Huge rattle from center dashboard

[twingo]

I have a huge rattle from the center dashboard area. Seems to be coming from the display area. Is there anyone out there who has removed the center console that would share how it's done? I'd rather not go through the hassle of going to the dealer if I could do it myself.

[Randy]

The whole shiny black frame around the NAV screen is held on with very strong clips. You start the process of taking it off by just gripping it and pulling it off. In my case, it took four hands to provide enough force to get it out of the clips. Once you free it from the clips, then there are hooks on each side that need to be undone, and then the wires need to be unclipped from the plugs to completely pull the cover off....

[twingo]

This is fantastic, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you kindly.

BTW, I'm in Escondido and have had my Silver Leaf for about 7 weeks - 1,600 miles.

[electriclarry]

I have the same Rattle!!! VN ending 3231 purchased May 28, 2011. I think I will let the dealer handle it? What is the time limit on 'dealer adjustment?'

Thanks

[camasleaf]

I believe I have the same rattle but it is not too loud ... yet. I was trying to figure it out if it makes any difference if the car is cold or hot. It looked to me that was not so loud when hot. Maybe it is one of the connectors that needs repositioning?

[twingo]

I disassembled the center panel as the pictures show. it was really easy except figuring out how to unlock the connectors took a while. I reached into every area I could seaching for anything that could rattle and did not find anything! There is a plastic brace above the cd/nav unit that seems could rattle and I added a foam cushion under it. When I drove over the bricks in my neighborhood this morning, the rattle was still there but a little less obnoxious. Still it is not something I could live with. I'll probably do some more diagnosis like driving with the display in the open position and the same with the glovebox to see if there is any relationship with those things. Mine is so load it almost sounds like a metal bracket that came undone and is banging against another piece of metal.

[davewill]

This should be covered under warranty. Why not let the dealer fix it ?

[twingo]

This should be covered under warranty. Why not let the dealer fix it ?

I'm sure it is covered, but if I can do it easily, it is much less hassle than going to the dealer, leaving the car, arranging for alternative transportation, etc.

[SanDust]

I don't have the rattle, and I'd know cause I'm one of those who can hear the whine. Fixing minor issues yourself can be a good thing, but before everyone starts trying to solve the problem themselves they need to remember that locating the actual source of a rattle can be tricky. What seems to be a rattle in the dash might be originating somewhere else, like the wheels. That said, unless there is a service bulletin of some kind the dealer is likely to do exactly what twingo did -- start tearing the dash apart and stuffing.

[RickS]

+1

I have that rattle too after only 1,500 miles.