How to Repair a Crack on a Dashboard

The dashboard of a vehicle receives much more abuse than people imagine. Dust and moisture quickly accumulate on the dashboard. Every time you run the heat or air conditioner, you subject the dashboard to these temperature changes.

The sun is the most damaging because it constantly shines on the dashboard with its rays amplified by the glass. It’s no wonder the vinyl cracks. If you are in Miami, Miami Dade, Broward, you can take your vehicle to Rivero Auto Interior for repair or replacement or try to do it yourself.

This post will show you how to repair a cracked dashboard with inexpensive materials and waste very little of your time.

Preparing the Dashboard

To start with, ensure the dashboard is clean. Wipe it carefully with a dashboard cleaning cloth. For a crack to be sealed properly, it must be level. Use the knife to cut off the vinyl parts that come loose from the dashboard or bend over.

Small cracks

These are the easiest to fix if you can get them fixed quickly enough. You’ll have to use silicone. Fill the crack with silicone caulk and let it harden. It’s a good idea to apply silicone in at least 2 layers.

You should inject enough silicone to fill the crack and not just fill it on the surface. If excess silicone appears above the crack, wet your finger and smooth it out. When the silicone has dried, you can cover it with vinyl tape, paint, and mix the edges with the appropriate color.

Large cracks

If your dashboard is badly cracked, you must take severe measures to repair it. Fill the cracks as much as you can with silicone caulking, as you did in Step 1. An alternative to silicone would be a two-part epoxy or other industrial coatings. This depends on the size of the crack.

Fill the crack so that the filler overflows slightly. Smooth it with a wet finger. If you are using epoxy or metal, sand it down. Cover the top of the crack with fiberglass resin. This will create a solid repair due to the interlocking fibers. Allow the fiberglass resin to harden completely and then apply Bondo to the fiberglass. This will fill the voids found in the woven fibers. Allow Bondo to harden for several hours and then sand it flush with the dashboard.

You can now mix the vinyl paint to match the dashboard’s color and apply it to the Bondo. Be sure to mix the edges to match the surrounding areas.

Severely damaged dashboard

A heavily cracked dashboard will not be adequately repaired. In this case, you should replace it.

Usually, you don’t consider your dashboard to be a significant feature of your car – certainly not in comparison to the engines, wheels, or chassis. However, you will quickly start to pay attention to it when things go wrong. By far, the most common problems you’ll need to correct with the dashboard are cracks and crevices caused by age, heat, or general wear and tear. These unsightly cracks are a nuisance, but you can have them repaired at Rivero Auto Interior And Electronics. They are experts in restoring vehicle interior to new conditions. With over 30 years of combined experience and a wide range of upholstery services including upholstery repair, headliner repair, custom upholstery, upholstery restoration, upholstery replacements, door panel, dashboard restoration, repairing and replacing convertible tops, they are the name to remember if you are looking for highly qualified technicians.

Hope the above helps you out. Remember to leave your comments in the section below!