tiny squeak
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From: Housotn
tiny squeak
My 97 F-150 Lariat has the faintest, teeny-tiny squeak somewhere in the dash. It's so faint, I can't tell where in the heck it is. I thought it was driver side, daughter says passenger side. It's really strange, I had an Explorer that had the identical squeak. It was older and not so pristine, so I just shot lubricant everywhere and it finally went away. My 150 is like new with 57,000 miles, and is perfect from front to back. BUT the squeak is driving me crazy! Amazingly, it's the only squeak at 6 years old.
Any great ideas? Could its origin be common?
Thanks,
Joe
Any great ideas? Could its origin be common?
Thanks,
Joe
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: LA
Buy a good stereo and turn to your favorite station. 
If that doesn't help, have someone press on panels in differnt locations, seeing if you can find a point and pressure that makes it go away. In that area, you may be able to wedge in a piece of hard rubber or similar wedge piece to fix it.
Otherwise, strip the interior. It will go away then.
George
If that doesn't help, have someone press on panels in differnt locations, seeing if you can find a point and pressure that makes it go away. In that area, you may be able to wedge in a piece of hard rubber or similar wedge piece to fix it.
Otherwise, strip the interior. It will go away then.
George
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From: Housotn
The music thing works perfectly, but I get tired of everyone telling me to "turn down the music." I'm sure most on this board think I'm an idiot for posting such a rediculous complaint, but I can hardly stand it. The squeak is like a continuous nail scratching a chalkboard. It doesn't sound that way, but it is just as annoying.
Is there a lubricant on the market that has no smell and will not harm ANYTHING within a dash? Obviously it can't be a waterbased product.
I guess I'm looking for a can of SqueakBuster.
Late
Is there a lubricant on the market that has no smell and will not harm ANYTHING within a dash? Obviously it can't be a waterbased product.
I guess I'm looking for a can of SqueakBuster.
Late
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Joined: Nov 2003
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It may not be the dash. My very first new car, a 1972 Plymouth, developed a very loud rattle behind the dash right after the 12 month warranty ran out.
The rattle would come and go, it also seemed to move around a lot. I chased that rattle for six months. One day, I was giving the car a real good spring cleanout. I found a marble rolling around the bottom of the glove compartment. My daughter must have dropped it in there.
Try cleaning out all your storage compartments and cubbyholes. In a moving vehicle, the sound might actually be coming from a different location than you think you hear it from.
The rattle would come and go, it also seemed to move around a lot. I chased that rattle for six months. One day, I was giving the car a real good spring cleanout. I found a marble rolling around the bottom of the glove compartment. My daughter must have dropped it in there.
Try cleaning out all your storage compartments and cubbyholes. In a moving vehicle, the sound might actually be coming from a different location than you think you hear it from.
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From: Housotn
Pretty sure it's in the dash. Nothing rolling around ... sounds more like a little tweety bird. By the way, my wife won't drive with me because she's sick of me biching about the squeak. Ha, maybe I should leave it!
Still like the concept of a scent free, electrical safe lubricant.
Still like the concept of a scent free, electrical safe lubricant.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Hi Joseph and welcome to the forum
Sometimes just loosening and then retightening all the screws on the dash will cure it. You could get some silicone spray lube and start spraying where you think the noise might be coming from. Make sure you get the clear stuff like Ford sells. I've seen some other brands of silicone lube that was white.
Sometimes just loosening and then retightening all the screws on the dash will cure it. You could get some silicone spray lube and start spraying where you think the noise might be coming from. Make sure you get the clear stuff like Ford sells. I've seen some other brands of silicone lube that was white.
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From: Housotn
If I had to guess, I'd say the entire dash is slightly moving causing this. It's not just big bumps making it chirp/tweet, it can be almost a vibration that gets it going.
I think your mention of dash screws is a great place to start. HOWEVER, I have never touched the dash and dash screws. Can you or anyone give me directions to, or send me to a guide which points out the locations of the main dash screws? Obviously I can get down and look, but just checking.
I'm assuming by what you said about the silicone spray, that it will not be a problem with electrical??
I think your mention of dash screws is a great place to start. HOWEVER, I have never touched the dash and dash screws. Can you or anyone give me directions to, or send me to a guide which points out the locations of the main dash screws? Obviously I can get down and look, but just checking.
I'm assuming by what you said about the silicone spray, that it will not be a problem with electrical??
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Wyoming
I had EXACTLY the same problem with mine - I was going nuts with the squeak. I could stop it my pressing on the glove box cover, and I pulled it off about 4 times and WD-40'ed the thing half to death.
It turned out to be the dash screw under the bottom left corner of the glove box. There was a little pile of metal shavings there where it was slowly scratching the threads off the loose screw. This was the squeaking source. Just get on your back on the floor and you can see them along the edge of the plastic where the metal supports are running.
It turned out to be the dash screw under the bottom left corner of the glove box. There was a little pile of metal shavings there where it was slowly scratching the threads off the loose screw. This was the squeaking source. Just get on your back on the floor and you can see them along the edge of the plastic where the metal supports are running.
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From: Housotn
Thanks for the tip. I'm getting some spray silicone, tools and a six pack of suds, and that squeaks getting its arrrrs kicked! I took the day off for this, can you believe??? Thank you for the interest and help, board!
