Mystery squeak from behind the dash

[Orange911S]

I have searched the forums for similar issues and chased the issues that others have found, and spent a few hours yesterday tightening whatever I could see that needed tightening.

Here's the situation. It's a '77 911S with 42,000ish miles. whenever I go over a bump or rough patch of road I hear a squeak which sounds like it is coming from between the radio and the defroster - in the middle of the dash. It seems more pronounced when I hit a bump with the front right tire versus the front left. I realize that my hearing may be deceiving me and this little gremlin could be anywhere.

I have an aftermarket Pioneer radio which I do not believe is the source of the problem.
I tightened the floor mounted "cubby" that would hold the AC dials if I had AC.
I checked the hinge, lock and mounting of the glove box.
I tightened a mounting bolt under the dash behind the radio.
I checked the springs under the passenger seat and the bolts on the seat rail. They were all tight.
A post suggested looking at the hood lock. I lubed that, then in order to get rid of any metal on metal, I put electrical tape around the rod that is attached to the hood that is held by the lock. (I was hopeful this was it, but no...)
I looked for loose parts in all of the fresh air/heating system behind the dash but did not see anything loose.
I found that one of the bolts down by the battery holding the lower air dam was loose, and the other one was missing. I tightened the one and replaced the other. Again, I was hopeful, but the squeak came back.
I put tape around the foot of the jack to make sure that it wasn't the metal on metal from where the jack is strapped in.
I pulled the tools out, wasn't the problem.
I put tape around the tab that holds the smuggler's box closed, no help.
I pulled the air compressor and jumper cables out of the smuggler's box thinking that they may be rubbing, again, no luck.
I tightened the allen bolts holding the hood to the hinges. Only one was even a little loose.

Does anyone have a suggestion on where to look next? I am not opposed to pulling the dash, but not looking forward to it either.

It may be something under the car and I have not jacked it up yet, but that may be the next stop.

Looking for clues -

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Bill Douglas]

A mouse?

My squeak in that area turned out to be the ashtray. I sprayed silicon lubricant stuff randomly around the area then wiped it down and that fixed another noise too.


Edit. Dashboards can make some strange noises too. I gently pushed on mine here and there to slightly reseat things.

[RSBob]

If that doesn't work, try removing the radio to eliminate one variable.

[Orange911S]

I forgot to mention that I did remove the ash tray. That wasn't it.
I tried holding the radio while driving on the way home tonight. That wasn't it either.

All suggestions are welcome. I am becoming a little OCD over this one.

[sugarwood]

Did you try having a passenger try to identify the location while you drive?

[grant lyon]

Check if the wiper motor/assy is loose. You can get your hand through the speedo dash hole (or clock hole if you have medium sized hands like mine) to wiggle the parts and see if you get the noise you're hearing. Need to go through the front trunk area, behind the blower assy to have good access for tightening fasteners. BTDT.

[rwest]

I had a squeak I swore was from the dash, but it turned out to be the passenger seat- lubed the rails and it went away.

[p911dad]

How about the fender bolts near the cowl? Sounds crazy, but you never know, especially if they were ever off the car. Or maybe the dash pad itself (more difficult because the glass has to come out)

[theiceman]

you think this is bad just wait till it starts to Click ...

[darrin]

Sure it's not the right front torsion bar rubbing against the torsion tube? Bounce the right front bumper up and down to see if you can replicate while outside the car

[aoncurly]

Originally Posted by darrin

Sure it's not the right front torsion bar rubbing against the torsion tube? Bounce the right front bumper up and down to see if you can replicate while outside the car

+1 This ^. I had a similar squeak (sometimes it sounded like it was coming from passenger footwell) and took my car to Elephant Racing and they bounced my car and reproduced the squeak and it was the torsion bar rubbing. They replaced my bushings and torsion bars and squeak is gone. See the pic below (shiny part on bars where it was rubbing):

[Orange911S]

I will try the right front fender push later today. I did drop in Boge replacement shocks into the struts, maybe I goofed something up, or it could be the bushings and torsion bars.

Fender cowl, maybe. I'll check that too.

afterburn, maybe things do change with temperature... when I drove over to the hardware store on Sunday I swore that I didn't hear the squeak. Then it came back a little later. Does that clue mean anything?

Damn job is getting in the way of me chasing this thing down!

[suckho]

This is interesting. I have exactly (?) same kind of squeaking noise in my SC. It started month ago and seems to come from somewhere below the dash. I have tried to touch about everything while driving on bumps to find the loose part but no luck yet. Anyway, thanks for the list, some good ideas for places to check there. One idea of mine was that I'll try to drive slowly over some bumps front trunk/doors open. Other idea was to let car roll over bumps with engine not running and having someone listening for possible squeaks outside. Emptying front trunk and smugglers box is also on todo list: try to drive over bumps without spare tire, tools, jack, etc etc etc.

[Dpmulvan]

just turn the music up

[aoncurly]

If it is a metal-on-metal squeaking sound you get over bumps, really check the torsion bar bushings by bouncing the bumper. My bushings actually looked ok, but when they were removed, they were slightly ovaled. These are rubber parts that are 30-35-years old.

And since the noise is high-pitched, it is very directional. Sometimes it sounded like it was coming from under the dash, from the center tunnel, near the shifter, or under the seat. But I had that squeak for years. It was driving me nuts. Elephant racing diagnosed it in a few seconds, and now it is gone. Finally.

[Orange911S]

I'm cranking the music whenever I can, but now the squeak is in my head as well as the car. I've had others drive while I poked, prodded and listened from the passenger seat. If I could get away with riding in the frunk I might try that.
I'll post what I find, or don't find...

[Jose_JGC]

Could it be that the dash heather/defroster controls module is a bit loose? You first mentioned that the noise seems to be coming from between the radio and the defroster... That module is held by a single bolt to the frame. I would tighten that a bit even if it doesn't seems loose.
Jose

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Did you try having a passenger try to identify the location while you drive?

+1

Get a friend and remove the passenger seat. You lay upside down with a headband flashlight and a wooden stick to press on stuff while bumping about.

[OldSpool87]

Accept the squeak…only then will it reveal itself.

I chased more of a rattle for about 8 mos. I was certain that it was coming from behind the gauges or driver's side door. Once I came to terms with having a rattle in an otherwise pretty nice car, the fire extinguisher bracket linkage winked at me…

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Rich Gas

Sounds like my kind a party! Better yet, film it while bumping about.

Practical auto diagnosis. No glitzy stuff going on in North Canton.