S70 Dash Noise Fix?

[Gnat66]

Hi guys. This is my first post here on MVS. I've already learned a lot about my issue, a squeaky/cracking noise in my dash. I bought the car a little over a year ago and the problem has only gotten worse. My dash was loose and with some help from my girlfriends dad (a skilled mechanic) we made a custom metal bracket to hold the driver side, and behind the glove box on the opposite side we pulled the dash forward by using steel hooks and the two heavy steel brackets next to the body of the car. We did this during the winter and when we were done, no squeaks! But unfortunately as the weather warmed the noise came back , but only in the middle of the dash. This makes sense considering we didn't get to anything in the middle of the dash. But it's interesting to think it came back with the warmer weather. Expanding plastic parts perhaps...? The two fixes we did are still strong as ever, just that pesky squeaking and cracking noise from the middle!

I am wondering what I can do to fix the noise, I plan on trying to either remove the top dash panel completely and see what I can see, or removing the panel under the wipers and gently tighten the screws that hold the dash to the firewall. I've also looking into foaming the dash, but I am only going to resort to that as a last ditch effort, when all else fails. Does anyone have any other ideas or advice on how to silence the noise? All feedback is greatly welcomed!

[hansenjg]

Wow! I am very excited to hear the answers to this. I have been driving my wife's 2000 C70 for the past month (on a business trip) and yesterday she asked me what I did to her dashboard to make it start squeaking! For me it's in the middle and if I push on the dash near the top (right above the HVAC controls, in front of the middle speaker) I can stop the squeaking. I too am thinking I have to tighten firewall screws, but I'm a little intimidated with that job. Screwing up a dashboard is a big deal. Somebody please help me!!!!

[jonesboy1983]

I think you just need to tighten the firewall screws. It's very easy... I did this when I had to take the dash out to replace the evaporator and when I put it back in the noise was gone. All you have to do is open the hood and then find the four screws that attach to the firewall. All I would imagine you have to do is tighten them and you will be good. No need to remove the dash or anything like that.

[Ozark Lee]

If you do remove the dash you will likely find that the mounts are broken. I have a writeup on repairing the mounts in the repair database but at the moment the repair database isn't working. Matt is in the process of making some major changes to the site but I'm sure it will work again soon.

...Lee

[Gnat66]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have fiddled with that dash panel before, for the two repairs mentioned in my original post and besides the dash sagging (which has been fixed by said repairs) its in good condition. I actually just got home from driving around all day and it's very hot, and the squeaks were quite loud. Is this something common with the firewall screws? Anyone have a story about their firewall screws and/or dash making more noise when hot? I plan to get at the firewall on Saturday, I'll let you know what happens and maybe have some pictures too, as I noticed its hard to find pictures of that repair. I'll also be making an avatar of my S70 sometime this week and posting in the "show us your volvo" forum if anyone is interested.

Thanks again for the input and please, keep it coming!

And in response to Lee's post: I'm looking forward to read that post of yours, is it possible for you to link it? I couldn't find it but perhaps that is just because of the site maintenance like you said? Either way thanks a lot.

[obayha]

Car sitting in the hot sun all day, squeaks real bad for about the first 10 mins on the way home. But with the a/c on full blast, it quiets down. Please do pictures of where the screws are located. I have not looked for them, but pics would help. I hope nothing is broken and just needs a little twist. Would the screw location be the same on a v70 98?
Shane

[Ozark Lee]

I found a back door to the repair database.

Here is the link:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=15115

...Lee

[Gnat66]

Thanks fir the link Lee, I'll be sure to check it out.

[Gnat66]

Hey guys, it was really nice today so I couldn't resist spending a little while to tighten up the firewall screws as suggested. I also said I would take pics so here they are. Note that I don't know what I'm doing on the forums yet so the pictures might be in reverse order... Screw 4 was actually pretty easy to turn compared to the others, I probably got a full 1 1/2 turns out of it before I didn't dare to tighten further. Because it was loose I figured hey, maybe that did it! Goodbye noise!? But no. After driving the car again there was no relief from the torture at all. So, as I said before I am going to take the top of the dash off to see what I can try and fix. I'm wondering (Lee) can I find those clips by just taking the top part of the dash off? I'm starting to think that's my problem. I will be following your guide on dash mount repair if so. The only part about taking the top panel off I'm worried about is the passenger airbag, suggestions? Thanks all!

[JRL]

No
Those 4 screws are just for the dash cap.
The clips that break are part of the entire lower dash, the same dash you remove to do an evaporator.
To repair these (and they can be jury rigged not to make noise) you must remove everything as if you were doing an evaporator.
HUGE nasty job
We just did one (but we also were doing an evaporator).
My guy made up a "cage' and epoxied it to the dash so it could be screwed back together.
Two "clips" were shattered