Plastic creek from dash?

When I get in my car after the first couple of bumps I hear a plastic creaking or crackling from the dash. Is this common and is there a certain place it comes from or a fix? I know the 90s cards were full of inexpensive plastic but I would like to get rid of the noise.

Have you ever had the dash apart?

Nope, I doubt it's ever been apart.

Well, see if you can localize the sound. Then take the dash off.

Well, see if you can localize the sound. Then take the dash off.

It doesn't happen all the time just when they coffer starts moving. Just thought it could be a common issue.

carguy8888 wrote:

When I get in my car after the first couple of bumps I hear a plastic creaking or crackling from the dash. Is this common and is there a certain place it comes from or a fix? I know the 90s cards were full of inexpensive plastic but I would like to get rid of the noise.

Way back in the mists of time, there was a TSB about this.

The "fix" in general is to re-secure the screw-in dash fasteners, using loctite blue, and put a little thin foam or thin rubber (think inner tube material, or teflon tape like used for pipefitting) into the mounting points that are secured with push in fasteners (or lube the points with graphite so you don't get a noise when they flex).

You need to dismantle the dash pretty far to reach all the fasteners. Happy hunting, and keep the service manual handy.

That makes it easy, forget it LOL.

carguy8888 wrote:

It doesn't happen all the time just when they coffer starts moving. Just thought it could be a common issue.

Coffer? You mean coffee? Next time you hear the noise, push on the cover that flips back to reveal the cup holders. That has been known to make noise.

I didn't even realize that. What I meant to say is when the car starts moving. Easy enough to check that lid, thanks Larry.

carguy8888 wrote:

That makes it easy, forget it LOL.

It's not difficult, just tedious. Best to work on it in a large garage, or outdoors, so you can open the doors. That makes it easy to remove the decorative instrument panel and top dash pad. On my car, it was the bolt holing the dash on that you could get to after removing the instrument panel fascia, in about the lower middle. The push fasteners on the dash pad were an issue too but not hard to fix with a little foam padding. The foam has compressed... but it does not squeak/chirp.

That's way beyond me Albert. I was thinking of taking a little WD-40 with the red nozzle and giving a little blast the top dash pad and the dash. not sure if there's space for it because I did not bother to look oh, it was way too hot after work today.

Taking apart the dash is surprisingly easy.

Probably is but I don't want to chance it to make it worse LOL.

I accidentally found the source of the creek. It was the hinge behind the glove box door squeaking like crazy. A little WD-40 and what a difference.

If/when the squeek comes back, try silicone spray instead - Link

WD-40 is a penetrating oil, not a lubricant. It will dry, and then you won't have any lubrication.

Thank you, easy enough.