Loose Plastic Sound in Dash

[Sinner]

Over the past few hundred miles, I’ve noticed a sound coming from the top of my dash on the driver’s side when taking curves. It almost sounds like a piece of plastic is loose and is scraping or moving around. I’ve seen people on here talking about the plastic behind the rear view mirror, but this is definitely coming from the top of dash where the vents are.

I’m curious if anybody else has had this problem. I’m a little scared to let the dealer prod around in the dash.

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[350toRanger]

Over the past few hundred miles, I’ve noticed a sound coming from the top of my dash on the driver’s side when taking curves. It almost sounds like a piece of plastic is loose and is scraping or moving around. I’ve seen people on here talking about the plastic behind the rear view mirror, but this is definitely coming from the top of dash where the vents are.

I’m curious if anybody else has had this problem. I’m a little scared to let the dealer prod around in the dash.

I've occasionally heard a vibration that sounds like rattling plastic right under the driver's side of the dash as you said. It sometimes does it when the engine is working hard going uphill. I was excited when I read about the plastic behind the rear view mirror issue, but it turns out that was not it. If you find a fix, please let me know! Mine doesn't happen very often, so for now I'm just going to ignore it and hope it doesn't get worse.

 

[THLONE]

The ball in your glove box? Just a WAG.

 

[Sinner]

The ball in your glove box? Just a WAG.

This is on the driver’s side unfortunately. It sounds like it’s directly above the steering wheel where the defroster vent is. Going around curves, it sounds like a piece of plastic is moving/scraping against something. I’m hoping a clip or something didn’t break somehow.

 

[Sinner]

I've occasionally heard a vibration that sounds like rattling plastic right under the driver's side of the dash as you said. It sometimes does it when the engine is working hard going uphill. I was excited when I read about the plastic behind the rear view mirror issue, but it turns out that was not it. If you find a fix, please let me know! Mine doesn't happen very often, so for now I'm just going to ignore it and hope it doesn't get worse.

Whatever’s causing the sound in mine is independent of speed or engine load unfortunately ? I’ll talk to my service department when I take it in for the next oil change. I just don’t like the idea of them potentially getting into the dash, but it’s starting to aggravate me and I have no clue what it could be.

 

[Titanviking]

Try checking the fittings around the pre collision lights on the dash that flash red to warn you of a possible impact if your truck has that, I'm not sure if all rangers have that installed or not but thats where I hear my rattle coming from. It stops as soon as I tap it or wiggle it in any direction but it doesn't stop for long

 

[KNI]

I've got occasional plastic rattle on low drivers side also. Haven't gotten around to do anything about it, but I did identify the source. The drivers side pilar trim panel is bit too wobbly and is not attached from the bottom. Proper conditions and it seems to bend a bit and hit the dash plastics and/or window making a engine rpm synced rit-tit-tit-tit-tit sound.

Quick push on the panel hides the rattle for some duration. Planning put a small piece of foam between the pilar panel & dashboard joint.

I'd say bad design on the trim panel or someone forgot to put a bolt for it.

 

[Sinner]

I've got occasional plastic rattle on low drivers side also. Haven't gotten around to do anything about it, but I did identify the source. The drivers side pilar trim panel is bit too wobbly and is not attached from the bottom. Proper conditions and it seems to bend a bit and hit the dash plastics and/or window making a engine rpm synced rit-tit-tit-tit-tit sound.

Quick push on the panel hides the rattle for some duration. Planning put a small piece of foam between the pilar panel & dashboard joint.

I'd say bad design on the trim panel or someone forgot to put a bolt for it.

I’ll check that out next time I go for a drive! That seems to be in the general area I hear mine. Hopefully that’s what it is.

 

[koly]

Try pressing down on the defrost vent behind the steering wheel while you're hearing it and see if it stops. I know that the vent has been a source for causing dash rattles/vibration with quite a few folks on here myself included.

 

[Sinner]

Try pressing down on the defrost vent behind the steering wheel while you're hearing it and see if it stops. I know that the vent has been a source for causing dash rattles/vibration with quite a few folks on here myself included.

Will do! That’s definitely where it sounds like it’s coming from. Hopefully a piece of foam will take care of it if that’s what it is.

 

[Doc]

Will do! That’s definitely where it sounds like it’s coming from. Hopefully a piece of foam will take care of it if that’s what it is.

Yes, it’s the defroster plastic, some people put a piece of tape under the flap, I just cycled the defroster off and on several times and it went away ..
Regards

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