'06 Dash Rattle

Haven't found anything yet but do sense a rattle from that area occasionally - still looking - I hate rattles.

 

Do a search and you'll find hundreds of posts about rattles. Just wait a few more months and then take a ride with the radio off over uneven pavement. You'll here plenty of rattles, especially if you're overinflating the tires.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(magneticgreybase @ Oct 24 2006, 06:01 PM) [snapback]337661[/snapback]</div>

In my experience, plastic dashes do an excellent job of conducting sound. Where a noise seems to be coming from may be quite different from its actual source. You may have to do some lateral thinking to figure out what's rattling.

E.g., I had an Echo Hatchback which buzzed at certain RPM. I swore (literally) that it was coming from somewhere at top of the dash, near the driver's windshield pillar. The noise actually turned out to be a slightly loose component in the cruise control stalk on the steering column.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JayGoldstein @ Oct 25 2006, 02:11 PM) [snapback]338251[/snapback]</div>

That is especially true of the Prius where the extensive interior glass surfaces bounce and reflect the rattling sounds.

 

My dash rattle (only when driving on cobblestone roads) is definitely attributable to the center console, more precisely the metallic grill of the audio system speaker.

When I went for car service, I mentioned that, they fixed it, the fix worked for a week, the rattle is back now.

Time to start toying with cardboard myself.

Solar Hydro

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(magneticgreybase @ Oct 24 2006, 03:01 PM) [snapback]337661[/snapback]</div>

I had a rattle similar to your description. It turns out that it was coming from the lower glovebox push button latch. I found it by keeping the lower glovebox open while driving.

 

I too have the dreaded '06 dash rattle. This has been driving me bonkers for weeks, since the car is otherwise so quiet. I think I finally have it cornered. If I reach underneath my dash mat on top of the MFD, there is some kind of device flush-mounted in the top of the MFD housing. I suspect it may be the NAV system GPS antenna? Anyway, if I firmly hold down on it, it stops that nasty rattle immediately.

Who out there knows how to fix it? Is it accessible from the top of the dash, or do I need to remove the glovebox and sneak up on it from underneath? The easy way would be to go to the dealer and gripe since its under warranty. But sometimes IMHO a careless technician can do more damage than good if its tricky.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Infidel

 

I was bugged by a dash rattle for a while, but it turned out not to be coming from the dash at all, but rather from the center console cup holders. I would have sworn it was coming from somewhere around the MFD.

The center console vibrates quite a bit and I have found that styrofoam cups and water bottles can cause a rattle that sounds like it's coming from the dash. The next time you hear a dash rattle from near the center of the dash, and you have a cup in the center console, try putting your hand on the cup and see if it stops.

Water bottles are the worst. The vibration of the cup holders is at just the right frequency to make that little safety seal ring on the neck of the bottle dance around.

 

I have a rattle that near the small window on the drivers side. If I tap lightly on the dash I can hear it. Sure sounds like it's something just under the dash.

Ken

 

I too had a rattle that I swore was coming from my dash. After some investigation, it turned out that it was my sunglasses, rattling in the overhead compartment. Water bottles, when mostly empty, also rattle constantly. Just something to consider.

 

The rattle in my prius came from the area right above digital display. If I push it down while driving over bumpy road, the noise doesnt appear.

Too lazy to go to dealership to fix. Afraid more noise will appear after it comes back from dealer.

 

The irritating rattle on my 06 is from the driver's side handle up by my head. If I play with it the rattle will stop for a little while. My much shorter wife says I have a dash rattle too but I don't hear it because my seat is all the way back.

 

I hung out for ~5 hrs. at a Toyota service lounge yesterday while they struggled to find a dash rattle in my '06 somewhere left of the steering wheel. I think they fixed it as so far, I don't hear it anymore... so far. <crosses fingers>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(magneticgreybase @ Oct 24 2006, 04:01 PM) [snapback]337661[/snapback]</div>

I've got one that sounds similar. From the panel area just above the upper glovebox near the small window. If I lightly touch the plastic near the round defroster grate it goes away. Not much I've been able to do to resolve it though :-(

Joel

 

I have brought my 06 prius into the dealer 3x for a fix for the dash rattle near the MFD. They have taken the dash out and removed some extra plastic, they have added some insulation in the vent between the 2 plastic pieces. Nothing has worked the rattle is worse when the temp is below 60 degrees and the road surface is bumpy. The rattle goes away on smooth road surfaces. I now have 21,000 miles on the car. If anyone has any new ideas for a fix I would appreciate the info. Thanks.

 

Wow. After reading this whole thread I'm starting to think the only solution to this problem is old age. Hearing in the higher frequency range drops off with age. Lots of loud music during younger years can help with this. :blink:

Might want to keep an eye on the "Burl Wood Dash Installed" thread posted by nyconrad (Emile)...
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=2...pid=358724&
... who installed a very impressive wood dash kit. I was curious about how it compared to plastic in terms of audible vibration.

 

As I was driving to the dealer for my 10k checkup one cold morning, my dash started rattling on the passenger side, too! My mechanic said that the '06 dash rattle is common because of all the plastic parts that wrap around each other. Also with cold weather, rattles are much more prominent. He said he couldn't isolate it so he put some grease in there. So far so good but it hasn't been that cold since that morning.

 

I concluded the offending racket was emanating from the plethora of glove boxes on the passenger side, so I stuck a small towel in the top one. It seems to have helped, but on a cold day on a rough road, forget about it. The whole car rattles. At that point I utilize the always excellent turn-the-radio-up noise cancelling device.

 

My 06 has numerous dash rattles.
FIXES:
1- the A pillar closest to the front, when pressure is applied from underneath, near the dash the rattle stops. Pop off the small vent cover by the tiny front side window. Stuff aboutt 6 inches of 1/2" x 3" foam(fabric store) up the A pillar.
While tiny dash cover is off, push same amount of foam under dash at 45 degree angle toward front windsheild. This will stop rattle from dash in corner by windsheild.
Last rattle appears to be directly over air bag on passenger side. No solution yet (maybe remove glove box , 2 screws under black plugs in back)