ArmyofOne

i knew it was only a matter of time before my dashboard cracked. a few days ago i noticed a 6 inch long crack down the center of my dash running front to rear. do those repair kits you see on tv work? or are they just a waste of money?

if they dont work, can an upholstery place fix mine? i think it might be the same as a camry dashboard, so if replaceing it is the only option, any good source for parts?

also, how do i stop the crack from spreading further? would drilling a hole at the end of it work?

Guitarman

IMO, the experience and expertise it takes to do a vinyl repair don't transfer well to the DIY'er or low-buck DIY repair kit, those kits don't work very well mostly because the average Joe isn't going to get it right (color match or skill-wise) right off the bat. Takes a great deal of experience, and that's why you should find a professional that does it everyday. I've heard of other people hiring one and they said you could not tell it was once cracked.

Talk to some of the dealerships (any make, new and used car lots) and find out if they subcontract with a guy that does those repairs. They're out there, and the best way to locate them is to find the people that would regularly hire them. You might check with upholstery and detail shops too.

I don't know about the "drilling a hole" deal, may work. It does on glass. Best of luck.

ArmyofOne

thanks, the dash is warped pretty bad, and the crack was already there when i got the car, but it was only half an inch long.

i will begin my search. i dont really have the money to fix it right now,so i just need to stop it from spreading...

ArmyofOne

i went to an upholstery shop and they put some black epoxy in the crack to keep it from spreading. looks ok. now im on the hunt for a carpet cover for my dash.

ArmyofOne

would this work?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...odelId-1001413

in black?

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Post a picture of the crack and where it is.... read your other post as well on budgetary constraints.

Might do to come up with a 'creative' situation to cover it if you can make a cutout that looks good over your dash. I know they sell some nice Vinyl products, some that even looks like carbon fiber. Maybe you could make a pattern and affix it to your dash (not the whole thing - just a portion of it). Even something as easy as contact paper, but I'd be worried it would come up in the heat of TX.

ArmyofOne

i will post a pic. hang on a second...

ArmyofOne

its in the other thread now, Dave can you merge these 2 threads together for me? i wish i was a mod so i could do this kind of stuff, i wouldnt have to bother you guys with it LOL.

here is a link to the pix:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...68#post1162668

Guitarman

I tried to merge them for you, but it wouldn't allow me to, sorry.

Not sure why.