Dash Problems...Who Uses Protection?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Dash Problems...Who Uses Protection?
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?
Last edited by Jstan2014; 01-19-2018 at 08:10 PM.
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Jstan2014 (01-19-2018)
#4
Melting Slicks
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
#6
Safety Car
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.
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.
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Jstan2014 (01-20-2018)
#7
Burning Brakes
+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.
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Jstan2014 (01-20-2018)
#8
Race Director
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.
#9
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2014
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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
Here we have such high temps that its foolish to not shade the dash
NSF
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Jstan2014 (01-20-2018)
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
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
Here we have such high temps that its foolish to not shade the dash
NSF
#11
Pro
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.
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Jstan2014 (01-21-2018)
#12
Race Director
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.
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Jstan2014 (01-21-2018)
#13
Safety Car
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)???
#15
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.
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Jstan2014 (01-21-2018)
#16
Racer
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.
#17
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Joe
#18
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
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.
#19
Safety Car
Thread Starter
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.