Jstan2014

I’m curious. I’m seeing the threads about 4LT leather dashes bubbling and coming unglued. I’ve driven many cars for many years and never once had a cracked, bubbled, unglued, or otherwise bad dashboard. I’ve always used sunshades in all of my cars and my windows are always tinted. Texas heat can be extreme. So, my question is, who has had their dash bubble and come unglued while using a sunshade and or tinted windows?
Don’t get it wrong, I’m not blaming anyone, I’m just wondering who has used protection for their dash and interior and still have had their dash come unglued?

Not So Fast

Smart to use a reflexive shade Joe, mine is in the form of a garage lol. Hardly ever sits outside except when driving it. And lately that's not even happening
NSF

Jstan2014

psp6158

I used aero 303 on mine, still do, but it bubbled at 4000 miles. Garage queen, it's the glue, not the use of this or that or lack of use of this or that. There are other makes of cars that have the same issue, was very frustrating but I got it fixed and have moved on, still pissed me off though lol

bucwheat

I can't get my wife to use one on hers but mine rarely sees much hot sun.

jbc1995fb

When I take my GS to work I use a sunshade. I don’t have the 4LT dash, but still want to protect it.

On a side note, we have two 2004 cavaliers as daily drivers. I always used sunshades but it didn’t help. Those cars are notorious for having cracked dashes. I think it was the plastic GM used.

Get_UmJ13

+1 for the sun shade when out and about other than that like others have mentioned it's garaged. I did have a bit of gray hazing last year. I used the 303 Leather 3-1 Complete Cleaner and the haze hasn't come back.

Boomer111

Ya me too, the 2008 saw 1900 miles last year.

I use a window shade too when necessary and apply 303 on interior surfaces, even use it on the tires as a stand alone.

My Base optioned car A pillars bubble too on really hot days, but then appear normal after with cooling.

Not So Fast

FYI another reason to use those shades according to what my Toyota dealer told me is that the electronics housed in the "center stack" of the dash (and I think we knew this already) is very susceptible to heat soak, not good for these systems. And the cost of replacing an air bag is pretty high also
Here we have such high temps that its foolish to not shade the dash
NSF

Jstan2014

That’s a good point as well regarding the electronics and heat soak. Thanks Bobby. I see most people with bubbling dashes we’re going to have issues regardless of any protective measures taken, but I’ll just continue using my sunshade when I’m out parked somewhere. For what it’s worth, the folding style insulated shade from Cover Kings is a great product. I’ve had mine for 5 years. It’s faded quiete a bit, but otherwise it’s holding up very well. No cracks or tears in the folds.

Richard F

When I park my 2011 GS Convertible in the summer months, I put the windshield shade up in mine. I have the 4LT dash, and so far with 19,000 miles mine is still ok. I did have a 2009 base model convertible that had it come loose at about 25,000 if I remember correctly and had the dash replaced with a new one. Car was totaled about a year later, but the dash was still ok. I checked recently and someone in Ohio purchased the salvage, rebuilt it and is driving it now.

phileaglesfan

I will if I leave it parked outside but I'll always try to face it away from the sun. The back window has dark tint on it so I let it do its job. 46k miles on my 13 with no issues.

Vette_Fan

I had a C5 for 12 years. Sometimes it was parked on the street, when temps went to 100+ and was parked for several months, when the front axle broke in an accident. However, I NEVER experienced anything to do with the Dash. It was always like new..... Does C6 have some issues (that I don't know of)???

Jstan2014

There’s a longstanding issue with the 4 LT leather dashes bubbling up and coming unglued.

owc6

Yes, and it has more to do with faulty materials/procedures during install than temp.

All the rest of us who have a plastic dash really have little to worry about (regarding cracking, etc...), IMO. A shade is a good idea, no matter how you look at it because it does help with cabin temp in general.

I don't use any dressings/protectants, just wipe down with a damp MF cloth. At almost a quarter million miles, my dash is faring well.

Olsarge

Does a dash cover (carpet) help? I've had my 2012 GS 4LT for 4 weeks. It has always been kept indoors and will continue to be stored inside. The dash is perfect. I want to keep it that way. I ordered a dash cover today.

Jstan2014

I’m guessing it’s arguable what does/does not help. Others have said heat is not the root cause but rather faulty or defective materials and application procedures are. I think something may be a catalyst to the “bubbling” and that just might be heat and or UV light. Just a thought. That being said, I think a dash cover can do no harm and just might help. So, I say use the cover, sunshade, and garage parking when you can. If it hasn’t already started bubbling, maybe it won’t? Good luck!

Joe

AORoads

Actually, anything is arguable, but things like Aerospace 303 does help. And I used it and a shade altho a shade doesn't always block out the sun. Many/most of the dash problems have been on the 4LT-leather covered dashes. Not always just them, but mostly. I'd say any precaution is good esp since places like AZ, NM, CA desert, FL can be brutal if they just beat down on a dash all day.

Jstan2014

Right you are. I stand corrected in that “anything is arguable”. I’ll add Texas to the list of states with brutal heat that beats down on our cars and cooks the interiors left unprotected!

Bruze

Why not?