intermittent squeak on the left dashboard erea.....

[richard1]

Since about two months I am trying to locate an intermittent squeak that come from the left side of the dashboard. Now that it is cooler, it is more audible and real bothersome. Furthermore, there is nothing I have ever done and I found absolutely nothing wrong anywhere.

It happens when I accelerate at a stop and now that it is cooler, it is clearly audible and constant on the freeway at mostly any speed above 40 MPH. It sounds like if two piece of very dry rubber would rub on each other or some lose nuts or screws not tight enough would create friction. Until now, I have done the most imaginable checks on everything:

-Torque all the steering bolts and supports under dash

-Torque dash attachment bolts under dash and under the air defroster finisher.

-All defroster duct screws were tight

-Removed the cover under the wiper and checked all screws and put teflon tape the tabs and plastic inserts in the cowl.

-Lubricate the wiper hardware

-Lubricate the inspection cover clip with silicone grease, remove the inspection cover to lubricate with penetrating oil......there is a play in the hinge but not enough as lubricated to be the problem

-Torque all fender bolts

-Torque ALL door hinges inside the foot well panel

-Ckecked the wing nuts of the speedo and tach

-Checked the air vent attachment screws to the elbow under dash

-Checked the rubber drain hose for friction with the cowl insulation

-Checked windshield rubber seal for any cracks......fine, furthermore applied W40 all around the inner cabin seal using a fine needle bottle use for acrylic panel welding

-Checked brake and gas pedal bolts and screws to the firewall

-Checked steering mounting bolts to the firewall

-Checked windshield washer hose connector

and among others.....transmission mounts bolts, struts, engine mounts.....

To conclude, I am pretty exhausted in the search of this annoying noise. Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Edited October 21, 2010 by richard1

[olzed]

Very annoying!! I have hearing aids for the last 18 months, and now I hear every little squeek or groan, not only from the 240, but also our daily drive late model Toyota. Is this noise being transmitted from another area.? We had a rattle in the Toyota, and it was caused by a pair of sun glasses in the glove box

Could it be seat mounts loose? Long shot.

[geezer]

Speedo cable?

[vercingetorix]

Just before I had my speedometer rebuilt it developed an interior sqeek especialy bad on cold mornings and would go away when the cabin warmed up.

[richard1]

it could make sense..........could it be lubricated if I disconnect and remove the speedo for better access? the speedo can be remove from the front, correct?

[EScanlon]

...It happens when I accelerate at a stop ...

and your speedo would register.... what? ... 0 miles per hour??

Go ahead and lubricate the speedo cable, it won't hurt it, but I doubt that it will eliminate the squeak... unless you move/adjust the REAL cause of the squeak.

It may be PART of the total squeak, because you mention it's "constant at speed". But since it squeaks at a stop, there's something else going on there. The speedo doesn't have any moving parts at a stop.

2¢

E

Edited October 21, 2010 by EScanlon

[richard1]

and your speedo would register.... what? ... 0 miles per hour??

Go ahead and lubricate the speedo cable, it won't hurt it, but I doubt that it will eliminate the squeak... unless you move/adjust the REAL cause of the squeak.

It may be PART of the total squeak, because you mention it's "constant at speed". But since it squeaks at a stop, there's something else going on there. The speedo doesn't have any moving parts at a stop.

2¢

E

It squeaks when I start from a stop.

[richard1]

It is a real tough issue......

-I tried to remove the speedo by removing the wing nut.......it doesn't want to come out as supposed from the front of the pod, so I left it there because I don't want to damage the dashboard (I put thin plastic business card around the speedo bezel but it doesn't come out).

-I removed the speedo cable from the speedo and make a test drive........same squeak. Conclusion...the speedo itself is not the problem and the cable was in a bent position to intensify the squeak it would have been the problem.

-I looked at the mileage reset wheel assembly and found some play moving the assembly up and down with a possible similar squeak. I lubricated the with silicone and installed a soft rubber spacer between the knob and the under dash where it is installed. Everything is tight on this component.........road test again......same squeak.

This problem is not from the speedo or the cable.

Any other suggestions?

-vent flaps? tried open and same problem.

-fender bolts? all tight.

-window door rail bolts tight.

-dashboard vents? tested for dry felt and no problem.

[richard1]

excessive play in the throttle shaft bushing. Any clue where I can find a replacement?

[olzed]

Well thats great.

I have an annoying rattle at idle, from the gearleaver area which I think might be a worn spiggot bush in the and of the crankshaft.The noise changes when I depress the clutch pedal.

Its been rattling for 10 years so i'm not too concerned, although it's a little annoying.