I have been busy on my roadster this weekend. Heated seat repair, carpet shampoo while the seats are out, subwoofer replacement, door rattle repaired, rear defrost tabs...all done. While I was working on the pass door rattle a grabbed the dash and it slid back about a 1/4 inch. I grabbed the top cover (the dark gray part that says SRS) and it sure did move back and forth. The light gray lower portion of the dash was still rock solid.

So, I took the side cover off on the pass side (where the pass airbag cut off switch is located) and looked up toward the top of the dash with a flashlight and shook the dash. I noticed a bolt that was moving as I moved the dash. Under the defroster grill on the dash top there is a Phillips screw that came loose.

Repair is simple. Take a very short Phillips screw driver, or a Phillips screw bit in a 1/4 inch socket on a ratchet and unscrew the the screw holding down the defroster vent. The windshield is too close for a regular screwdriver. If you go the ratchet route like I did and don't have a magnetic bit, I would recommend wrapping the bit in tape and jamming it in the 1/4 inch socket so the bit doesn't fall down the defroster vent. Next, take a trim removing tool and gently pry up the defroster vent. It is clipped along its length with a tab that slides in at the center of the dash. Under this vent grill is a larger Phillips screw...this is the loose one. Make sure it's guten-tight. Repeat on the other side. Now my dash is rock solid.

Not sure if coupes would see this problem or just the less stiff roadsters.

 

Great find! Great Pictures! I wonder if your dash was removed in the past life and just not secured properly?