Interior Dash Cracks, help!!!

[zaxx81]

Anyone know how to fix cracks in the dash? Do those crack kits at Autozone work?

[rammstein]

From past posts, the consensus seemed to be:

- get the carpet-style dash cover and be done with it
- or spend tons of $ and time replacing the dash
- or get the hard-style dash cover and it may or may not suck

I don't think a crack kit (sounds funny) would work for this. Its not just a crack you have, its the material separated, leaving a "cavern".

[CJFusco]

why might or might not the hard dash cover suck?

[rammstein]

I'd heard some people complain about the fit of the hard cover, I dunno maybe they put it in wrong or bought a poorly made example. I should add I have no personal experience, I was going from memory on old posts.

CJFusco- sorry to hear about the attempted mugging. My GF lives in Boston and I get nervous hearing about stuff like that.

[VT944]

My '85.5 was fitted with a hard dash cover and yeah it sucks. The car was taken care of really well, and he said he bought the best one he could get, but it still warped, especially around the defroster vents.

I haven't go that far yet so I haven't decided what I'm going to do about it.

[Roger Hall]

You will not be able to fill the cracks properly, and you wont like the look of the repair. Hard covers do suck. Mine warped so badly that the vents on the dribvers side no longer line up. Get the carpet cover.

[scottmandue]

Yep,
I got the "Dashmat" i.e. the carpet dash cover, have not seen the hard dash cover but have not heard much good reported about them.
NOS dash $1000 if you can find one - maybe cheaper if you can find a private party selling one... plus labor.
Paid $4000 for my car, so around $1000 to fix the dash...

[andrewgoh]

I know that this was covered on previous posts...but it may still be useful here...instructions for replacing the original dash with a new one...

http://www.klaindustries.net/technical/porsche944dashremovalinstallation.pdf

[rbt944]

I'm going to have to add on the hard dash cover. Mine also warped and it came off while going on a turn. Scary stuff, I couldn't see and it got in my way. Good thing that I wasn't going that fast.

-Gus.

[tasdevil]

Just a though, ask a trimmer to cover it. Had mine done by a trimmer looks and feels great.

[afx]

I have a question for all the people who have had the hard dash cover and had it warp. How long did you have it on before it warped? Did you park you car in the sun a lot? Was is garaged?

My dash is pretty bad and would like to get one of the hard dash covers. I park my car in the garage and dont really park my car in the sun much, so it might work out.

[Roger Hall]

Mine warped in about 2 weeks. My car is parked outside, but I did use a sunshade most of the time. I gave up after about a month. Everybody talks about UV rays damaging the dash, but I live in Florida and my car is like an oven. I halfway expect to find the dash cover in a puddle on the floorboard.

[sasquatch]

I have a black dash mat with red lettering "944" above the glove box. I have had it now for 3 years with no fading. I take it out a couple of times a year to vacuum it really good. It acutally looks really nice, fits well, and a heck of a lot cheaper than a new dash.

[binky]

I bought the carpet mat on EBay for about $18 and it covers the cracks and was a cheap fix. Plus I can remove it whenever I want.
TX

[Moneyguy1]

Actually, it is all in the installation. If you want to install a hard cover, make certain you buy a good one. (J C Whitney need not apply). Use any silicone adhesive sparingly or not at all. The cover and the dash expand and contract at different rates, causing the warpage. Dry fit as many times as necessary. Use a few small trim screws in hard to see places.

[afx]

Moneyguy1, which dash covers would be good quality to buy (what companies)? I would really like to get a cover, but I dont want to get a bad quality one.

[VT944]

afx, the cover in mine looks like it warped not only from the sun, but also from running the defroster. Even if the car is garaged and kept out of the sun, if you use your defroster regularly this may also contribute to warpage. Mine is the worst in that area.

[sjohnstone]

Also, I'm not aware of any hard cover that supports 944's with airbags... if you have 'em. The articles also talk about R&R'ing non-airbag dashes and they "wouldn't want to start on an airbag dash" or something like that.

[rennbay]

I have the "dash mat" mat. I like it and it was not to much money. It does not fix the cracks but it stops them from getting any bigger.

[MrPants]

sasquatch: where did you get your dash cover?
and for that matter where did anyone get their carpeted dash covers? i didnt even know these existed.