My 03 had that noise, I removed a peice of trim that fits between the dash and shift console and put peice of craftstore felt inbetween the two plastic peices and the noise is gone. Hope it helps.

 

autoaddict:
Thanks!
I will try that fix of yours.
Once the weather is hot again and it creaks, then
I'll attack it.
You all are the greatest.
I would NEVER have figured this out.
Or, if it did - hours and hours.

 

Latest update:

I couldn't find the nasty creaking noise from the dashboard and raised the white flag. Had to take it to my Land Rover mechanic.

When I took it to the mechanic, a lot of things were already removed - the radio, A/C climate control, switches, clock, center louvre assembly, and center console.

The first thing my mechanic did was remove the passenger seat so he could lie down and use his hands to feel where the noise was coming from. Couldn't figure it out. Then he used two types of electronic ears. The noise was definitely there just could not tel where it was coming from.

He looked on both sides of the engine firewall. The last resort was he removed the dashboard. Noise was still there. Then he removed the heater box and found the problem. The bracket on the heater box was broken and the two pieces were rubbing against each other. He ended up welding the bracket and the noise is now gone.

What a freaking nightmare! Cost me a pretty penny but it was worth it. Everytime I drove the car it was driving me nuts. The mechanic said even he would not be happy if his Rover had that noise.

I'm in the process of putting everything back and cleaning up wiring and tightening stuff while I'm at it. The car drives like new and is very quiet. It's like a thorn was pulled out of me

So there you have it - broken bracket on heater box.