembly down. Mine were loose and rattling pretty good. Check those too. Easily accessible when taking out the glove box.

 

After owning my Tacoma for over 10 years I decided to tackle my "Infamous Dash Rattles" yesterday on a slightly determined whim.

After years of Google searches, I was armed with enough information to lockdown every possible culprit, and started dismantling the glove box.

Items Needed

• 10mm socket
• Short socket extension
• Socket wrench of your choice
• 14 Inch+ zip ties
• Rubber waterhose washers
• Philips head screwdriver
• Flashlight
• Electrical tape

While open the glovebox has three 10mm bolts along the top, left, center, and right side. The glovebox itself has two screws at the very bottom under the dash holding the hinges on. Once these five items are removed everything just kind of wiggles out and allows you to see up into the dash.

The airbag assembly has several electrical connections attached to the inside of the glovebox mounting plate, but since I have small hands I did not disconnect them, I just pulled the to the side and worked around them.

I then began by hitting the top of the dashboard with a gentle closed fist and listened for the noises I had been dealing with for many years.

I placed rubber washers between metal on metal connections after removing and replacing bolts. I ran zip ties from the airbag support brackets to the interior roll cage to tighten it up, and placed electrical tape on wiring looms and connectors that looked like they had potential to knock against plastic.

She's dead silent now......but.....

Winter is coming....

And I'm sure there will be new noises crop up once the cold hits. On the bright side, once you get in there once it's only going to be easier the next time.

 

I have the same rattling noise and have some extra weather stripping foam to wedge between the dash and windshield.