Ironhawk305

Hey guys! I want to start by saying thanks to all of you unsung heroes. You don't know it, but you've helped me time and time and time again. I wish I could remember everything that I've learned from this site. Quite honestly, the only reason I'm posting now is because this is the first time in three years that I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for here. You all are that awesome.

I've got a '91 Firebird that picked up a chirp that I just can't find. It sounds -exactly- like when the bearings start to go out on a blower motor. It's irregular, randomly gone, worse over bumps and rough roads, unrelated to a running engine (shut it down and coast and it's still there), sounds like it's coming from behind the dash, can't hear it from outside the car.

I removed the dash pad, instrument cluster, cluster bezel, speakers, under trim, HVAC vents, HVAC controls, headlight switch, stereo, stereo housing, the fog light/hatch release/rear defroster button piece, and of course the blower motor. Basically stripped it down to the main dash assembly, which I loosened (even the rivets along the bottom). I can't touch, pull on or push anything that makes the chirp go away (or I haven't hit the right piece yet). Before I go to all the work of pulling the main dash assembly out.... is there anything that's common?

Thanks for any input. I would love to be told that I missed something easy.

eseibel67

Chirps, squeaks, rattles and buzzes can make you nuts, chasing them down can be frustrating. One thing I find is that because a car has so much glass deflecting sound, sometimes you get fooled by the location. An assistant really helps, where they can drive while you look for the sound. Of course noises come from vibration, and your hand can stop the vibration when you touch it.


Recently, I had a clunk that I thought was in the glove box, and it turned out to be the lighter socket. My son's car had a squeak in the door that turned out to be the seat mechanism.




Good luck, it can be time consuming. When you do find it, make sure you torque the fasteners appropriately. Stripping the threads be over tightening can cause a squeak.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

Its the metal ground strap that touches the underside of the hood in the engine compartment.

Ironhawk305

Thanks guys. I'll see if my bro is around, he can drive while I hunt. I'll check the ground strap, too. In my deconstruction efforts, I found a box that looks like a mini computer. It's underneath/behind the "glove box" pouch. Has a plastic prong pointing up, and it's fastened at the bottom by two screws. It's to the left of the defroster solenoid. Anyone know what it is? I unplugged it and the car still ran. That was my diagnostic test.

RamIt

Thats the computer that originally ran the engine. Is it carbed now?

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

You need to turn your radio up.JK

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

Manta.....I've done that!!!

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

My dash pad squeaks a little(I'm afraid to over tighten it)
so I turn the radio up

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

Is it a black box or metal box? Sounds like air bag system stuff.

82tarecaro

iTrader: (4)

Squeaks, rattles - all part of the third gen driving experience. T top cars are the worst. I just make the radio louder.

zero13

Remember to put a dab of grease(bearing type) on your rubber stoppers under the hood, especially near the windshield ones...trust me, your dried rubber makes contact with hood,then you drive over railtracks and your car shimmies over,all the while the rubber causes friction and makes plenty of indescribeable noises which you think is the dashboard/panel/windshield,etc...

Ron U.S.M.C.

Have your friend poke around the suspected area with a "mechanics stethoscope". You can listen to all kinds of things including the internals of the engine and related parts to pinpoint problems and they are very nice to have around. They can be found at most auto parts stores or off line.
Carful though, banging the tip around can hurt your ears.
Link = http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0716&ppt=C0374

scottmoyer

Part of the problem could be over tightened screws. If there is absolutely no movement or flex in the dash pad, it could cause a squeak. I went over an extremely quiet car and tightened all of the screws in the TTop area and dash. I created squeaks and rattles, so I went back and loosened most of the screws to be less tight and the squeaks and rattles went away.

Ironhawk305

Sorry, I got caught up in some other projects. I got my bobbed M35A2 back on the road and I'm fixing a GSXR from a crash. Ouch...


I tried poking around with a stethoscope already. I hear a ton of stuff coming through, but I couldn't pick up that squeak anywhere. That just doesn't make sense to me. Inside, outside, I could only hear it without the scope on, even when the squeak was plain as day.


And, LOL at the "radio" guys. Unfortunately, the first time I heard the chirp was with the radio on and up. :/ It's a high frequency, so it pierces through despite the two 1500W amps. And before any of the purists say anything about the sound system, I hid it under the cargo cover. You can't even tell.

Saxondale

iTrader: (2)

Good to know before I get too far along with interior fixes. I already did a T5 shifter swap and in my typical do it correct way tightened each screw and bolt to an apparent proper torque! May need to go back and relieve some of the plastic stresses I've probably created.

ghettocruiser

iTrader: (4)

I found a lot of the squeaks in my 87 were due to the underside of the dashpad. You can look where its rubbing on the plastic spots, because its a smoother surface you get a squeak.

My solution was to get some thin felt from the craft store. As thing as you can get. Then just spray glue it under the pad in key spots. I wish I took a picture of all the spots I put it. But you'll be able to tell.

But its thin so it wont affect mounting, and all hidden once the pad is in place, so just put it anywhere you think it'll squeak, then test it out.

J.

Wife'sCar

iTrader: (1)

Good tip