seatbelt retractor?

 

If your seat belt retractor has been inoperative since the rattling started, then I would say Captain Awesome gets the prize on this one.

 

It almost looks like it's the spring for a hood.. But idk how that or a seatbelt retractor would be inside his panel...

 

Have you been having trouble with your windows? I believe it is one of the springs that help to make sure the window moves equally.

 

Could be part of the window regulator. Someone may have forgotten to remove an old piece prior to you acquiring the truck.

Here's a pic of the assembly so you know what I'm talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/Prime-Choice-...--1-0&sr=1-3&ymm=2001:chevrolet:silverado+1500&keywords=manual+window+regulator

Being that it's in the door, this is my best guess.

 

A present from a disgruntled line worker at the factory, I have found some strange objects inside doors and other hard to reach places back in my dealer days. Now remind you this is way back when people assembled the cars and trucks, not robots, any ole Henry was paying a buck a day.

 

+1 on the window regulator theory

 

manual or power window? The manual regulator for the NBS was triangle shaped.

 

My guess is that he has manual due to it being a 2001 4x2 and v6

 

NSA listening/tracking device.

 

Thanks guys. I sure hope it isn't the NSA! Anywho, my windows are manual. I haven't had any trouble with my window. My seat belt works fine, too. The cap was separated from the main piece. At first I thought it might be part of a recoil starter for a push lawnmower or something, but I can't stop wondering how it would get down inside the door.

 

That's a manual window regulator spring

 

Thanks for the definitive answer, Kerry.

 

NSA listening/tracking device.

A present from a disgruntled line worker at the factory, I have found some strange objects inside doors and other hard to reach places back in my dealer days. Now remind you this is way back when people assembled the cars and trucks, not robots, any ole Henry was paying a buck a day.

Could be either one.... :roll:

 

If it's a manual regulator spring how will that affect the window? Like I said, it seems to work fine. :?

 

The window regulator probably broke with the previous owner...he had it fixed and that part stayed behind.