Under Dash rattle

[JHylton]

I have a late year model 91 D250, 2WD, 1 owner since new and this truck has a under dash rattle that I can not isolate. I have taken the glove box out and can find nothing that appears to be loose. It is really bad in the cold winter weather. Warm weather, not noticeable. Is it just the flexing of that large one piece plastic dash assembly? It sounds like something is rattling against the dash, but I can't find anything under there to rattle.

 

[CToney]

If these trucks don't rattle something is wrong. Thats the fun of owning a FARGO.

 

[JLEONARD]

It's the cracks in the cab front or whatever it's called. I had the same issue. I left it alone but many have fixed. You can find info doing a message search.

 

[sdstriper]

Search "cowl cracks".

 

[cerberusiam]

It's the cracks in the cab front or whatever it's called. I had the same issue. I left it alone but many have fixed. You can find info doing a message search.

If one has cowl cracks on a 2x4 I'd say its time for a truck more suited to the use. :-laf



Cowl cracks could be the issue, more likely its just the shrink\expand of the dash and the little mounting screws have worked a little loose. Its a 1st gen thing.

 

[PToombs]

I had cowl cracks on mine. The 86 2wd donor truck had them too. There's a pic of the repaired donor cab in the last issue of the mag. (the green one! )

 

[JLEONARD]

If one has cowl cracks on a 2x4 I'd say its time for a truck more suited to the use

Oh they were definately cowl cracks... . Being from NC you don't know how our roads are up here in New England. Extremely bad, especially at this time of year as they are frost heaved. There are some roads that I will avoid altogether untill the frost gets out of the ground and they smooth out again.

 

[cerberusiam]

If one has cowl cracks on a 2x4 I'd say its time for a truck more suited to the use

Oh they were definately cowl cracks... . Being from NC you don't know how our roads are up here in New England. Extremely bad, especially at this time of year as they are frost heaved. There are some roads that I will avoid altogether untill the frost gets out of the ground and they smooth out again.

Oh I don't doubt you had them, I have just never had that problem and 6 or 7 2x4 trucks I have had over the years. The 4x4 trucks are another story entirely. I have broken cowls, floor pans, etc.



Even the 2 current trucks we have are not showing any signs with 200-300k and rough roads. NC roads are freeways compared to what I have driven on for the last 30 years in Idaho and South Dakota so am well aware of the beating they can take especially in the spring.



I wonder if its a salt thing that contributes to the weakness?

 

[dpuckett]

I have the same issue- noticeable whne cold, not there when warm. It's the mounting screws that hold the dash to the firewall. Unfortunately, you need to bend a wrench to fit the angle (5/16 or 8mm), or R&R the windshield. I would wait til I had the windshield done, but I dont trust the cheese-brains around here to do that much extra work. I mean, asking someone to tighten 6-8 extra bolts, my heavens, that's overworking the poor souls. Just getting a new weatherstrip is a major chore.



Dan