Yesterday I drove over what I thought was a puddle but tured out to be a deep hole in the street. Huge bump. Everything seems ok but now I hear something rattling around under the upper left corner of the dash. Sounds like something literally broke off and is flying around in there. I took off the pillar trim but nothing is loose in there and the rattle is definitly coming from under the dash. Its not the dash itself as it does not seem loose and is on firm. I need to take the dash off but would appreciate any pointers/hints from those who have done this beforehand. Thanx guys.

 

theres gotta be a way to get the piece out without taking the whole dash out...


metal maxima IIRC is the one to ask about this

 

*lol* Thanks for the reference.

So where exactly does it sound as if something is "rattling" There really isn't much that can rattle behind the dash, everything there is hella secure.

 

but if a clip popped off, or a piece of a vent or something...

personally, id try and figure out exactly where it was coming from...

 

Precisley. I am agreeing with you 100%. The side vents in the dash are secured via screws, so I doubt it could be that.

 

other dash portions use clips, though, right? where the metal one sits over the plastic part? i havent had the dash out, so i have NO idea what it could be...

 

check and make sure it's not your glove box that has something rattling in it

 

oh, but i do have one idea... if you arent the original owner of your car... or you have kids...


kids like to turn dash vents into coin slots... and ANYTHING THAT WILL FIT slots. could have just unsettled a french fry or something that had a home, and the bumb knocked it loose

 

WINDSHIELD VENTS: Secured via clips
DOOR WINDOW VENTS: Secured via clips
SIDE VENTS: Secured via 3 screws to the dash

I like the coin idea.

After reareading the original post, I think he's best off taking the instrument cluster out and peering around there.

 

Is there some space behind the cluster? The noise seems to be coming right from the upper left corner of the dash. The dash is definitly not loose - i tried driving around while pressing on it, no dice. I don't think its the vents, the noise originates right where the dash meets with the windshield, it seems. I took off the plastic pillar trim to see if I can reach in with my hand but nothing within reach is rattling - the noise originates a few inches to the right from the corner it seems.

p.s. the cryptopsy drummer is one sick sob

 

Gents, how do I remove the cluster? (don't want to brake anything)

 

can anyone help?

 

theres a few screws on the black plstic trim around the cluster. unscrew em, take off the black trim, and just unscrew the cluster, you'll see the screws.

 

Thank you, just making sure there are no tricky/fragile plactic clips to be aware of. Are the bulbs inside the cluster replacable? While I have it out my odometer bulb is out and I would like to replace it if possible.