dashboard falling apart

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by billccm, Dec 19, 2005.

  1. billccm

    billccm Guest

    Hello:

    I went to replace the #74 bulbs in the AC control in my 1991 LeBaron.
    Easy job, I thought, until I removed the center fascia. The dashboard's
    mounts are disintegrating! The radio is being held by two threads of
    plastic, and when I went to turn the screws on the AC control's mount,
    plastic went flying.

    I spent all night Friday into the wee hours JBWelding all of the
    plastic back together, but to be honest, the entire center of the dash
    is falling apart, and I will have to do something soon.

    My first thought is to get some plumbers strap and try to re-mount
    everything, but that may be harder than I think doable?

    This car has been Honda reliable since new, and I would like to keep it
    another 5 years, or so. Any suggestions short of complete dash
    replacement that would work? Anyone else run into this issue?

    Thanks for any suggestions and help. Have a nice Christmas,

    Bill


    --------------------

    1988 Lancer Shelby
    semi-retired with 82K pampered miles
    1991 LeBaron Convertible
    my trusty daily driver
    2001 Impala LS
    wife's daily driver
    our first GM car
     
    billccm, Dec 19, 2005
    #1
  2. These cars' interiors are held together by a unique philips-head screw,
    black in colour, which can reasonably be referred to as "K-car screws".
    They work fine and tend to hold things together durably, but it sounds
    like in your case someone was in there havin' too much fun with a power
    screwdriver, and stripped or almost-stripped a lot of the screws. Go get
    screws with a slightly larger shank -- not too much larger -- and you
    should be able to put everything back together securely.
    No comment.
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Dec 19, 2005
    #2
  3. billccm

    Marc Guest

    My first thought when I read his description was that the plastic is just
    getting impossibly brittle due to age and heat? If some of the little
    plastic ears and mounting points are getting extremely brittle then he's got
    a tough problem there.

    I fondly remember pulling straight back on the driver's side visor one time
    to remove it from the clip and swing it to the window side. The clip
    snapped like a brittle twig. Out of curiosity I pulled the passenger side
    visor and its clip snapped just as easily. I think some plastics were used
    without thought to how brittle they may become over time.
     
    Marc, Dec 19, 2005
    #3
  4. billccm

    billccm Guest

    I think the fact that the car has had 15 years of convertible shimmeys,
    and 7 years of Tucson heat has contributed to my problems. The
    dashboard vynil still looks good, no cracks, but all of the plastic
    mounting points, or 'ears' as you described are cracking and
    deteriorating. An oversized screw won't work, becasue nothing is left
    to screw into. You rae correct that the factory really torqued down
    everything. I JB Welded about three mounts, and they seem to hold, but
    someday soon there will be nothing left to mount the radio, AC
    controls, etc. I may need to plumbers strap everything back to the
    metal frame in the dash; it won't be pretty, but it might be solid
    enoung to hold it all. There is a car stereo install shop near my work,
    I may ask them for some advice.
    Thanks for your replies!
    Bill
     
    billccm, Dec 19, 2005
    #4
  5. billccm

    harts Guest

    Well, The Arizona Heat does screw with the Plastics. My 03 Minivan dash is
    already starting to Bubble in Spots. Im in Phoenix area. But as they say,
    "Thats the price you pay for living in Paradise". You will probably have to
    do what many customizers do. And that is make your own dash supports. But it
    will be as difficult as replacing the whole dash. As you will have to remove
    the dash to do it. Use thin Plywood and make your own supports, and use "L"
    brakets to bolt to the floor. Cover the plywood with whatever material you
    have. Or, you could visit the Flea Markets, as alot of Mexican's can recover
    your entire interior including the roof, in vinyl or leather in 15
    minutes!!! They probably can do it for you, and cheaply too.
     
    harts, Dec 19, 2005
    #5
  6. billccm

    Art Guest

    A stereo installation guy once told me his secret weapon was hot melt
    adhesive.
     
    Art, Dec 19, 2005
    #6
  7. billccm

    Steve Guest

    Then allow me:

    If its no more reliable than a POS dispose-a-car, its not performing up
    to K-car standards!

    ;-)
     
    Steve, Dec 19, 2005
    #7
  8. billccm

    Guest Guest

    The result of age, which high heat accelerates.
    After 10 yrs or less most plastics show weaknesses.

    I've previously not kept a car beyond 10 years, but my lovely '95
    Concord may take me 20 if Chrysler doesn't wise up. Likely I'll get
    tired of it and go Toyota like most of my friends.

    I'd just apply lots of patch at all mounting points.
    Perhaps try a plastic glue gun to strengthen the mounting points.
    Limit the amount you use though or the extra weight will bring
    everything down. >:)
     
    Guest, Dec 22, 2005
    #8
  9. billccm

    billccm Guest

    I spoke with a stereo installer at Circuit City. Nice guy. He suggested
    to get a auto body fiberglass repair kit, and CAREFULLY wrap the
    cracked mounting points with the fiberglass+resin. He said it could be
    filed and drilled and even tapped for the mounting stuff.

    So far, the pound of JB Weld I pasted on all of the cracked areas seems
    to be holding.

    Thanks for all of the replies, and Merry Christmas!

    Bill
     
    billccm, Dec 22, 2005
    #9
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