DASH RATTLE IN 1990 FESTIVA

[Boater Bob]

DASH RATTLE IN 1990 FORD FESTIVA

[RayRay]

I...uh...I assume you're posting to see if others have suggestions on fixing a dash rattle?

From what I understand, the dashboard isn't exactly easy to pull...but it CAN be done, with enough time and patience and, yaknow, elbow grease. No special tools required. I'd suspect that'd be about the only possibility for fixing a dash rattle...disassemble, and jiggle it every now and then to see if you can make the rattle louder or softer...that way you can narrow down exactly where the rattle is coming from and, hopefully, figure out a way to soften the rattle, maybe by adding some padding, or by removing the offending part which has fallen down between the dash and the firewall.

[Boater Bob]

The rattle seems to happen over 35mph, sounds like a hammer hitting under the dash. I disconnected the speedo cable and the noise is still there. It has a new tim belt and water pump a month ago, nothing seems loose under the das. could it be a worm tim belt cover or? I look to the experience of people on this forum. its a 1990 with 315,000 miles and ran like a clock until this "hammering" which only happens over 35mph. many thanks--------Bob

[RayRay]

Wow...HAMMERING? As in...can you FEEL it when you also hear it? And if you can feel it...where do you feel it (hands, feet, butt, etc)? Not sure if this is something anyone can pinpoint without actually being there, but if any forum can help it's members, it's this one. :-)

[WmWatt]

Actually you can lean over to the passenger side while driving to help locate what side a noise is comming from. Another thing you can do is put the front end up on jack stands to get the drive wheels off the ground and run the car while listening for noises. Another trick is to drive beside a wall with the windows open and listen to the noise bounce off the wall. You might want to check none of the bolts from the recent repair has worked loose. If that's when the noise started that would be the prime suspect.