NL Dashboard

[crh]

My NL has a ticking type rattle up high behind the instrument cluster. I had a rattle like this before with the glovebox frame area that turned out to be flex of a bracket, just bent it out of shape and the rattle was gone.

I have taken the cluster out, but there is no access through the back.

Does anyone have a manual that explains removing the dash or has someone done it? Don't want to start breaking things.

[NJV6]

To remove the dash you need to prise out the clock - there is a bolt behind it. Take out the side vents that direct air at the side windows, nuts behind them. They might crack slightly when levering out but no biggie.
Bolts behind cluster you speak of

Stereo surround out (2 screws)
There are some screwsaround the stero somwhere I think... Centre console may need to come out to get access to screws.

That is all I can help. Wiring is all pretty easy as everything can only go back to where it came due to the use of different plugs.


Be careful with the airbags.

[NJV6]

Though I might add, There is not really anything there that could rattle.

It could be part of the witing loom but up high behind the dash there is nothing. I have the dash out of one at the moment in the shed and can put up a picture if you'd like.

It is not the speedo cable ticking is it? I have heard of them making a noise in Paj's before... (I think)

[klrevo]

just thought id throw it in the mix,

iv now taken apart two dashes in pajeros, theyre not that bad. The manual explains it all pretty easily enough. Think about things laterally and take your time shouldnt really need a manual. Things come out pretty easily and i was actually surprised how easy the whole dash unit comes out,

have fun

dean

[crh]

The speedo in my model is electronic, so no cable noise.

It is hard to explain the sort of noise it is, but it is killing me. It's a real tinny, high pitched type ticking sound. I have to get rid of it.

Thanks for the replies.

[NJV6]

So the cable doesn't screw into the back of the instrumnent cluster?

I wrecked a 1999 NL and I'm sure I ahd to unto the speedo cable. Might have been wrong though.

[M1S3RY]

So the cable doesn't screw into the back of the instrumnent cluster?

I wrecked a 1999 NL and I'm sure I ahd to unto the speedo cable. Might have been wrong though.

NJ's onwards had electronic speedos

[date]

Have you tried to analyse what the noise is? By this, I mean is it road speed related, engine speed related, is it the ventilation fan? I had a leaf stuck in the vent fan of my NL. Simple job to fix, but finding the screws to get at it was a job. Once done, no noise.

[klrevo]

mine has a ticking sound right where youre talking about too, sounds as though its right behind the sppedo. The only conclusion i can come to is that it sounds like a relay that is associated with the ignition, because i guess thats what it seems like and the timings right

dean

[date]

Sorry - cannot help you. The ventilation fan is in front of the passenger's feet. As far as I am aware, there are no moving parts behind the speedo. Is it in the speedo itself? You can try it by driving with the instrument pod removed. If it still ticks RUN LIKE HELL - it is probably a bomb! Sorry about that - I couldn't help myself.

You don't say if it is engine speed related, road speed related or any relaed things at all. That may give you some clues as to where to look and what to look for.

If it is electrical sparking, you should soon know where it is by the smell, or by blowing a fuse.

All the best in finding it

[date]

I just had a thought - it happens rarely. Is it static in the car radio speaker? One of my earlier cars had a click click noise always coming from the R F speaker, even if the radio was not turned on. I never could solve that one, and eventually virtually gave the car away. I guess that it was some problem with the earthingof the system. It was a cheapie radio anyway and was no loss.

[crh]

Thanks alot for all your replies guys.

More info.

Tick/Rattle only occurs over bumps in the road, that is, on a smooth road it is silent. Travelling fast or slow makes no difference. So it is defintely a rattle, not electrical or anything like that. Sounds like a loose screw sitting on a metal plate and bouncing around.

Anyway, I have undone the whole dash, but you must need the centre console out to remove it. I have taken the two screws at the front of console out and two screws in the bottom of the console box. I assume the back half of the console separates from the front, but I'm stuffed if I can get it out. Any ideas?

I have the drink holder out too, so I might try and find one that isn't broken. Wish me luck.

Again, thanks for your ideas

[NJV6]

For me to get the centre console out, there is 2 or 3 screws in the cubby box. You do need to take the rear part out 1st. And the handbrake surrond just leavers out.

For yours with drinks holder - you need a realy long phillips head screw driver to get 2 screws, I think you pull the drinks holder out half way or something from memory which provides access to them, and i remember them being a right bugger, which led me to suspect there was an easier way I didn't discover.

[-Scott-]

A story just for the sake of it:

Some time back I had a VS Commodore wagon for a company car. It would randomly produce a tick/rattle which could get quite loud (during a conversation on hands free phone the bloke on the other end asked if it was raining ) and sounded like it was coming from EXACTLY behind the speedo - I used to tell the service guys that I would bet it's the speedo cable, if only it had one.

Eventually, they claimed to have found loose wires behind the dash in the passenger side footwell.

WTF?

But I never heard the sound again.