Cracks on the dashboard: car repair and maintenance

An ugly sight: the dashboard is cracked, which makes your car look "long in the teeth", in other words: "over the hill." However, this is not necessarily the case. A flawless dashboard enhances the harmonious, tidy overall impression you always want from your vehicle.

A well-maintained car can travel hundreds of thousands of miles and still look good. Thus: even though a cracked dashboard can be a problem when it comes to repairs, it might be worth your time . 

Why do cracks appear on the dashboard?

The instrument panel is located directly under the windshield and constantly exposed to the sun's rays. pvc chloride vinyl trim gradually evaporates. The skin becomes brittle, hard and no longer able to flexibly expand or contract.

In places of greatest stress, i.e. in elongated gaps or other cavities, the first cracks appear . If they are not immediately visible, the cracks will most likely spread throughout the dashboard.

Moreover , bottom foam absorbs moisture from the air, causing it to swell . This is what causes the typical billowing edge cracks often seen on the dashboards of older cars. A completely cracked dashboard can only be salvaged by complete disassembly .

That is: take action at the slightest crack. Otherwise, the repair will be large-scale and expensive. .

Avoid small cracks and holes

A thriving industry has developed around the topic " spot repair ", offering suitable repair kit for almost any minimal damage in and on the vehicle, including cracked dashboards. These sets are made up of

– thermoplastic resin - hot plate – repair putty in several colors – structural paper - sharp knife – screed

This may seem inappropriate, but The first step in repairing a cracked dashboard is to widen the hole. to make it large enough to apply the appropriate thickness of repair putty.

• For this purpose the heaving edges of the crack are cut off.
• Then a wedge-shaped incision is made. This is based on a step-by-step putty to repair a cracked dashboard.
• The crack must be thoroughly cleaned . After that, the entire repair site should be wiped isopropyl alcohol to degrease the surface and allow the thermoplastic resin to adhere. To apply the resin to the crack, it must first be heated.

• Professionals use a soldering iron with a special heating plate on the tip . The repair kit usually includes heating plate . It's being heated soldering iron and pressed against the resin bar. When the resin completely fills the crack, the foundation is laid for a successful repair.
• After filling the crack is patched up. The filled spot should be approximately 2-5mm deep .
• Then the sanded area is thoroughly cleaned again.

• Now repair putty is applied. The filler consists of filling compound of the corresponding color and hardener . Both components are mixed in a given ratio and applied to the repair site. The filled spot may be smooth.
• Before hardening of the putty mass structured paper is pressed onto it, applying structure to the repair site and making it almost invisible - exactly what you want.
• This little trick has a big impact on the interior of the car. Be whether armrests or door panels, wherever vinyl foam is used, these simple tricks are very effective .

Do-it-yourself dashboard restoration

What to do when the dashboard is in a desperate state? This calls for a desperate measure: disassembly, which can be quite a lot of work.

One piece of advice: if you really want to take on this task, the seats and steering wheel will have to be removed .

If possible, it is recommended to even remove the doors. When disassembling the dashboard, it is important to consider the passenger seat airbag . If it is installed in a car, you should definitely have a repair manual for this type ready so that you do not make a mistake when removing the dashboard.

When the dashboard is removed , it comes down to more than just spot repairs. Grinding, expansion and filling of the crack is carried out in the same way as for minor repairs. .

Nevertheless , after grinding the putty mass, the spot repair is completed . Now the entire dashboard needs to be painted professionally and in several layers. The accessories trade offers a very suitable structured paint , perfect imitating the structure of vinyl .

Why not re-cut?

Practically repairing the vinyl trim of a cracked dashboard is not an option. due to the manufacturing process of these parts. End panels are cut on a vacuum forming mold with a shaping tool .

Without these tools, the DIYer must rely on alternatives . Trying to stick a new cover on your dashboard is a recipe for failure.

Making the most of the opportunity

Dismantling the dashboard is a hell of a job, which means it's a good excuse to do all the useful preventative repairs.

• An example of a useful preventive maintenance - replacement of all lamps with efficient and reliable LEDs. This applies not only to the speedometer. The accessory store offers lamps for all available fixtures.

• And even if it's still in working order be sure to replace interior heating heat exchanger with the dashboard removed. This completely hidden spare part will fail sooner or later, which can lead to significant damage.

• Moisture leakage may cause electric shock or mold inside. When the dashboard is removed, additional £15–30 for a new heat exchanger in the interior heating system is a smart investment.

The new dashboard makes the car beautiful

It is unlikely that anyone will notice the refurbished dashboard at a glance. . Nevertheless, it harmoniously fits into the seasoned interior. With the additional replacement of several small items such as switches, steering wheel trim, floor mats and pedal pads, the old car feels like new.