Dashboard Squeak

[ibDursty]

Yeah, I've got an annoying dashboard squeak that's been progressively getting worse on my 95T. The noise sounds like it's coming directly behind the glove compartment or very near that area. If I apply a couple of pounds of force to the front of the glove compartment while driving the noise goes away, although driving in this configuration is a little awkward to say the least. I remember seeing a post with pictures regarding a bar or a brace that's behind the dash which might be causing this noise, but I haven't been able to relocate this post via searching. Has anybody had this same noise before and fixed it? Was looking to get the details of what I have to take apart to get to culprit of this annoying squeak.

 

[nsxexotic]

Funny I am having a tiny squeak on the very far left of my dashboard. Near the VIN - to the left of the instrument panel. Anyone. thanks.

 

[Briank]

Where the dash pad meets the plastic defroster panel is a prime place for squeaks. You may want to apply some silicone, spray it on a rag and run it along under the front edge of the dash pad.

 

[jgtcnsx]

remove the glove box and see if anything needs to be tighned. if you apply pressure and it stops sounds like something is loose

 

[0ctan3]

I had a horrible squeak that was coming from the glovebox area, sounded like a very angry family of mice had moved in.

turns out it was this tray that goes under the box.... it's got 3 metal clips on the front, and every single one of them were squeaking like crazy on mine.
I don't have any grease that's heavy enough to shut it up, so I'm just gonna leave it off for now.

 

[DB92]

I to have an angry family of mice living in my dash. Sounds like they reside in the center of my dash or maybe to the pass side a little.

 

[nsxaddicted]

The one on the left on dash in mine was coming from where the dash meets trim at windshield pillar and door moulding. If you open door, pry it apart and spray armor-all in the crack it goes away. It sounds like it is coming from where the dash meets the windshield trim up by VIN. Drove me crazy for awhile trying to find it.

 

[NSX-TSION7]

I have the same problem on the left side. After reading here, I will try WD40. On the right side it's the glove box. With it closed you can push the glove box in about 1/4 inch and that rattles it. Some black window molding along the edge where it meets the dash cures it.

 

[Jimmy's Black Nsx]

i tried spraying wd40 a couple of times, its temp though. i might try and take the whole thing apart and see what i can find this weekend. will post back if i find anything!!

 

[ktbaia]

Yeah, I've got an annoying dashboard squeak that's been progressively getting worse on my 95T. The noise sounds like it's coming directly behind the glove compartment or very near that area. If I apply a couple of pounds of force to the front of the glove compartment while driving the noise goes away, although driving in this configuration is a little awkward to say the least. I remember seeing a post with pictures regarding a bar or a brace that's behind the dash which might be causing this noise, but I haven't been able to relocate this post via searching. Has anybody had this same noise before and fixed it? Was looking to get the details of what I have to take apart to get to culprit of this annoying squeak.

Well, several years after the original post, but I thought I would relay my experience. Hopefully this will be helpful to others.

I have a (new to me) 95 T. It had a horrible squeak/rattle/vibration noise coming from the general dash area. It kind of sounded like it was coming from behind the center vent, or maybe the glove box. First I though it might be a squeak from the rubber at the T-top like others have reported. I bought some Shin-Etsu grease online, and applied it on all my window and top gaskets - no real change. So, with some trial and error, and with a passenger helping me, I found, like ibDursty, that if a few pounds of forward pressure was applied to the dash just above the glove box, the noise went away or was greatly diminished.

Thinking there must be something rubbing behind the glovebox (SRS unit or a duct maybe), I resolved to remove the glove box so see what was going on. I couldn't find anything. But, while working on putting the glove box back, I found that I could replicate the noise by pushing forward on the dash just above the glove box while the car was standing still.

With an easy ability to make it squeak when I wanted it to, I determined that the noise definitely was coming from the joint between the dash and the defroster vent plate at the front of the dash (see pictures).

Using a pipe cleaner by folding in half and then twisting it together, I applied the Shin-Etsu grease all along this joint. It seems the dash and vent plate clip together at three points along the joint. It's where the joint gets tighter near these clip points that the noise comes from. So, depending upon your car, it would be common to hear this noise coming from the driver side, center, or passenger side. Mine was coming from both the passenger side and center, with the two noises having different pitches.

I've attached a couple of photos showing where I greased this joint, taken from outside the car. The Shin-Etsu worked like a charm and I now have total silence! I don't like the idea of using WD-40 on the dash because of the solvents in it. I think the Shin-Etsu will both last a lot longer, and may even "condition" the vinyl and plastic parts enough for it to be a permanent solution.

Hope this helps anyone having the same problem.

 

[docjohn]

My solution to that same joint squeak in my 96 was to place felt shims rather than a lubricant.

 

[johnboy]

Well, several years after the original post, but I thought I would relay my experience. Hopefully this will be helpful to others.

I have a (new to me) 95 T. It had a horrible squeak/rattle/vibration noise coming from the general dash area. It kind of sounded like it was coming from behind the center vent, or maybe the glove box. First I though it might be a squeak from the rubber at the T-top like others have reported. I bought some Shin-Etsu grease online, and applied it on all my window and top gaskets - no real change. So, with some trial and error, and with a passenger helping me, I found, like ibDursty, that if a few pounds of forward pressure was applied to the dash just above the glove box, the noise went away or was greatly diminished.

Thinking there must be something rubbing behind the glovebox (SRS unit or a duct maybe), I resolved to remove the glove box so see what was going on. I couldn't find anything. But, while working on putting the glove box back, I found that I could replicate the noise by pushing forward on the dash just above the glove box while the car was standing still.

With an easy ability to make it squeak when I wanted it to, I determined that the noise definitely was coming from the joint between the dash and the defroster vent plate at the front of the dash (see pictures).

Using a pipe cleaner by folding in half and then twisting it together, I applied the Shin-Etsu grease all along this joint. It seems the dash and vent plate clip together at three points along the joint. It's where the joint gets tighter near these clip points that the noise comes from. So, depending upon your car, it would be common to hear this noise coming from the driver side, center, or passenger side. Mine was coming from both the passenger side and center, with the two noises having different pitches.

I've attached a couple of photos showing where I greased this joint, taken from outside the car. The Shin-Etsu worked like a charm and I now have total silence! I don't like the idea of using WD-40 on the dash because of the solvents in it. I think the Shin-Etsu will both last a lot longer, and may even "condition" the vinyl and plastic parts enough for it to be a permanent solution.

Hope this helps anyone having the same problem.

OK, So how do you apply the lube? It's pretty hard to get to that area. Is there a special method you use? The frt of my dash really doesnt squeak but makes a creaking popping noise. I think it's from where you're talking, but how do I get to it?

 

[ktbaia]

OK, So how do you apply the lube? It's pretty hard to get to that area. Is there a special method you use? The frt of my dash really doesnt squeak but makes a creaking popping noise. I think it's from where you're talking, but how do I get to it?

I like that characterization of the noise - "creaking popping". That is a better description of the exact noise I had.

To apply the lube, I took a pipe cleaner (from my wife's craft projects), folded it in half and twisted it so that it was like one, thicker pipe cleaner. (See the attached photo.) Then I took the folded end and shoved it into the tube of grease. Pulling it out, it is covered in a nice layer of grease. Using one hand to hold on to the clean end, I placed the greased up end next to the joint, and used my other had to force the greasy cleaner into the joint. Continuing to hold the greased end in the joint, I pulled the cleaner along the joint for a few inches with my other hand. I repeated the process four or five times to cover the whole length of the joint.

Hope this helps.