'95 W124 Dash Rattle - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tlynch · #1 02-21-2010, 09:24 PM

Fairly recently, the dashboard in my '95 E300 diesel has developed an internal rattle. It seems to be coming from the passenger side, close to the door. Maybe behind the vent/below the speaker. I get the rattle on bumpy roads. It is pretty quiet at low speed or on smooth roads. A co-worker passed along a couple of manuals for the W124 chassis, but neither one is any help on dashboard disassembly.

How big a chore will it be getting into the dash?

Any tips on where to find useful disassembly/reassembly instructions?

Thanks!
Tom

jbach36 · #2 02-21-2010, 09:54 PM

No, I don't think you want to remove the dash.

See if you can get either a mirror and flashlight up in there, or borrow one of those snake cameras to view what is loose. Especially if you can have someone do it while you drive.

Finding noises like this take a while to find. Might be something in the engine compartment that is transferring through to the cabin area.

Good luck.

tlynch · #3 02-22-2010, 12:50 AM

Thanks for the ideas. I was going to start out looking from below. I don't fit on a floor board the way I used to, though. A flexible scope would be pretty handy.

Thanks,
Tom

s38junkie · #4 02-22-2010, 06:29 AM

Not sure about the facelifted W124s, but on the early ones there is a sampler blower motor for the cabin air temperature mounted under the glovebox / right speaker. Maybe the bearings need to be lubed?

To get to it, remove the inner lining of the glovebox and shine a flashlight to the lower, right side. You will see a black, cylindrical (do a search for pictures of what it looks like) plastic device with a rubber tube attached to it. Disconnect the tube, remove it, and lube the bearings.

Hope this helps.

tlynch · #5 02-22-2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s38junkie

Not sure about the facelifted W124s, but on the early ones there is a sampler blower motor for the cabin air temperature mounted under the glovebox / right speaker. Maybe the bearings need to be lubed?

To get to it, remove the inner lining of the glovebox and shine a flashlight to the lower, right side. You will see a black, cylindrical (do a search for pictures of what it looks like) plastic device with a rubber tube attached to it. Disconnect the tube, remove it, and lube the bearings.

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

This car has a passenger side airbag instead of a glove box. If that is the culprit, I may have to work carefully from below. And disconnect the battery. I don't want to start a "how do I replace my passenger side airbag " thread.

Thanks,
Tom

Chris W. · #6 02-22-2010, 12:30 PM

You could also pull the speaker on the passenger side dash and have a look in from above. Very easy. Just gently pry up the narrow trim strip which exposes the mounting screws.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D

tlynch · #7 02-22-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W.

You could also pull the speaker on the passenger side dash and have a look in from above. Very easy. Just gently pry up the narrow trim strip which exposes the mounting screws.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D

Thanks! I'm going to get to learn about a whole new part of my car.

Tom

tlynch · #8 03-06-2010, 07:14 PM

I looked around a bit today. There is not much in the passenger side dash between the airbag and the firewall. Felt like the conduit to the AC vent only. I didn't have much luck getting the speaker out. Got the cover off, and I saw one bolt. Not sure how one bolt lets the speaker loose, so I left it alone.

I popped the hood, and I now think the sound may be coming from the area between the battery and firewall. There is a plastic cover that is loose. Behind it is a rack that holds relays. I shimmed some of the stuff that felt loose, and tried to get the cover more settled. I'll see how that works out.

Tom

babymog · #9 03-06-2010, 09:16 PM

The speaker lifts out, clips only.

tlynch · #10 03-06-2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

The speaker lifts out, clips only.

Thanks!

The rattle is still there, so I may go back at it tomorrow.

From the driver seat, it sounds like it is coming from above where the air bag is. Getting the speaker out should let me see a little bit of that area.

Tom

fred98050 · #11 03-07-2010, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s38junkie

Not sure about the facelifted W124s, but on the early ones there is a sampler blower motor for the cabin air temperature mounted under the glovebox / right speaker. Maybe the bearings need to be lubed?

To get to it, remove the inner lining of the glovebox and shine a flashlight to the lower, right side. You will see a black, cylindrical (do a search for pictures of what it looks like) plastic device with a rubber tube attached to it. Disconnect the tube, remove it, and lube the bearings.

Hope this helps.

I had a similar problem on my SD. It was the "sampler blower". I don't know if it is the same on the w124 but here is how the thing looks like on the w126:

tlynch · #12 03-07-2010, 11:16 AM

Thanks!

It would be so much easier with a big ol' glovebox hole in the dash. I just want to make sure I don't set off the airbag in my ear.

Thanks for all the help, guys!
Tom

babymog · #13 03-07-2010, 05:57 PM

Does it rattle with the key on and engine off? If so, sampler blower is going. The blower can be reached from the bottom next to the door opening.

The airbag is fairly easy to remove.

tlynch · #14 03-07-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

Does it rattle with the key on and engine off? If so, sampler blower is going. The blower can be reached from the bottom next to the door opening.

The airbag is fairly easy to remove.

Thanks for the input.

I just ran out to check. No noise with key on, ignition off. No noise with ignition on, sitting still.

I tried both ways with the AC on and off. I have only noticed the noise while driving. It isn't constant. I notice it more when I am on a rougher surface. I have not been very scientific about seeking out different pavement types and evaluating different speeds, though.

Tom