Hello

I took a screwdriver to my dashboard last night and ripped out the central air vent - quite a fun job as I had to remove the H.U and free up the hazard switch wire, which was sticking and stopping me from removing the vent... Good job I'd left the HU keys (hidden) in the car.

Now the problem is, I can't see where its squeaking from, and I now have a nice big hole in my dash, with my hazard light switch hanging out of it on a wire... looks quite funny. I've even tried looking in when I drove it this morning, but again I couldn't see much, mainly due to trying to keep my eyes on the road.

So does someone (hint hint Matt) - know exactly where this squeak is coming from and what the best material is to shove in the offending area. I was thinking about some old inner tube which I have at home. I can only see one mount, to the left of the vent feed pipes ( which take up a lot of room :( ) - I also now seem to have a squeak coming out of the passenger side dash vent, so hopefully there is a mount here too which needs packing out.

Can anyone help?

:cheers:

Sorry cant help with your problem.. but you might be-able to help me...

the two "strips" of plastic that are on each side of the centre console, one down each side of the head unit.. do you know how to remove them... and will i need to take the head unit out?

Jason,

Your passenger side squeak *could* be as a result of you having bits of your dash hanging out, as I'm sure that will affect the structural rigidity of the dash.

Sorry, I can't help with the "where to pack your inner tube" query!

Best of British!

I thought the squeaking comes from the centre brakcet which holds the dash to the bulkhead. Apparently you need to put some foam in between the bracket and bulkhead.

Matt sent out a mail about this somewhere.

Have fun.

"Centre" bracket? - I can't seem to see anything in the centre because the massive pipes which feed the vents take up most of the space... unless they can be removed as well, but they look pretty well fixed in. :(

Neo - I have a new HU, so for me, I just removed the silver surround that came with it and used the keys that the supplier of the HU gave me, for free too. - I never saw how the first (original) H.U came out as it was done by the fitter of the HU - normally there's a thin gap down each side which the metal strips go down and unclip the fixings down each side...

Howard - cheers for the hint, but it started squeaking out that side before I removed the central vent. I suspect it's just a case of another mount starting to squeak ( once one starts wobbling/squeaking, I guess it affects all the mounts by spreading the wobble/load? :( ) I'll have that vent out tonight and take a peek. It's just the central one I'm worried about as I can't see any "central" mount. Time to look up that thread of Matt's again.

Jason,

When I suffered "the squeak" it sounded like it was coming from the passenger side air vent, but my dealer still did some work via the center vent...

I'm wondering if it IS the mount I saw which seemed to be about 8"/12" to the left of the centre vent. I tapped it and fiddled with it, using the screwdriver, and it seemed very solid indeed. If it turns out, this IS the offending mount, then I'll get on the inner tube insertion tonight, and see what's on the left hand side too - and give it the same treatment.

:cheers:

And the next thing will be the inner tube melting....

- What do I have to do to get back my dignity on D.I.Y repairs to my car?

I promise to make sure the inner tube rubber will be nowhere near any power cables - not to say I may accidentally skewer one with the screwdriver blade...?

make sure you miss the fuel lines and brake pipes as well jason those screwdrivers can be pretty nasty at times

(And mind your fingers - especially if its starting to get cold...)

and make sure you wear your correct PPE helmet, gloves, goggles, safety boots etc

Originally posted by devonutopia in this post

"Centre" bracket? - I can't seem to see anything in the centre because the massive pipes which feed the vents take up most of the space... unless they can be removed as well, but they look pretty well fixed in. :(

Neo - I have a new HU, so for me, I just removed the silver surround that came with it and used the keys that the supplier of the HU gave me, for free too. - I never saw how the first (original) H.U came out as it was done by the fitter of the HU - normally there's a thin gap down each side which the metal strips go down and unclip the fixings down each side...

Howard - cheers for the hint, but it started squeaking out that side before I removed the central vent. I suspect it's just a case of another mount starting to squeak ( once one starts wobbling/squeaking, I guess it affects all the mounts by spreading the wobble/load? :( ) I'll have that vent out tonight and take a peek. It's just the central one I'm worried about as I can't see any "central" mount. Time to look up that thread of Matt's again.

Here's the link Jason.

Good luck!

btw i looked for a bracket mounted behind the side air vents but couldnt see one. I reckon there must be other brackets behind the dash somewhere?

Originally posted by Neo_VR in this post

Sorry cant help with your problem.. but you might be-able to help me...

the two "strips" of plastic that are on each side of the centre console, one down each side of the head unit.. do you know how to remove them... and will i need to take the head unit out?

Remove the HU and all will become clear. IIRC they are held in by one or two screws.

Is this so you can fit the nifty drinks holder, Neo?

Originally posted by FabiaTDi in this post

Remove the HU and all will become clear. IIRC they are held in by one or two screws.

Is this so you can fit the nifty drinks holder, Neo?

ohhh yeah. drinks holder

errm, how do i remove the head unit?

try your local halfords and they should have a variety of release keys or go back to your dealer

anyone know what type of release key things i want? cant see any holes in the HU for the 2 prong type ones :(

very similar to pioneer ones similar to zip tyes about 3/4 the way up the stereo facia it is a single slot

i might mosey on down to halfords to see if they got any.. dont trust them tho!

Might not be able to get them in Halfords. Will need to order the tool from skoda (or speak to someone helpful who'll release it while you wait in servicing)

Can be tricky to get 'em out though even with the tool mine took a good 5 mins of swearing!

Two slots highlighted in pic below.

Matt - thanks for your assistance, but I think I've found the offending mount, upon closer inspection, and aided by a mini-maglite... I "think" the first bracket I saw was for the glove box frame or something, but as it was metal on metal I figured it couldn't squeak (plus after some abuse with a screwdriver, it wasn't budging) - Then I looked THROUGH the centre air vents, and just above the vents, about 8"/10" back was a two claw plastic mount, that seemed to secure to the chassis (silver bit) - So, after I realised the plastic grippy bit could be bent/moved with the screwdriver end, I got some inner tube ( about 6" length - that's the size of my little finger, I believe. ) and folded it into a four tube thick, 1.5" long bit of padding, and using a bit of sellotape and a chisel (don't ask) I managed to force it into the gap between under the plastic, effectively putting more upward pressure on the two claw bits, which I hope will stop the squeaking... Test tomorrow I suppose.

As for the squeak seeming to come from the left hand vent too, I removed that, and there's nothing but vent pipe there, no access to the space inside the dash, so that was a no-go, if there is a mount in there causing trouble. :( - Hopefully it was just the current squeak coming out of that vent too. [fingers crossed]

Anyway - I've left the vent out for now, to clearly hear any noise. Hopefully I'll hear nothing at all, and I'll be able to replace the central vent and be smug with myself I've cured a Skoda speak, by myself. I think "voiding" my warranty has increased my D.I.Y feelings toward my car - mustn't grumble!

:cheers:

Warranty voided by inner tube - a common occurence, I'm sure!

Well - It will give some person some bemusement when they rip the dash out - whenever that will happen...? (and don't say when the bit of inner tube causes the dash to melt down)

devonutopia ive had this problem alot at work first thing i try is to hit the centre of the dash hard (just above the vents) that somtimes cures it. if not the best thing book it in dealer and there rip out the dash and modify the centre braket.

ade

I know the feeling Ade - But my dealer isn't flavour of the month at the moment, and I've even heard of dealers not being to sort these problems out properly. :( I think my solution will be fine in the long run... especially as my hand was starting to hurt from bashing the dash all the while...