Ford Explorer: Annoying noise '99 Explorer

Hoping someone can shed some light on a persistent and annoying noise in the
dash area of my 99 Explorer. The noise which is best described as a
creaking or snapping noise appears to be coming from the passenger area in
the corner of the dash. Somewhere near where the windshield meets the dash.
I have removed glove box, air bag, vent covers, side and window post covers,
tightened any reachable bolts, sprayed lubricant, removed cover over
windshield wipers, tightened all easy access bolts in firewall area under
hood, tightened antennae, removed inner fender skirt, again tightened
accessible bolts, tightened fender bolts, etc, etc, All to no avail!
Driving me nuts! Before I resign to paying a body shop to dig further is
there any suggestions or similar experiences? I appreciate any help you can
provide.

Frustrated!

"Alan Burgher" <ca> wrote in message
news:SVv5b.65955$uunet.ca... 
the 
dash. 
covers, 
can 

I had a '96 Ram that made sharp snapping noises like that. At first, every
time it did it, I would check the windshield for cracks, because that's what
it sounded like. Eventually the windshield was replaced because a rock tried
to go thru it. The snapping noises stopped with the replacement.

Dave