How do I prevent further damage to my dash?

[targa87]

The center of my dashboard is beginning to develop a hairline 3/4" crack (AARGH!). This seems to be a high stress area given the flexiness of my car (targa). What would be the best way to seal this crack and prevent it from cracking more? I read about products that help cover cracks and cuts in leather, but worry that they are not strong enough to keep the crack from spreading. Would crazy glue be a better option? Thanks in advance for your help.

Alex
'87 Targa

[Eric Coffey]

It depends on which dash you have (vinyl or leather). If you have the leather dash, just surrender now. Every one that I have seen has warped or cracked to some degree (unless it was maintained like a concours car). If you have the vinyl dash, you might try using a vinyl repair kit. You really have nothing to loose, and it might buy you some time before the dash needs to be replaced. I have used a repair kit with surprisingly good results. It was a Permatex (sp?) kit that included all sorts of dye colors to mix, epoxy, grain pattern swatches, and even a little heat tool. I found it at the local auto parts store, so you should be able to find something similar in your area. The key to using one of these is to practice on a few junk pieces first. You can get great results with these kits, but it is a bit of an art form. Good luck!

[Clark Griswald]

The problem is not flex, it's UV exposure.

To repair if leather, I'd take it to an upholstery pro and have them give an assesment.

To hasten further deterioration you need to deal with the UV. Use a good leather conditioner with UV protection. I recommend Lexol. Great stuff, use it on the seats and other leather trim for the same reason.

The lexol will put oils into the leather to retain flexibility.

Then use something the keep the sun off. Garage whenever possible. When parking outside, best to use a car cover. If no cover, then use one of those windshield shades. Also seek to park in the shade.

I sometimes put a white towel on the dash to protect it when I park in the sun. That's cheaper than a car cover.