Is This Piece Even Important?

jboomer · June 12, 2009

So earlier this week, I'm driving down a bumpy gravel road and suddently I get this loud buzzing sound from under my dash! I feel around as I'm driving and realize it's coming from the under dash panel just below the steering wheel. Today, I removed the panel to see what was causing all of the noise and found this metal panel half-attached to the plastic dash panel. Unfortunately, the only thing holding this metal plate to the plastic panel are about six plastic mushroomed heads (no screws!)...mine only had 2 left, the other 4 or so had broken off. I just removed the plate, but my next questions is, is it important? The only thing I can think of is that it's there to provide structural support, from what I don't know (your knees maybe?). It looks like a heat deflector of some sort, but there's nothing there generating heat. I figure if it were important GM would have made the attachments sturdier, as it is now you can't reattach it, you have to buy the the entire panel with the plate already attached. On the other hand, why would they even bother attaching this thing if it weren't important? It's pretty sizable too, nearly 1'x1' and weighs a pound or two.

Stevens03 · June 12, 2009

I'd say if 4 were broken off, there's something going on that needs addressed

bill190 · June 12, 2009

A clue to this mystery might be the name of the part if someone could find that.

It does not look structural unless it is providing a bit more support to an electronic circuit board or maybe keeping an electrical harness from hitting the back of something?

My guess is it is electrical!

And this could be three things.

It could be used for heat. Either to shield an electrical component from heat or as a "heat sink" which helps to dissipate heat from an electrical component. But usually if used to dissipate heat, it would be well mechanically attached usually. Like the metal fins on the back of a stereo.

Also some electrical components like computers "emit" frequencies. These frequencies can cause interference with radios, TVs, and wireless communications. So the FCC has rules that these "emissions" must be below a certain level. Manufacturers will test their products for emissions and sometimes add metal pieces to keep these emissions from getting out or at least to reduce it to a legal level.

Or the other way around... Sometimes there are sensitive electronic components which will not work right if outside "radio signals" bombard it. You may have heard of military "jamming of radar" or whatever. Sort of along the same lines. Just regular radio signals, cell phones, wireless devices, etc. can cause problems with some sensitive electronic devices. So they "shield" these things with metal to keep all that nasty stuff out.

Anyway these metal "shields" are along the lines of what is called a "Faraday Cage". Here is more reading on that...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

asilverblazer · June 12, 2009

Protect you from getting raped by the steering column in a wreck?

Protect column wiring from being easily accessed (hot wired)?

Can it not be riveted back in place, drill out and re-revit?

gave20 · June 12, 2009

If it wasn't important it wouldn't be on the truck.

redvett · June 12, 2009

Its part of the knee bolster and needs to be replaced. It is part of the structure of the dash in case of an accident. Your vehicle is under warranty so get it fixed.

brims · June 12, 2009

I saw that thing when I pulled the bottom part of my dash panel off. I don't see how a metal panel attached, barely, to a plastic panel is going to save you in an accident, or do anything.

bill190 · June 12, 2009

Is this what it is for?

http://ls-dyna.jsol.co.jp/en/hycrash/ex3.html

asilverblazer · June 12, 2009

There is no way in a million years I could ever search for that /\ and find it.

mbowman · June 12, 2009

I also had that part replaced it was rattling under the kick panel. The service tech said that he did have to replace rivets.

No idea what its for though.

Martin

brims · June 12, 2009

It sounds a little to me like a cement wall built that would save your life when you crash into it, but that's just me. Does that site really apply to a big truck in which the driver sits as far back as possible and wears their seat belt? Maybe in a Prius it would matter, or for some of those people that sit inches from the steering wheel (which you would have more problems with the air bag deploying).

jboomer · June 12, 2009

Is this what it is for?
http://ls-dyna.jsol.co.jp/en/hycrash/ex3.html

That's what I was thinking. I doubt it could really help that much. I figure if I've hit anything with enough velocity that the dash is going to come all the way back and hit me, then it's been a head-on collision and I've probably got more serious injuries to deal with. Though I've been in an accident in a little 2wd nissan pickup where both my knees and my wife's knees went through the dash. Her's actually went through the entire glovebox. Luckily neither of our legs were injured because of it.

So this is a warrantied item and the dealers will replace it? If so, might as well take care of it properly.

jboomer · June 12, 2009

I also had that part replaced it was rattling under the kick panel. The service tech said that he did have to replace rivets.

No idea what its for though.

Martin

I guess you could call them plastic rivets...it's more just mushroomed plastic to help it stay on. All of my "rivets" have broken off, so I figure the entire panel will have to be replaced. Did this cost you anything?