Old Dashboards

[milwiron]

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram, a model notorious for cracking dashes and a 2006 Jeep Commander. As of this morning both dashes are still intact. I understand any UV damage over the years is done and prefer not to go with molded carpet dash covers for future protection. I'd welcome any suggestions for a good protectant to hopefully stabilize the plastic in these dashes. Any long term experience is especially appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: I should add the vehicles are never garaged.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I'd say to just use a good protectant on it regularly. I've never had a dash crack or fade ever,and I've never had a garage (unfortunately).

 

[opus1]

The only dash that I've ever had crack was that way when I bought the car. The rest of the cars I've owned over time never had that problem and I haven't treated them.

 

[Trav]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007RDVGG?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

 

[milwiron]

I've had a Dodge Ram dash crack fully from front to back leaving a 1/8 wide gap... which is why I asked.

 

[WobblyElvis]

I've heard you can use any sun block product. I would test it in a small area first.

 

[Rand]

303 is a good product

303 aerospace protectant


I'd go with the 16oz size its less then 50% of the 32oz size price.

 

[geekster]

Originally Posted By: Rand
303 is a good product

303 aerospace protectant


I'd go with the 16oz size its less then 50% of the 32oz size price.


^^^This^^^I use it on all my stuff and it has worked well so far. That's on motorcycles, cars, and boats.

 

[DBMaster]

I've seen things like this for already cracked dashboards. The good ones are really nice.

http://www.stockinteriors.com/moldeddashcovers.asp

 

[EdwardC]

Originally Posted By: Rand
303 is a good product

303 aerospace protectant


I'd go with the 16oz size its less then 50% of the 32oz size price.


My car is mostly garage kept, and I haven't applied any product, but if I were to, I'd use 303. I've used it on other trim and like that it isn't shiny or anything like that, which would important for a dash.

 

[HTSS_TR]

303 is probably the best for protecting vinyl, plastic, rubber against UV from the sun.

It's a little expensive, just use sparingly and let it sit for 10-15 minutes then rub it in with damp cloth.

A smaller bottle can last 5-6 years, so annual cost isn't too bad.

 

[cat843]

Originally Posted By: milwiron
I've had a Dodge Ram dash crack fully from front to back leaving a 1/8 wide gap... which is why I asked.

Did you try and fix it? I was wondering about bathroom caulk in a matching color. Would not be perfect but maybe acceptable.

 

[cat843]

I think if you have one of the vehicles known to crack their dashboards from summer heat there is no way to protect it from cracking other than to move into north Canada.

Of course most of the manufacturers have learned lessons over time and new vehicles hopefully will not have the cracking dashboard issue any longer.

Way back the dash was metal, then vinyl padded metal, then just vinyl, which is when the issues came about. If memory serves me correctly.

 

[milwiron]

Originally Posted By: cat843
Originally Posted By: milwiron
I've had a Dodge Ram dash crack fully from front to back leaving a 1/8 wide gap... which is why I asked.

Did you try and fix it? I was wondering about bathroom caulk in a matching color. Would not be perfect but maybe acceptable.


That truck is gone but that's exactly what I did, caulked it with grey silicone caulk mainly to stop the rattling.

 

[JHZR2]

I use 303 and Lexol vinylex interchangably. Probably more important ismamwindowmshade when the car is parked. My always use one. It keeps uv off and also helps cut interior temperatures.

 

[Silverado12]

Dodge Ram dashboard plastic came from Dow in Dyersburg, TN at that time period. They changed the compound for the 2002 Ram p/u model year, but I believe they still had issues w/cracking. It's an ongoing problem, and Chrysler isn't the only mfg with "biodegradable" interior plastics. I replaced the trim bezel around the cluster on my Cavalier, as well as put a dashcap on the area around the windshield. Cars from northern regions are a lot less likely to have the crack issues.

 

[Snoman002]

Aside from a coating to help, consider a sunshade and use it often. You may also want to consider getting the windshield tinted with a UV film. Unfortunately these also darken the windshield, but I believe you can get 100% UVa and UVb with 80% light transmittance iirc. I'm usually absolutely opposed to tinting the windshield any amount, but 80% should not limit disability by a measurable amount.

 

[milwiron]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.
I was able to pick up some 303 locally at Gander Mountain in their boat department. Not the cheapest compared to online sales but they do employ quite a few town folk. I'm cool with that.

I'm a bit skeptical of the 303 website claim that it doesn't contain silicone. Sure feels like silicone or polysiloxane to me.
I hope it does half as good as some people's reviews I've read of it say... one year on a black toneau cover!?

I'll also pick up window shades for both vehicles and go from there.
Thanks again.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: milwiron
I hope it does half as good as some people's reviews I've read of it say... one year on a black tonneau cover!

Actually the soft top of the S2000 is vinyl.

I'm a lazy person, I wash my S2000 probably 3-4 times a year and applied Eagle One Wax-As-You_Dry sparingly every other wash, I also applied 303 sparingly no more than once a year.

I bought 3-4 bottles Eagle One and 2 bottles 303, I still have some 303 left for few more years. I used Eagle One for all cars but 303 for S2000 only. As I said in other post, 303 isn't cheap but since I used it sparingly on a small vinyl top, a small bottle can lasted 6-7 years, so yearly cost is no more than $2.

I bought the S2000 new in November 2013, so it will be 12 years in 2 months. The car was under the sun less than 5-6% during daytime and 100% garaged at night.

The cheap camera shows a little gray vinyl top, but in person it is black.

 

[SatinSilver]

I wouldn't mind seeing more pics of the S2000. Saw one today in the parking lot with the top down. It was silver with the red interior. Test drove one once and really liked it. But my all time favorite is the NSX.