© DenLorsTools.com Summary: Master Tech owned car featured AGAIN. Chevrolet vehicles are notorious for having lots of noises in the dash and other interior trim pieces. Loose retainers and plastic in contact with plastic can cause unbearable noises. When the radio is no longer enough to cover the irritating squeaking sounds – it’s time to get better speakers… or pinpoint the real source of the problem.

OK yeah, this is my wife’s car making it back on the blog again. My wife kids me about this car being able to provide enough content for an ENTIRE car repair website! The last article written on this 2007 Impala SS was due to a really loud (clicking) AC/Heat door actuator. That was August 12, 2010. Click – no pun intended- the following to read the previous article – Impala Loud Clicking Noise in Dash. That was a different kind of noise. A very loud clicking is bad, but sometimes those little squeaks can be just as annoying. I finally got around to diagnosing and repairing the dash noises that I had been promising to look at for months now. And it was actually more than just limited to the “dash”. I’ll explain. On any part of the car, intermittent noises can be difficult to check. It took several test drives with various trim pieces removed to figure out the noises weren’t just in the dash. On one of my test drives with dash trim off, radio removed and controls hanging; I tilted my head towards the center of the dash and heard a noise above my head. It seemed as though it was behind the headliner.   

First thing first, though. I checked ALL the 10mm bolts there were now accessible to make sure everything was tight. On one of my numerous test drives, I picked up some weather stripping foam that has an adhesive back – like shown in the picture above. I placed 2″ sections on as many of the contact areas of where the dash trim panel meets the dash housing. I removed the pillar trim pieces and did the same. My goal was to eliminate “loose fitting” panels and provide a cushion between them so they wouldn’t rub and squeak while driving down the road. After re-installing the dash components. I decided to drop the headliner down just enough to look for problem areas there. I removed the two sun visor retaining clips that are positioned towards the center of the car. I also removed the trim seal that holds the headliner at the sunroof opening.

The noise that I had heard sounded like it was coming from the sunroof switch area. With this in mind I decided to use the foam weather-strip tape to secure the electrical wiring that is routed to the sunroof switch above the headliner. While checking the headliner in the rear passenger area, I noticed that I could push up on the headliner a 1/2″ or so. With this amount of movement, it’s easy to imagine noise being made from it’s movement while driving down the highway. So, I removed the two main headliner retainers and added some foam tape back there as well. This reduced the movement allowed previously and was a simple fix. Mission accomplished. After putting everything back together and driving again; the squeaks are all gone!

Other Possible Noises Knee bolster trim panels may exhibit similar noises. Insulating them with the foam tape may eliminate those noises also. Instrument cluster noises can be annoying. Unfortunately, if the cluster makes noise, this could be a much more expensive repair compared to $10 worth of weather strip foam. In some cases when replacing the cluster on a GM vehicle, a Tech 2 scan tool may be necessary to program the PCM (Power Train Control Module). It’s always better to eliminate the low dollar fixes first for this reason. Blower motors are a common cause of chirping/squeaking noises. I’ve written about those in more detail before.

Typically, they make more noise on the lowest speed. It’s easy to eliminate the blower fan as a cause of squeaks. Just turn the blower off and see if the noise goes away. Many times the blower can be removed and leaves and other debris cleaned out with a shop-vac or a blower and you’re good to go. Other times the blower motor may need to be replaced to remedy the situation. Final Thought Removing trim panels to fix noises like covered in the first part of the article is fairly simple. Sometimes while driving, holding a little pressure on the trim can verify the source of the noise. It’s always best to let someone else do the driving while feeling around and searching out loose, noisy panels. Patience goes a long way in order NOT to scratch trim pieces when removing them. Go slow and methodically, also use small trim tools. I always try to start prying trim at the least visible portion (from the driver). That way if a tiny scratch (or mar) occurs to the trim, it’s least likely to be noticed. Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the other related articles and of course our automotive tool website.

Related Links

Chevy Impala Clicking in Dash 

Chevrolet Impala SS Custom Leather Interior

OTC4489 Trim Tools for Sale

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