Rattle In Dash...

[02silveradols]

I'm getting a rattle in my dash that sounds like its coming from right behind my guage cluster. It seems to only happen when its cold and takes about 20 mins for it to go completely away (when the truck warms up). I have pressed on the dash peices to no success. It's most loud when I first get going and then it quiets down. I'm at a loss. Could it be the cluster itself? Its an 04 Silverado. Thanks

[DofD]

I'd pull the dash molding off and then take the cluster out and make sure that everything is secure. Could it be something in the HVAC system? Does it happen with the fan off? It could be something as simple as a loose screw. Does it rattle when you are sitting idling or only when you are moving?

[02silveradols]

It seems happen when i'm driving slow. The rpm has to be between 900 and 1300 for it to rattle. I think the engine virbates a bit more between those rpms which sends it up the firewall cuasing a rattle. I find it strange it only happens when its cold out. Does the plastic shrink a bit?

[txab]

I've got the same thing on mine. Rattles a little when it's cold (like it's starting to get). Sounds like it's coming from right at the windshield on mine, not lower down like the cluster. I have forgotten about it until I saw your post.

[02silveradols]

Does yours go away when the truck interior warms up?

[txab]

Yes it does. I never hear it again until the next morning, if it's cold enough. I've tried to track it down without pulling the dash apart. I had my windshield replaced this summer, I might see if it still makes the noise. Hasn't been quite cold enough yet. One thing my intermediate shaft is starting to make noise again. Time to replace it with the new upgraded part. It has the first replacement shaft in it now.

[Ziggie]

This is probably something else, but I had similar problem on 2000 Sierra.

I had a squick under the dash, right from the new, so took it to 3 different delers and nobody could fix it.

As a last desperate thing I removed the console and some covers on the bottom on the dash, lied on the floor with flashlight as wife was driving on the bumpy road.

It turned out that if I was holding the whole heat/AC assembly, there was no squick.

Next when I looked how the assembly was mounted on the fire wall, it was all loose, all the bolts and nuts were not tight, some 1/2" out.

I think there was 4 studs and some bolts, bolts and nuts (on the studs) were mouted from the engine compartment. One bolt was right behind the top of the engine, not hard to reach. It have been not assembled properly in the factory.

All it took was 2 minutes with 10 mm open wrench and done, problem (one year old) gone.

When I officially complained to GM that this could be not fixed by 3 dealers and I had to fix it myself while still on warrany, they offered me one free oil change, which I took as an insult.

Once there was 3 of us in the truck, service manager, salesman and me, service manager (wearing hearing aid) told me that I will never find the source of the squick.

 

Ziggie

[Dave in Mpls]

I have the same issue described by 04SilveradoLT and txab in my wifes '02 Suburban. Have not been able to isolate the source of this yet. Mine seems to be more of a vibration up near the windshield, and does go away as the interior warms.

[02silveradols]

I have found alot of guys on different forums with this problem. No one seems to be able to find the problem. I think it just has to do with the plastic shrinking a bit in the cold.

[02silveradols]

Then the question is why doesn't everyone who has the trucks hear it or are we just paying to much attention to our trucks.

[ewiski]

i had a noise that sounded like it was coming from right behind the cluster.i had pretty much had the whole dash apart on the drivers side trying to find that noise.turned out to the plastic bearing thing on the steering colum were the intermediate shaft goes in.