Another annoying problem!! I have a horribly loud creak in my dash (98 S70T5a). It only seems to occur after I have driven continuously for about an hour or so. The creak is remedied by pushing on the dash.

Any thoughts on this?????

Cheers,

Tim

Tim.

Three thoughts.

First, where do you press the dash to stop the creak? Second, does the sound seem to come from the upper or lower part of the dash? Third, does the sound occur over bumps or when turning or all the time the car is moving?

Let me know.

Bryan

1.) I push in on the top front part of the dash, anywhere above the instrument cluster;

2.) Sound seems to come from the upper part of the dash; and

3.) Not all the time the car is moving, but doesn't take much at all to get it to occur.

Also try pushing on the clear plastic over the instruments

to see if that is it.

I had a loose screw there and the instrument cover is an easy

thing to first try tightening up.

I have this same sqeaking, rattling, popping dashboard problem in my '99 s70 T5, only multiplied by a factor of 10. I also met a C70 owner (non-conv) last weekend with the same problem. I posted about the problem 10 months or so ago, and received a number of suggested fixes, none of which has worked. The car has also been in to my dealership 7 times for the problem and it is not fixed, it just migrates to different parts of the dash. Now the center console is doing the same thing, as is the fromt passenger door. I have notified Volvo N.A. that if they do not fix the problem w/in 30 days, I will be filing a TX lemon law suit. In TX, they say that rattles do not qualify for replacement of the vehicle or keep-whole on the value under the law, but after I play them the tapes I have made of the noises I think they may change their minds. Whenever I go over a significant bump, it sounds like a shotgun is going off in the dash. My BP rises every time I drive the piece of crap. This is my 4th Volvo, and last. From everything I read on this board and elsewhere, the 850/S70/C70 platforms have been an unmitigated disaster. No vehicles manufactured with today's methods should require so much tinkering and work to remain on the road. My Toyota 4Runner has been a wet dream compared to the Volvo, even after I crashed it and had $10,000K of body work done on it.

Mark,

I'm sorry to hear about your grief with solving the dash noise issue.

Have you tried checking the torque on the eleven torx scres that secure the upper dash? You should also check the two torx screws that hold the center of the lower dash to the shifter frame. BTW you'll need to remove the console to access these.

I did the above on my car and the popping and creaking noises have not returned. Also, you might check the torque on the five major bolts that secure the lower dash to the bulkhead.

Hope you are able to get some satisfaction. Nothing is more irritating than a problem that defies solution.

Bryan

Tim,

It appears that one or more of the torx screws that secure the top of the dash may be loose and/or the top is out of alignment. I had the same problem with mine and after carefully aligning the top and tightening the screws, the problem has never returned.

If you have the Haynes 70 series manual (UK only), you will find detailed instructions on how to access the torx screws.

Otherwise:

1. Remove the air vent covers by prying out with a small screwdirver. Haynes recommends placing a small card under to protect the dash. I used a thin piece of wood veneer.

2. Remove the speaker grilles by prying up as above. Remove side air outlets by pulling out.

3. There are eleven screws as follows:

1 under each grille = 2

1 behind each side air outlet = 4

1 behind the driver's vent = 5

2 behind the center vent = 7

2 in the instrument cluster surround = 9

2 above the glove box opening = 11

4. Loosen them enough to adjust the dash top so that both sides have equal gaps as measured along the L & R "A" pillar cover bottom edges.

5. Then tighten them firmly. I did each end (side + speaker), then L center vent, R glove box, L instrument cluster, L glove box, R instrument cluster and R center vent and finally driver's vent.

Even in bitter Michigan winter temps, the creaking and groaning is gone. Good luck,

Bryan