Strange noise under dash?
 

My 1987 3.2 has recently developed a strange noise under the dash near the center. I haven't gotten under the dash yet to try and find out where the noise is coming from and thought I would post here for some ideas. I have not checked to see if it still does it with the A/C off but will. It's starting to bug the crap out of me!

Noise sounds like a vent door of some kind opening and closing repeatedly. The sound would be similar to something rolling from side to side in the glove box.

Any similar experience? Any ideas what it might be?

(Note: car have the automatic heat & the underdash temp sensor & fan which appears to be functional but could be the culprit??)

Thanks!

there are plastic flapper boxes linked to the heater controls, they live behind the dash, but there's tubing that goes from them to under the dash for the heat down low

perhaps one of those flapperboxes has broken it's flap or something

It's Richard Simmons and he's pissed!!! ;-)

Pull your clock out and look inside. It will open up to the area you need to see.

Just in case (probably not it), make sure your trip odometer is not stuck and that it's not ticking with each passing mile....

I think he may of left his Dolphin shorts in the glove box.

this may be too high up, but peer in your center dash vent with a flashlight and make sure the big duct has not slipped off the back of the center A/C dash vent and is now flopping around back there. It kind of slips on to the back of that center vent. I was able to squeeze my arm to it from inside the front trunk area on pass side to slip it back on.

More clues:

Just got back from lunch and was focused on the noise again. At first I thought is was my pass card sliding side to side in the ash tray as I was going up the parking deck......

BUT, after parking I was able to hear the noise again by just turning the steering wheel to left AND to the right......SO, is appears to be the steering linkage.

Any ideas what the problem is? Fix?

My problem sounds similar to this....check out post on this thread by 911mot:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/201406-steering-shaft-linkage-noise.html?highlight=steering+linkage

BTW...no bump steer or excess play noted....steering feels tight. Car does have turbo tie rod upgrade and has not been lowered.

Opened smuggler's box cover and found the white A/C thermostat wire was rubbing up against the steering linkage bolts causing the noise. Moved wire and problem solved!