craig c.

S I G H ...

Got in my truck when it was cold a few weeks back and the ability to
change from floor vents to defroster was lost in a flash along with a
wonderful grinding sound. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the
mode door assembly.

Since that time, I have a vibrating sound coming from that area when
at idle in drive or reverse. I have crawled underneath and made sure
all screws and bolts are tight. All wire harnesses appear to be
secure. I removed the glove box, poked around and didn't detect
anything loose. So, I crammed my head underneath the dash again ...
and it sounds like the rattle is coming from *inside* the airbox near
where the heater motor is attached.

Any ideas?

Craig C.
2004 Ram 2500, 4x4, CRD, QC

fmb

Pull the fan out (3 screws) and see if anything 'extra' falls out from the
repair.

FMB
(North Mexico)

honeybs

Play the radio louder?

beekeep

peterd

Also use one of those flexible magnetic mechanics pickup tools. Works
wonders in ****ing up dropped screws, nuts and washers.

craig c.

I will try that. The vibration isn't right at the motor, it's in the
area. About 6 inches to the left (between the floor vent and the
blower motor). I will attempt to use a magnet as the other poster
suggested.

If this doesn't work, I'm wondering if I can remove the bottom of the
airbox without having to jerk the dash and remove the entire unit?

Thanks,
Craig C.

craig c.

Uh no. I didn't pay 40k for a Ram to get the same characteristics of
a Yugo.

Craig C.

steve w.

Take it back to the dealer and ask them. They screwed it up, let them
find the problem...

--
Steve W.

craig c.

I've been down this road before. I drop it off, demonstrate the issue
to the service personnel, leave, two days later the technician can't/
won't reproduce the problem.

Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather fix it myself ... and would have
originally ... but it was still under warranty. I had high hopes that
something this simple wouldn't be screwed up. Silly me.

Craig C.

bryan

I would check under the hood first before removing anything.Check the a/c
ac***ulator (large black and has two pipes coming out of the top) mounting
bracket there are two 10mm screws that hold it to the pcm mounting bracket.
Chances are they were left loose. Have someone sit in the vehicle while it
is making the noise. Then just start touching things under the hood
(ac***ulator, transmission dipstick tube, air box,...) to see if the noise
changes for the person in the vehicle.

Bryan

craig c.

UPDATE:

After poking around under the dash, I was able to ascertain that the
rattle was indeed coming from inside the airbox right where the two
water lines come through the firewall. Pulled the heater motor to see
if I could reach around to feel a screw and discovered that the core
or evap was right in the damn way of me getting my hand to the spot
making the noise.

I contacted a great mechanic here in Dallas that does work on my truck
outside of the normal maintenance items. While I sat in the truck, he
messed around under the hood until we found the source. It was the
actual metal (aluminum?) pipes that go through the firewall. There
was a lot of slop and they were apparently vibrating against each
other or something just inside the airbox.

Went to Lowes, bought some insulating tape and crammed as much
possible through the firewall around the pipes.

Rattle gone. In the process, many undone items from the dealer were
found (missing bolts, missing high-side cap, loose bolts, etc). No
more trips to that dealer ... (G****vine Dodge in G****vine Texas). I
expressed my disappointment with them ... a service manager was going
to call me "right back". 3 months later ... nothing.

Craig C.


==*==

S I G H ...

Got in my truck when it was cold a few weeks back and the ability to
change from floor vents to defroster was lost in a flash along with a
wonderful grinding sound. Took it to the dealer and they replaced the
mode door assembly.

Since that time, I have a vibrating sound coming from that area when
at idle in drive or reverse. I have crawled underneath and made sure
all screws and bolts are tight. All wire harnesses appear to be
secure. I removed the glove box, poked around and didn't detect
anything loose. So, I crammed my head underneath the dash again ...
and it sounds like the rattle is coming from *inside* the airbox near
where the heater motor is attached.

Any ideas?

Craig C.
2004 Ram 2500, 4x4, CRD, QC