In Reply to Dashboard chirp FIXED posted by John Sorenson (Drock) on January 31, 2000 at 22:17:57
Working with DOC member Eric Poole on the East Coast, Eric tracked down a solution from another member for this problem (Squeak or chirp from the dash area when turning to the right at low speeds, 10 to 35 mph, and going over small bumps or undulating road). My D has had this problem for several months, dealer had the D for 11 days replacing all sorts of stuff, i.e. the whole steering column! D stayed quiet for a month, but then the darn noise was back.
Here is the simple fix that worked for me, Eric, and at least one other DOC member.
1) Open hood.
2) Spray WD-40 all over the two linkages in the steering column (metal rod coming from firewall to the steering system near front axle). The linkages look sort-of like a universal joint.
3) Close hood, enjoy silence.
I kid you not, spraying WD-40 solved this noise! I would have bet my paycheck the noise was coming from inside the cab, from within the dash. I can't figure out what exactly the problem is, or how spraying silicone under the hood cures it, but it has been four days since spraying the column, and if I have to do it once a month its fine with me. The D has never seemed so quiet now that this pesky noise is gone.
A huge Thank You to Eric and anyone else that helped us get to the bottom of this squeak (chirp).
Someone asked earlier about a squeak or a chirping sound in the dasboard. I have had the same thing ever since I put in a 10 disk changer and ran the remote up through the steering column, or maybe even before that. Well, after taking the entire dashboard off and rattling everything I could find, no luck. I just got the D back today from the shop for 15K checkup (325$ ouch) and the foglamp switch (again.) The dealer ripped it apart and said it was an internal thing in the steering column, trust me, don't try to fix it yourself, let the dealership do the work. Also, this time, the 2k D Lamp switch is different than my '99 and they replaced the switch and the whole facia of the dasboard! bonus! they probably broke it out of frustration trying to find the cricket in the DASH!!!