2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Dumb Bird in the Dash ?

[SDR]

Oo.



The dumb bird in my dash [2000 Dodge diesel] keeps making louder noise as the miles go by [160k], I have pushed and pulled and some times I think I know where the critter is but then I get fooled. I believe the dumb squeek is in the steering column or perhaps caused by the universal joint for the flexble or adjustable steering wheel. I have had things apart as far as I can get but can't find the squeek, must be others out there that have this bird on the drivers side very close to the instrument cluster... ... ..... the more ripples in the road the more the song goes on; good thing I can't hear real well at my age. Perhaps there is a hole I can put a spray can up against and get the critter ? #@$%!



Ideas on how to get rid of this noise would be greatly appreciated !

 

[cyborg]

drive shaft U-joints

 

[kkreigh]

I had a squeak in the right front dash for six months before I finally discovered the plastic nuts that hold down the moulding under the rear of the hood and above the air intakes in front of the windsheild were broken off and allowing the plastic piece to rub on the lower side of the hood causing a squeak. It partially rubbed through the paint on the underside of the hood at the back. Replacing the nuts solved the problem. They were $3. 87 a piece(ouch) x 6.

 

[wlowe]

Try lubricating the transmission shifter linkage joints under the truck, below the steering column. Thats what fixed mine.

 

[BK]

how are the pieces of felt spaces on the back side of your dash board faceplate?

They keep the dash plastic subframe and dash faceplate from rubbing together and "chriping".

 

[BigPapa]

A friend of mine worked on the line at the Nissan plant here in middle TN. He said there was a guy on the line there that would hang things with wire in impossible-to-reach places under the dash during assembly just to aggravate new owners and service departments. I don't think he was there very long. Maybe his cousin "GOTCHA".



Scott

 

[KAlder]

Check the spot welds inthe drivers inner fender, they are pretty common to crack right around the weld. Open your hood, with a flashlight look down the gap right next to the hood hinge on the drivers-side. There will be a pinch weld flange that sticks straight out from the side of the pick-up, behind the fender skin. If your truck is a light color you may see some rust stains around the cracked welds. They can be hard to actually see that they are cracked. They usually make a chirping sound like a bird, and you don't have to hit bumps very hard to make the chirping sound.

Kevin

 

[SRath]

While doing the power window/door lock install and the new stereo, I took advantage of having the dash apart to check and tighten every screw I could find. I also noticed that Dodge was big on wrapping large electrical connectors with soft foam rubber. I took the hint and similarly wrapped everything that could bounce or rub.



My really bad squeaks were from the missing dash screws at the base of my windshield. Have you checked yours for tightness? The body shop that replaced my windshield after the deer hit me in the kisser managed to leave them all out and lose them. It cost me $20 at a junk yard for the right screws. They also left out all of the outside air vent plastic nuts that kkreigh mentioned, but I found them in my seat cushions... And all of my ducts and instrument panel and every nook and cranny were still filled with glass... (This is why I just hate letting any shop work on my vehicles; but I don't do windshields. )



My dash is really quiet now. It's only my trashed front tires that howl like banshees (makes me thankful for a 200 watt stereo and bad hearing)... Those two front tires put out more noise than all 18 on my big rig combined! The matching rears are quiet and fine. Gotta find a cure for this miserable dodge front steering&suspension...



One other noise source I recently found was a couple of the centercaps on my mag wheels. They were loose and rattled like rocks in a coffee can. You probably already know about the bad, fully threaded shock mount bolts that dodge used and how they can cause loose, rattling shocks?

 

[SDR]

I have done some of the suggestions already and I will look into those that I have not done and I think you all for your ideas !

 

[RAndrae]

pinchwelds

do a search on pinch welds... betcha thats it... had the same thing found it was none of the above except for pinchwelds.

 

[DennyDay]

After 6 months of searching, I put 2" a front lift kit in my 01 4 X 4 and low and behold the squeek and rattles went south. I know this may not be your prolem SD but you might look at the top of the shock mounts. Mine were new about 9 months ago, but were not properly lined up then over tightened causing one rattle, the squeek was the upper spring mount worn thru and the spring rubbed the metal ring of the shock mount tower.



Hope this helps some of you chasing rattles



Denny