DIY: 1998 S70 Dash Rattle Ghetto Fix! Topic is solved

[JimBee]

My '93 850 lower shin area passenger side mount was shot, so with the dash pad removed, I drilled through the side of the dash via the speaker well into the A pillar then ran a 3/16" ? self-threading screw through the dash into the pillar to hold it up. After several years, it still hangs firmly on that screw with no squeaks.

[Auburn T5]

I had the dash pad out of the wagon to pull the instrument cluster and replace the odometer gear, so I took advantage of the opportunity to help out my sagging, bouncy dash.

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Passengers side Where cn90 pointed out the torx screw, I removed that screw and lifted the whole dash almost an inch. I then drilled a new hole at that point and screwed it back in.

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Then at the topside of that same metal bracket that holds up the dash I drilled a completely new hole in the bracket and straight into the door jamb area at the A pillar. I used washers to space it correctly as to not pull the dash too tightly and contorted out of its original position.

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I repeated on the other side and the dash is now quiet and motionless.

I still plan on doing something at the firewall when I am in that area again.

Sorry to bring up an old thread but do you or anyone else have any instructions on how to remove the dash pad? Mine is driving me crazy.

[cn90]

Search for threads by Ozark Lee.

[erikv11]

Actually you more want to look at the odometer gear fix threads, they will be much more to the point. Lee probably doesn't cover dash pad removal in the dashboard mount repair threads, it is a small part of that monster process. But here you go, this and the links therein will get you to the long dashboard removal threads: Dashboard mount repair version 2 0

Just the dash pad is super easy on an S70, I would just google "s70 dash pad removal" the info is available from many sources.

[RigsPGT]

I tried stuffing a small diameter silicone hose around the corners and the next day I found out the passenger A pillar was broken, plastic part of the dash closer to the windshield shattered into pieces left and right. I wish this car would have been driven somewhere cooler as FL heat destroys Volvo plastics like there's no tomorrow. Now its time to find a new dash cover and pull the whole thing out, repairing the mounts while there.

[cn90]

It does not matter what car you drive, if you:
- live in hot climate like Florida
- park the car outside

Then get a blanket, whenever you park place the blanket over the dash to prevent direct sun damage to the dash plastic. Or you can buy those heat-shield foil.

[RigsPGT]

I cover the windshield every time I park but the previous owner had driven it here in FL and by the condition I got it, he didn't do much to keep it in good shape. Luckily the paint was OK despite scratches which i took care of as soon as it hit my driveway.

[erikv11]

Yeas, covering the window or the dash or whatever will only go so far. The issue here is the heat per se, not the direct sun (although allowing direct sun will result in an even hotter cabin, for sure).

[dosbricks]

erik is correct. We have owned both our cars for 16 yrs. and one was garaged daily and its dash is in no better shape than the other although we used the dash shades. We have about 300 days per/yr. of sun, but it still gets about 110* in the garage in the summer when we close it up with a vehicle with a hot engine. The main issue is that these cars have just outlived their plastic components, whether it be dash, switches, door locks,-- you name it. I've found Gorilla Glue to be a real ally if you know how to anticipate it's expansive nature and keep it out of sight.

[RigsPGT]

Today I made some side brackets for the T5 and despite the sides being secured, the center mounts were rattling again. So back to square one I decided to foam the perimeter of the windshield with the dash with that Home Depot stuff. Well, sprayed the foam in different spots and 80% of the noises are gone except a light tickig here and there and a vibration noise when stopped at a light unless you shift to neutral. Anyway back at it with the foam this time filling around those two areas and I'm hoping this time I won't need it anymore. I will update tomorrow on how it went but for now, here are my two side brackets: