Mystery squeak from behind the dash

[suckho]

I solved my squeaking noise mystery! It was almost too easy: This morning I emptied my front trunk and smuggler's box of everything except the battery: tools, spare parts, first aid kit, jack, spare tire, fire extinguisher, rope, power cables. Then I did some test driving (while getting my BMW from service) and all squeaks were gone! I have to say that I didn't expect that kind of success, but I already had some next steps in my mind. Not sure which was the guilty part, but I suspect spare tire, extinguisher, or smuggler's box (either cover or stuff inside).

[jlex]

I solved my rattle yesterday... it was the wind deflector for the sunroof. I could have sworn it was coming from behind the dash. Removed the glove box (there's really nothing behind there, so don't bother) and poked around the back of the dash via the trunk & under the car. Sound travels. Finding the real source can be difficult.

[Orange911S]

No real progress last night - I had family over, except strange dreams about mice in the trunk and winking fire extinguishers.

I pushed on the fender, but am not sure if it was a squeak or the sound of the shock compressing. I'll sit inside tonight and have my sons bounce me around.

I am doubting it is the wind deflector, but will check again. I drive primarily with the top open and have not heard any distinction between the sound with it open or closed.

On the way home last night I did turn up the radio and that helped. Also the clinking of wine bottles after a stop at the store seemed to be a closer frequency match to the rattle so that seemed to help cancel it out. I can just imagine... "well officer, it started with squeak behind the dash..."

[Mothy]

I had a squeak like that - same trouble tracking it down.

Turned out to be the seal between the fuel tank and the chassis had broken down with age and now had steel on steel rubbing each time the car slightly twisted.

Check the clamps that hold the tank in.

[fanaudical]

Got AC? I found a couple screws missing from my under-dash AC blower vent assembly and it would squeek on bumps.

[Orange911S]

No AC.

I did the push the bumper to test the bushings last night. No squeak. I may have time this weekend to do some more digging. I have gotten a few more ideas to chase down.
Thanks

[Orange911S]

OK, after a quick/brief afternoon nap my wife decided to work in the garden so I decided to tackle this squeak - once and for all!

Well, best intentions.

I took out all of the felt int the front, removed the spare and tightened down the braces holding the gas tank. They were pretty darn tight already. I spotted the 10mm boots holding the fenders and tightened them on both sides as well as the 13mm bolts holding th trunk lid. All seemed pretty tight, maybe loose a half turn at most so I didn't get my expectations up.

From there I moved into the cab and tightened the air deflectors on both the passenger and driver side. I made sure, again, that the glove box was tight and I also twisted to get my head under the radio to check again for anything there.

Ah, but there was one thing in the glove box... Could this be it???
It was this small little key beneath the hinge of the glove box wedged deep in a place where - metal touches metal. But really I didn't get my hopes too high.

I went for a quick drive. Hit the bumbs, same squeak.

Time for some help. The Mrs was all done in the garden and we went for a neighborhood tour of the lane markers and hit every bumb in the road. Again, the sound seems to be coming from near the center of the dash. We convinced ourselves that it is not the radio. So here are the questions for today:

I have never taken out the gauges, what is the best way to remove the bezel? I tried the clock and speedo and they seemed pretty tight.
Is there a way to get behind the defroster/fog lamp/lighter? My cigarette lighter does not work (power a phone charger) so maybe while I am in there...
An earlier post mentioned the wiper motor. That may be a possibility. My next plan is to pull the blower motor and whatever ducting I can and go in through the trunk.

Any other ideas?

Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Orange911S

I have never taken out the gauges, what is the best way to remove the bezel?

Remove front trunk carpets and the cardboard-like shield that covers the blower goodies.

Get yourself into the front trunk. Flashlight headband helps. Position your body in a very uncomfortable way and snake one arm only into the abyss - among and between the German made ducting from hell and find the back of the gauges.

Push them into the cabin. You will have to get into the car to finish. This is a learned skill with the big gauges. Let the gauges hang on the wires or take high quality pictures of the connections when you do road tests.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Push them into the cabin.

Good advice.

I used a broom handle and tapped the other end with a hammer to push them out.

[grant lyon]

You should be able to get the clock out by gripping at 3 and 9 and pulling out on one side then other other wobbling it as you go. Also try gripping at 12 and 6 and wobbling. You are trying to break loose the rubber seal sticking to the clock on the seal ID and sticking to the dash steel opening on the seal OD. It may be tough to break free at first, but give it some time and effort and it will eventually start to move a little. Once you get it moving it should be easy to wobble free. With the clock out, you can push the speedo out by reaching thru the clock hole. The seal isn't really a seal or gasket, it it is just a rubber ring with ribs on the outer wall and a smooth surface against the clock

[grant lyon]

Here's a picture of my spare tacho. I've pulled the rubber seal away from the black bezel so you can see how the clock (tacho in this case) slides out away from the seal while the seal stays stuck in the dash opening because of the ribs on the seal OD. You want to grip the black metal gauge bezel (and not the rubber seal) and wobble the gauge by the bezel to get the clock to walk out. You may find the ribbed OD seal walks out of the dash opening before the clock OD start moving -- in that case, grip the seal and keep wobbling until the clock and seal come out together. IIRC mine was really stuck the 1st time, and now the clock comes out either with the seal in place on the clock (by my gripping the seal while wobbling) or without the seal in place (by gripping just the bezel).

[Reuben911]

Originally Posted by Orange911S

No AC.

I did the push the bumper to test the bushings last night. No squeak. I may have time this weekend to do some more digging. I have gotten a few more ideas to chase down.
Thanks

I have the same problem. Have you solved the mystery squeak ?

[Orange911S]

It has been a while and that particular squeak is gone. I wish I know what I did or how it solved itself.
Good luck with it.
Jeff


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