Excessive exposure to sunlight can cause a plastic or vinyl dash cover to crack. Once the dash cracks, continued exposure to sunlight and the vibration from the vehicle can cause the crack to worsen. A cracked dash can also reduce the value of the vehicle. Repair a dash crack as soon as possible, as the worse the crack gets, the harder it is to repair.
Instructions
- 1
Open all of the doors so that excess fumes can escape.
2Place the drop cloth on the floorboard in the area of the dash crack.
3Cut away any excess raised area of the crack.
4Wash a 2-inch area around the crack with dish liquid, water and a sponge. Wipe away the excess soapy water with a clean rag until the area is dry.
5Read the directions on the vinyl dash weld paste box. Open the container and add the proper amount of the dash cover resin to the back of the box. Add the hardener to the resin and mix thoroughly with a putty knife.
6Spread an even amount of the weld paste across the cracked area of the dash with the putty knife. Use the knife to press the paste into the crack. Hold the crack down with the putty knife for about two minutes.
7Remove the putty knife from the crack and wait a couple of hours for the putty to harden. Once the paste has hardened, use 400-grit sandpaper to sand the putty down even with the dash cover. Wipe away the excess putty dust and debris off the dash with a clean rag.
8Apply the dash cover touch-up paint to the repaired area of the dash cover. Wait for an hour or two for the paint to dry and then determine if the repaired area needs a second coat to get the repaired area back to the original color.
