Notorious Dash Rattle Solutions

OK so I have some pretty bad dash rattles and I'm about to take my dash apart to fix them. I've read a couple different thing of what people have claimed the culprit was for them. What I'm looking to do is make a compilation of all the problems people have had pertaining to dash rattles and what they did to fix them. I plan on fixing them all in one shot.

Please anyone who has solved their dash rattles chime in.

 

best fix I have learned from @paranoid56. Turn Up Stereo!
but seriously, I have them too.
Do you have the fan squeak or squeal?

 

I folded up the cardboard back of a notepad and stuffed it between the windshield and the dash. Worked for about a year now, with no need for a redo.

 

When you next hear a rattle push on the top left corner of the passenger side airbag cover, towards the windshield. I've owned a few Tacomas and that's always a big buzzer. It rattles there against whatever is underneath. When I've had my stereo out I can see it move when I push on it, but I've not been able to figure out how to get some foam in there.

I had my windshield replaced on my last one and then the A-pillar started buzzing against the windshield. I stuffed foam between it and the WS.

Loose hanging harnesses rattle against shit in the dash. If you have some ensolite, sticky foam type stuff, you can wrap them or just zip tie them firmly away from plastic.

Like 01TacomaV6 said, foam or cardboard between dash in windshield can stop some common vibes.

I'm going to sticky foam everything next time I have my dash apart. I like my music NOT mixed with jarring noise.

 

No fan squeak or squeal here. the stereo trick only works for so long lol its driving me crazy. It's the worst when I have somebody else in the truck and I hit a pot hole. it sounds like the dash is about to fall out and its embarrassing hahaha

 

This was the start of the first rattle... Now the rattle is a lot worse and sound like its coming from the center of the dash. its not just the typical buzzing anymore. when i hit a bump the dash sounds like its gonna fall out.

I agree with the sticky foam / weatherstripping. thats my plane i just wanna know about where to put so after putting things back together I don't have to do it again. Ive also heard about the wiring harness behind the passenger airbag causing some rattles.

 

The only way to really know what's causing yours is to take it apart and start checking stuff to see whats loose. Just getting the stereo out gives you a good view/access in there. If it's as bad as you say, it should be obvious what's causing it. Maybe a bolt fell out of something and now it's loose.

 

Taking it apart is my plan of attack. I just wanted to go in armed with as much information as I could possibly get. Maybe somebody who has pinpointed it will chime in.

 

I put small drip size hoses all the way across the dash between the windshield & where the dash starts. That took care of my problem. But some of you guys must've have worse rattles & sounds than I did.

 

So it seems like everybody's rattle so far has been from the dashboard hitting the windshield? Anybody have any other locations where they ran into a rattling issue?

 

Stuff a 4' section of 3/8" (I think) fuel line on top of the dash in between the dash and windshield.

 

Yep. That's what I did. I said drip line just to give an approximate size. But it's not actually drip line. LOL! Works perfect though.

 

I had my dashboard open during my 4wd wiring and found that the dash has warped a little.
enough to break the clips that holds the plastic defroster nozzle that directs the air up on the windshield.
it was off by more than an inch on the passenger side.
so what i did was i had some square shaped foam, pushed the duct up to as close as it can to the dashboard and wedged in the square foam.
so far no more squeaks.

i attached a pic, i'm talking about the defroster nozzle which is located under the dashboard behind the instrument panel reinforcement.
i wedged the square foam i had as much as i could between the right side of the nozzle to hold it up and the reinforcement...
so far so good. its been almost a month now...

to get to this part, you will need to remove the center cluster finish panel, center register heater duct and maybe the radio then look a bit to the right.
you also might have other sources of rattles and squeaks and noises. best really to just disassemble. it only takes a few minutes to do it.
just watch out for sharp edged metals.

Good Luck!
CK

 

This. I've done this and works like a charm.

That being said, you will hear 5 other rattles in other places after fixing this one.

 

^^

 

You actually can use the same fuel line hose to route your air conditioner condensation down and off the frame (it drips directly on it otherwise)

 

did you guys slice the hose to put around the dash plastic (so, in a C- shape around the edge), or did you just jam the whole hose it in there?

 

I did the same thing.

 

Just get some Great Stuff, and stick the nozzle back where the dash meets the windshield and fill er up...



But seriously, I know this rattle well. For me, if I press in the center of the dash about 2/3 towards the windshield, the rattle stops (not pressing the corner of the airbag as another user mentioned).

I've just been living with it for a while now, as taking the dash apart is a total PITA...

 

Just stuff match books between the windshield & dash all the way around! LOL!!! Safety first! Make sure the match books are brand new! More cushion!