'93 500e has SQUEAK in the dash!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ashyers · #1 11-19-2003, 11:01 PM

The '93 500e I have recently purchased has a nasty squeak in the dash right at the base of the driver's side pillar. The squeak is temperature dependent (warmer = louder) and the previous owner said that the problem surfaced when he had the windsheild replaced with a PPG unit.

I have attempted to remove the trim on the pillar, but after driving with the trim loose, determined that the noise is not being caused by the pillar's trim. Sounds like it's deeper in the dash. I have checked what I can of the windshield, but I saw nothing that looked to be causing a problem.

Anybody have any suggestions? The car is wonderful, but the squeak is driving me nuts! I may be removing the dash to find this, so if there is anyone out there with experience in this area I would like to hear any advice. Hopefully I can take care of this over the weekend! Thanks for the help!!

Andy

zeronero · #2 11-20-2003, 03:06 AM

My car sometimes has a high pitched squeak in the center of the dash. It goes away if I put pressure on it but I have no clue what it could be, this probally doesn't help at all

ksing44 · #3 11-20-2003, 03:54 AM

You just have to keep feeling around until you find the spot where some kind of pressure stops the squeak. Just a word of caution, I have found that sometimes the sound is actually coming from somewhere other than where it seems. Sounds are often difficult to localize.

I just thought I would share experiences of my own.

I was convinced the plastic cover on the rear stoplight on the rear deck was vibrating. It drove me crazy. I would get out and push on it or ask my son to push it and it would stop, but then I finally realized that the sound was actually coming from the headliner. I thought it was coming from the back of the headliner, but it was actually coming from the area of the headliner that was right at the edge of the sunroof. I finally fixed it by injecting expanding foam into the headliner with a large hypodermic needle. There is no more vibration.

Another time I was sure there was a sound coming from my dash, but it turned out to be the vertical piece of burl wood that surrounds the radio. I fixed it by adding a small thin piece of foam under the wood trim.

These cars are quiet, if you are not blasting the stereo, so those small sounds can be annoying. I notice them when I have someone else in the car and I am not playing a CD or the radio. I hate it when I think someone else will notice any noise in my car. They never seem to notice, however, because I suppose my car is much quieter than most cars that they are accustomed to.

Right now I have a small squeak that I am pretty sure is coming from the lower portion of the rear seat. I am sure I’ll get to that one too.

G-Benz · #4 11-20-2003, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ksing44
Just a word of caution, I have found that sometimes the sound is actually coming from somewhere other than where it seems. Sounds are often difficult to localize.

How true!

I had a Honda Passport with an annoying squeak in the dash area that was eventually traced to a brake line on the firewall that was improperly mounted...it was rubbing against the sheet metal, causing the "squeak".

wbain5280 · #5 11-21-2003, 05:23 AM

My whole interior, on the 300SE, squeeks and jiggles.

ashyers · #6 04-04-2004, 01:29 AM

Help!
After numerous attempts I have not been able to eliminate the squeak/creak that comes from the LF dash/A pillar. At this point it appears that the noise is external, but may be heard inside the car (quite well actually!).

When the car is hot and you lift/press down on the LF fender the noise may be heard and felt thru the fender. Here's what I have tried so far:
* Removed LF inner fender and checked the hood hinges including tightening the mounting hardware and lubing the hinges w/ HS2000.
* Checked for clearence between the hood hinges/hood/fender.
* Removed the LF speaker assy. and checked the area for any signs of interference or damage.
* Removed the interior A pillar trim.
* Loosened and retorqued the LF fender's hardware.
* Sprayed any areas that may rub w/ HS2000.

As I have said none of these fixes have worked. I am getting ready to remove the fender and dash to cure this darn thing. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. By the way the car has not been crashed, and the welds/body seams that I can see appear to be OK. Hopefully someone out there will recognize the symptoms and provide the magic bullet! Thanks in advance for the help.

Andy

rjfjr1 · #7 04-04-2004, 03:28 PM

I had a similar noise coming from that area, noticeable from outside when door was shut forcibly, also heard over rough pavement. I adjusted the hood hinge slightly and noise went away. Could also be that the water and electrical lines to the windshield nosels might need isolating. Take everything out (relatively simple) and see if noise persists.

ashyers · #8 04-04-2004, 07:44 PM

RJ,
Curious to know what you adjusted on the hinge assembly. I have torqued the mounting hardware, but have not loosened the screws mounting the hood yet. I have noticed that the noise is less prevalent when I reach out the window and press up on the corner of the hood when on bumpy pavement. Needless to say this is interesting to do while driving!
Andy

Jason Beal · #9 04-04-2004, 08:12 PM

I had a noise like this that drove me crazy. I rotated my tires and the rattle went away.....

olpos · #10 04-05-2004, 12:05 AM

something that may or may not work.this is a good way to find noises in those hard to get to areas.
get a small tape recorder with a mike that has a long cable. tape the mike to differant places to isolate the area.
maybe some other way to listen while you drive. cell phone mike with extended cable while you listen on the head phone portion. just dreamed this up but there are plenty of listening devices out now.
maybe some one else can come up with some thing easy.
good luck
rich

ebennz · #11 04-05-2004, 02:06 AM

ashyers
i had the same problem. i finally took it back to the glass company.

there was definetly some kind of minor problem. it took about 30 minutes to fix.

no more squeak.

try the glass company

haasman · #12 04-05-2004, 02:24 AM

Andy

Your comment about feeling it through the fender makes me wonder about the ball joint.

Look at your ball joint and see if the boot is cracked and if it has lost its dust boot

If so, try a carefully placed blast of WD40 and see if it goes away. If so you will need to replace it soon.

Haasman

wbain5280 · #13 04-05-2004, 07:15 AM

Have you checked the inner bushing for the lower control arm as well. How about all the other bushings?

Use a floor jack to more each side of the front suspension up and down.

rjfjr1 · #14 04-05-2004, 10:53 AM

Andy,

That is EXACTLY the symptom I had and drove around town many times with my hand pressing on the hood, very satisfied with the silence it instilled, but obviously not satisfied with that solution for the long-term.

I loosened the two bolts on the hinge and lowered the rear of the hood a miniscule amount. This solved the problem. I had recently replaced the hood and that's when the sound started.

Good Luck.

ashyers · #15 04-05-2004, 11:28 PM

Thanks for the replys! Glad to hear that this is not a totally isolated problem. Misery loves company!
Here's my results so far:
*I've rotated the tires recently, no change.

*Microphone idea sounds good, may try it.

*Ball Joint Boots sound, both sides, no damage. Hopefully joints are OK inside. Will check play and noise when car is hot and I can put a jack under the A arms.

*Inner Suspension joints look good, applied silicone lube but this did not change squeak.

*Will check w/ glass shop soon on adjusting glass.

*Will adjust the hood height also, but don't have high hopes as the squeak does not go away when the hood is open to the safety catch.

Keep the suggestions coming! I'll keep you posted on my results! Hopefully I'll get this sorted soon as it's driving me nuts!!!!

Andy