Hey guys,
I've noticed this to be more frequent over the past few weeks. Most of the time, I don't hear it when the music is playing.

I'm hearing a "scratching" sound coming from behind the cluster, in behind the steering column of my 2007 FX4. Almost sounds like there are mice in there, trying to get out...weird, I know.

I find that this sound is quite inconsistent, and sometimes goes away. But, like I said, it's becoming more frequent.

Anybody have any idea what this is, and how to fix it??

Thanks!!

 

Something in the heat/defrost duct rattling around, a piece of paper or plastic maybe that has fallen down the defrost vent. I had a car where some nuts had fallen in the defrost vents and they drove me crazy rattling around until the fan finally chewed them all up and spit the shells out on the floor.

 

BLS is probably right. I've had the same problem with willow Oak leaves. Try turning the heater/AC fan on high, maybe that will blow the culprit onto the floor. That has worked for me in the past.

 

Maybe its the squirrel looking for his acorns...

But seriously folks...its probably leaves, or something similar, caught in the vents.

 

I actually got to the root of the problem through a little research. Turned out to be the HVAC 'door' that directs air to the panel vents, to defrost, etc. Must have gotten stuck somehow, and was trying over and over to get unstuck. What I did was switch from panel vents to defrost, back to panel, back to defrost, etc, etc, etc...until the sound was gone. Seems to have cured the 'stick'.

Thanks for your other suggestions, though guys. No leaves or nuts here. Only snow...and lots of it (the leaves are under about three feet of the white stuff right now).

-J

 

Darn, I was really hoping for a squirrel...
Glad you got it taken care of.

 

Dubs, thanks for the update. I'll file that away in the memory bank in case it comes up here. Dewman, a squirrel would have been a hoot.......