Instrument trim panel
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Stony Plain Alberta
Instrument trim panel
Quick question, is there a holding tab top right corner of trim panel? Mine seens to be a little to far away from a good fit and was wondering if that tab maybe broken or ????? Pic would be nice.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
How about you posting a picture so we can see what you're talking about. Trim Panel is a very general term.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,197
Likes: 4,182
From: Kannapolis NC
It's very common. If you go to Google and search for C5 radio bezel or console trim fit, you'll see several suggestions. If you hook your fingers under the bottom flat side of the bezel just to the right of the traction control button (the back of your fingers will be touching carpet) and lift up, you'll see that that corner pops back in. Some have put something under the panel there. Some have glued something to the top right corner for friction. You may not believe it but you're probably the only one who notices it. I only notice mine when I'm looking directly at it and wishing it fit better, passengers don't notice. If it's a black interior, you can put a black background in there and it won't show up as much. Lots of owner's don't even notice unless they remove their bezel to work on the radio or HVAC, then feel like they put it back in wrong or broke something. They warp on their own. You just have to find some way to create enough friction on that upper right corner to keep it from popping out slightly.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Stony Plain Alberta
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Stony Plain Alberta
It's very common. If you go to Google and search for C5 radio bezel or console trim fit, you'll see several suggestions. If you hook your fingers under the bottom flat side of the bezel just to the right of the traction control button (the back of your fingers will be touching carpet) and lift up, you'll see that that corner pops back in. Some have put something under the panel there. Some have glued something to the top right corner for friction. You may not believe it but you're probably the only one who notices it. I only notice mine when I'm looking directly at it and wishing it fit better, passengers don't notice. If it's a black interior, you can put a black background in there and it won't show up as much. Lots of owner's don't even notice unless they remove their bezel to work on the radio or HVAC, then feel like they put it back in wrong or broke something. They warp on their own. You just have to find some way to create enough friction on that upper right corner to keep it from popping out slightly.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
See the yellow circle? that's what i'm talking about. And from the looks of it that pin is also broken off partially
Last edited by SG Lou; Aug 3, 2014 at 02:19 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,197
Likes: 4,182
From: Kannapolis NC
It will be loose there whether the pin is broken or not. It was just held in by friction. Unless you can come up with some way to make it "snap" in or lift on the rear of the bezel at the bottom, it will stick out some. Some more than others. It was poorly designed and if you can come out with a fix other than what I told you, a lot of people can benefit. It's been a long time since I've seen one that didn't have at least a small gap there. The "pin" circled in the picture isn't what holds it in, that's just a guide that goes into a hole. The clip above it is what should keep the top tight, but doesn't after a while.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Texarkana TX
I have an '03 Z06 and had the same problem. There are two tabs at the top of the bezel. I used a heat gun to soften the plastic tab and bent back up towards the top of the bezel. Snapped back in with a much more secure fit.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Stony Plain Alberta
Do you think appling velcro tape would make that a tighter fit? It would still be removeable yet hold tight to the dash.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,197
Likes: 4,182
From: Kannapolis NC
No, I don't think Velcro will hold it in. The bezel is too rigid. When you tighten the two nuts at the bottom, the top will pull out. I put a rubber block under the panel at the bottom and tightened the bezel against the block instead of the hump and it helped. Still not as snug as it should be. You really need to have a way for those top snaps to grab something. You might be able to modify or make something that the tab can grab on to in the dash part. I didn't put that much effort into it because no one else in the car but me even notices.