Dashboard rattling is one of the annoying sounds your car will produce. Vibration and rattling will take over the joy of driving. If your vehicle is making a rattling sound then it won’t be a problem.
If you have implemented all the steps to prevent the squeaks and vibrations in the car a new rattling issue will be enough to drive you crazy.
The dashboard is a major part of the car, as the driver’s focus will be shifted from driving if the dashboard rattles. Even you can’t travel long before you stop the dashboard rattling.
Before we address the issue and start working on it you need to identify the source of the rattle being produced. The quicker we get the problem we can start working on it.
Why Do Dashboard Rattle?
It is very quintessential to understand the issue before we get into the troubleshooting process. If you have noticed the dashboard rattle for a long time then ignoring the issue for too long will make it worse.
Dashboard rattles can occur due to various reasons like loose or worn out components within the vehicle interior. Common causes include loose screws, clips, or panels, which can create vibrations and produce rattling noises especially when driving over uneven or bumpy roads.
If the dashboard is already rattling for a long time then there is an underlying issue. If you notice the vibrations in the car initially it is better to take the car to a professional for a diagnosis and fixation.
Additionally, worn-out dashboard mounts or fittings can contribute to increasing the rattling within the dashboard assembly. Environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations and humidity levels can affect the materials used in the dashboard potentially leading to expansion, contraction, or degradation over time.
The dashboards hold all the items that make up the major part of the car like the speed meter, fuel gauge, AC settings, and entertainment. All these features are set into the dashboard separately and therefore produce individual rattling sounds. You need to keep a check on everything that is producing noise and tackle the issue to get rid of vibration.
Sometimes the issue might lie with internal components like loose cables. Eventually, you won’t know until you perform the diagnosis which includes taking a look at the dashboard. Consider the sound isn’t produced from the surface layer of the dashboard.
How To Stop Dashboard Rattle
Dashboard vibration can be fixed as soon as you notice it instead of procrastinating the diagnosis and making it worse. The dashboard is in front of you of course you cannot afford to ignore the issue. It is enough to drive you mad. Having said that let’s understand how to stop a dashboard rattle.
1. Find The Location Of Loose Parts
If you want to find the location of the noise. The primary step is to get help from a friend who will drive you around. As you’ll be behind the wheel it will be distracting for you to identify the noise which will help make it easier to identify the source of the dashboard rattle.
While you are in the car keep your ears open and focus on the noise and the direction it’s coming from. You can press the dashboard firmly to know the source of the rattling. If the noise persists and gets severe then this could be the issue you can mark the area with a marker or put a piece of tape to remember it.
If you think that the noise is surface level you can check the trim panels by jamming pieces of wood or cardboard into the cracks. If the noise stops there they are vibrating against each other on the surface or closely connected to their slots. This would be the easiest thing to solve all you need is a gap tape.
After you fix this issue keenly look after you park your car again and push the dashboard firmly don’t apply too much pressure the internal components might conceal the underlying rattle. Don’t apply unnecessary force it may exacerbate the problem.
2. Secure The Internal Components
As we have mentioned earlier the most likely culprit in dashboard rattling is trim panels or something inside the dashboard. So the primary thing to address the issue is to remove the trim panels doing this will help you perform a more in-depth analysis if the previous step doesn’t reveal the problem.
You’ll be able to see if any internal components are rubbing against each other or the surrounding plastic. If you have never taken off the dashboard before it would be a little daunting and require prep work. But with the right tools, you’ll be able to rock in the first attempt.
Most car manufacturers don’t use the screws to attach the trim panels they’re probably clipped in place. If you want to take the trim panels without scratching the dashboard you need prying tools that will make your work smooth and efficient
If you get the hands-on proper tools this would be easier even though you need to watch the videos of people dismantling the dashboard of your vehicle model. You may easily take off the trim panels by inserting the tools.
Now half of the work is done- The other half is to look at the trim panels after removing them by shaking them and looking at what they are hiding. Reach into the compartment and shake any of the parts.
You can use packing foam sheets to immobilize the wires you see. Also, you can use pretty much any other material you have as a substitute. As long as it is appropriate for the area.
If the area you are working on gets warm you can install heat-resistant material for blocking heat.
Checkout Complete Guide On Best Heat Insulation For Car
3. Installing Padding On Trim Panels
After securing the loose bits of the trim panel it’s time to put back everything in its place. This time we are putting back with the padded trim panels to absorb the noise and vibrations.
However, if the search for the source of noise has uncovered that the panels are part of the problem. There’s one last thing you can do to silence it- All you need is foam tape or felt to add padding on the trim panels.
Since you need to ensure that the trim panels are inserted into their slots you’ll need to use something thin. Your padding needs to be soft enough to absorb the noise and vibrations and cut to fit into the panel clips and it needs to have an adhesive back to stick.
Once you find the appropriate material you’ll just have to wrap it around the clips and insert the trim panels. Even though those clips make it easier to remove the trim panels they are loose. This is the common issue most car manufacturers face this is why they put anti-rattle padding around them. However, if you remove that padding and place your padding the noise might be reduced, and hold the clips firmly.
4. Adjust the Glove Box
The glove box is part of the dashboard because of that we often neglect to address the issue that could cause the rattle. The noise may be coming from the items you have forgotten inside the glove compartment. But most importantly it could be caused by a noisy door latch.
If your glove compartment door isn’t secure the primary thing you should do is tighten the screws that may affect the latching mechanism. or else you can get a new locking mechanism for the model of your car. Or if you’re a DIY enthusiast get a velcro and double-sided tape.
Some people use magnetic attachments to keep the door in place and secure as shown in the video. Although those magnets were designed for Volkswagen glove boxes however they may work for other vehicle models you need to test that and if compatible with your vehicle model get the one.
5. Seal The Gaps Around Dashboard
So far we have been working on securing the loose parts in the trim panels. Now you need to prevent the trim panels from coming into contact with each other. If you believe that panels alone are faulty then you can do this as the first step.
You can use weatherstripping tape to seal the gaps around the dashboard but if you don’t have the weatherstripping tape to complete the task. Measure the gap between the panels they are fairly narrow so you should get the thinnest rubber or foam strips. However, it will be better to measure the gap before getting the tape.
After getting the correct thickness you need to cut the strip lengthwise to fit.
Final Thoughts On How To Stop Dashboard Rattle
The dashboard is one of the essential parts of the car when you’re driving it in front of you however constant rattling sounds will be enough to drive you mad and it’s annoying all the time if the dashboard rattles or vibrates.
However, if you lose your temper on the first sign of a rattle all you do is punch the dashboard to stop the noise doing so will make the situation worse and aggravate the issue as internal components might be shaken with the impact noise.
Not only dashboard rattling you also fix the car door rattling sound and installing sound-deadening material in your car will be a game changer for all noise-transmitting problems and enhance the overall experience of your car.
As you can see stopping the dashboard rattling is simple all it takes is some good tools and simple DIY techniques to figure out the issue and resolve it– There you go you have successfully stopped the dashboard rattle and get back to driving on the road with zero rattling and vibrations.
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