2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Chirp and Rattle Help

[JamesSimpson]

Im tring to track down a ver specific chirping sound. I can hear it mostly on the left when i am driving. I sounds like a plastic edge rubbing on a metal surface. I have had this problem for a year and Im going nuts tring to find it. Is there anything with the 2002 4x4's that makes that kind of sound after 85k? If yall have fixed any kinda rattle on you truck tell me. IM at the end of my rope on this one.

 

[Timbeaux38]

I Know That Sound!!!!!!!!!



Unfortunately, I have no idea where it is coming from. Seems to be worse at lower speeds and bumpy terrain.

 

[dclassens]

I will join this party. I have an 02 that has this squeak. I thought it was from the banks gauge pod, then I thought it was a shock or shock mount, now I think it is the inner fender but I am with you guys, I CANNOT find the squeak. It also drives me nuts and I would love to get rid of it. Please, if there is anyone out in TDR land that can direct us, Speak up!!

 

[Timbeaux38]

I think we should start a "Funky Un-identifiable Squeak" chapter of the TDR

 

[TORQUE THIS]

I've had it for 2+ years now on my 01... Can't find it!!!!

There have been alot of post about this. One find was a pinch weld somewhere by the door and front fender. I'm sure someone will chime in.



My Solution... LOUD AFTERMARKET STEREO.

 

[azpete]

Same here for the past couple years. Checked a ton of stuff. Have been thinking of standing on the front bumper with the hood open or hanging on under the truck with the little lady driving 5 to 10 MPH to hear where it's coming from. Just worried about the fact she knows I just increased my life insurance policy.

 

[sardoghauler]

worse after gauge install

ok, before you say i need louder pipes i can tell you it got much more pronounced after i put in a 3 gauge pod. Definitely a chirpy-squeek from the left front corner. I'm afraid to take the dash apart to hunt cuz I'll probably create new noises in the process. Maybe my situation can help someone more knowlegable diagnose this really annoying noise.



Please someone figure this out.

 

[Alphacowboy]

is it in side the cab, or does it sound like its outside? if its outside, have you checked your shocks???





At least you dont have an intermittent "rattle" sound in the gauge pod... I think its the tac making the noise, but I am not sure. but man, its anoying, but I have no idea if it would be covered under my extended warranty, let alone reproduce the sound for the tech anyway.

 

[Warpig]

Same here

I have an 02, and I have the same noise. Sounds like it's coming from the dash or steering column area. I only hear it when traveling slow and on bumpy surface.



Tim W.

 

[jmolnar]

Ditto Here, Except My Rattle/chirp Goes Away When Below 32 Degrees. Had Dash Out And Modified Cowl As Per Tsb. No Change. Checked Everything. don't Know.

 

[V Baker]

Might be this,http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/23-19-00.htm

 

[jmolnar]

Tried The Second Portion Of That Tsb With No Change. Never Saw A Problem With The Three Welds. No Rust Or Cracking. John.

 

[ceastmen]

chirp

My 2001. 5 auto had this noise that drove my wife and I nuts for 2 years!

One day while in the yard I had her drive it over some bumps to make the

noise while I followed and watched. I swear I could almost see it while

walking along side with the hood up. I turned out to be the shift linkage

on the steering column for the Auto trans. I oiled the p_ _s out of it,

and it quit! I oiled up inside the column as well as all of the pivot points.

Hope this helps you all because it drove us nuts!!!

Chuck E.

 

[DVR]

mine has it. it is a 2001. 5.



while changing the oil this week i tried to track it down. I think it is coming from the hood hinges? with the hood up you can push to the side sharply (on the hood) and the noise will sound. squeeky, chirpy sound as mentioned.

i did not have time to try much other than oiling them to correct it. that did not work.

mine does it on bumps and when you shut the door. it sounds like it is from the drivers side under the dash or under the hood as mentioned above.

 

[RAndrae]

noise

Do a search I did a lengthy write up on this. Mine experience is from having the same noise in my 02. sounded like a chirping/ squeek down low or from the steering colum. The dealer spent alot of time and could never find it. so it tackeled it my self. It turned out to be two problems. one is where the steering colum exits the fire wall. The colum is two tubes, one inside the other. the outer one is the moved when you shift. There is a rubber bushing / seal that the outer shift tube rubbes against. I got some silicone spray lube with a long spray nozzel tube. from the inside of the truck I stuck it in the expanded metal crush tube and in the void at the fire wall. it took a couple tries but it finally worked.

The other most annoying noise was the pinch welds in the cab near the door hinges and lower cab area behind the lower kick panel. I cured this by using an assorstment of tools. Common 14"- 16" nail bar, and a couple of long punches, 10" or so. I removed the lower kick panel and foam. from there you can see where the body comes together in several areas. the idea is to kink the cab at these areas to tighten the pinch welds or to eliminate the movement. From outside the truck with the door and hood open I used the flat nail bar it is curved a little so it allowed me to reach the pinch weld areas that you can see straight down from the hood hinge area and from the door hinge area. I was able to tap/ slightly deform the body in a couple of areas from in between the open door and fender and from the hinge area with door open and from the void near the hood hinge. The dealer had my truck for two days withe the "best" guy on it. I fixed it in about 1/2 hour. I hope this helped i tried to describe a clear as possible.

 

[jandtjil]

Spray lube with an extension seems to have worked for me. Thanks RAndrae

JJ

 

[vssman]

I won't say how I know... . But check the Intermediate steering shaft. Near the rubber isolation collar there is a welded bracket that has 2 rivets through the it and the rubber collar. Inside that bracket is a plastic ring that goes around the shaft (tube really). I'll bet the squeek is from that. Put a little WD40 or similar on the ring to see if it goes away. The early 2nd gens had a problem with a bump clunk that would happen at slow speeds when you turn the wheel and stomp on the brakes or hit a bump. The unit was redesigned for the 97 model year (I think) that should have fixed the clunk problem. However if the plastic slider (the important part of the I-shaft that keeps you from being poked in the chest if you hit something) may develop some lash and could also cause a clunk if given the right situations...

 

[sardoghauler]

I found mine!!

While cleaning my interior I noticed a rub mark on the door panel that corresponds to a mark on the fuse panel door on the side of dash - drivers side. Took a heat gun to the panel door and made it very slightly concave to elininate the rub. chirping noise gone. I don't think the noise was actually at that spot but transeferred movement from the body and door to the dash assy. maybe this will help someone



craig

 

[Allnew2Me]

Dang, so it's not just me!!!

My truck does the same thing and I thought I was alone. I have heard of another possible fix. The hood light harness dragging on the firewall area was one that someone found, fixed by pulling the harness towards the hood a bit and removing the tension where it comes out of the firewall. I tried that but no luck. I think I have it narrowed down to the steering column and think it is the closckspring right behind the airbag. Mine was replaced before I bought the truck on a safety recall and if I give the wheel a thump with my hand while it is squeeking, I can make it do it again. I have not had the chance yet to pull the wheel to see if it is there but have the shop manuals on the way and will know how to get in there to check. Now I'll also look at the steering column where it goes through the firewall to see if that is it. Thanks to all and good luck, I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[JWilliams1]

Thank You RAndrae

Two years of a nasty chirp that almost drove me crazy is gone. RAndrae's fix of silicone lube from inside the truck that took two minutes did the trick. I read on another thread if you put your truck in second the chirp will stop. My truck did this. So if you have the same circumstance I bet RAndrae's fix will work for you.

Jeffrey