Dash needs fixing. Any ideas?
Dash needs fixing. Any ideas? Ok, so i went into a store yesterday for about an hour and when i came back out, the piece of dash plastic that has the defrost vent was cracked all the way up to the windshield. Has anyone had this happen? Would be the cheapest way to fix it. Please let me know!
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
You should be able to remove the dash pad without pulling the whole dash. It is held in with clips at the front and velcro closer to the window. Find a place that you can get under the dash pad and start pulling up. Just go slowly and carefully, especially around the A-pillar covers. I've seen a suggestion to remove these first, but mine really didn't want to come off with the dash pad in place.
However.... I seem to recall that the one for the Camaro is no longer available new. If that proves to be true, you'll need to visit a junkyard for a replacement.
However.... I seem to recall that the one for the Camaro is no longer available new. If that proves to be true, you'll need to visit a junkyard for a replacement.
Twice for me, one on my camaro and now my TA. The pads do come out w/o the dash needing to be removed. Take the A- pillar covers off first. The pads are interchangable between camaro's and Ta's. Like the 97-02 camaros fit Ta's...blah, blah. Make sure its the same color though.
I heard GM stopped making it too. They used to be like $150 new. I got my used one for $50 on the board
I heard GM stopped making it too. They used to be like $150 new. I got my used one for $50 on the board
Well that is the best news i have heard all day! If anyone has a dash pad that they would like to get rid of please let me know. Also, if anyone has any other advice on how to take the dash pad out i would appreciate it so i don't screw things up any more. Thanks!
Trending Topics
mine cracked in both the camaros ive owned, im not replcing it cuz itll happen again lol maybe if u run a dash mat thatll help preventing the sun from drying them out and cracking
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Mine's cracked to all hell from my own negligence while having it out of the car. 
I got a 97+ pad from a junkyard for $20, guy didn't realize how much they're worth apparently. A buddy of mine checked 3 junkyards and couldn't find a 93-96 one, though... all of them were already gone from the vehicles. Truthfully, a bit of preventative maintenance is the best way to go... at the local auto stores, they have a plastic epoxy that's in a two part dispenser tube. But a couple of those, then take your dash and glue as much of the bottom of the dashpad as you can. I have the glue all over under my dashpad and it provides a very strong extra layer that doesn't get brittle and crack. I had originally glued a spot where I had cracked my dashpad on accident while painting it. I got this stuff and glued a nice layer underneathe the crack, then sanded it down smooth, light coat of glazing putty to fill the crack, then painted my dashpad a flatblack (it goes with the rest of my interior) a few months later I was walking with the dashpad and I tripped over some plastic dropclothes and went forward with the dashpad having the dashpad land on it's edge on the cement. It cracked alright, BUT the spot that took the brunt of the impact was right where I had epoxied, and that area didn't crack, it held firm... if only I would've glued the rest of the dashpad.. 
I got a 97+ pad from a junkyard for $20, guy didn't realize how much they're worth apparently. A buddy of mine checked 3 junkyards and couldn't find a 93-96 one, though... all of them were already gone from the vehicles. Truthfully, a bit of preventative maintenance is the best way to go... at the local auto stores, they have a plastic epoxy that's in a two part dispenser tube. But a couple of those, then take your dash and glue as much of the bottom of the dashpad as you can. I have the glue all over under my dashpad and it provides a very strong extra layer that doesn't get brittle and crack. I had originally glued a spot where I had cracked my dashpad on accident while painting it. I got this stuff and glued a nice layer underneathe the crack, then sanded it down smooth, light coat of glazing putty to fill the crack, then painted my dashpad a flatblack (it goes with the rest of my interior) a few months later I was walking with the dashpad and I tripped over some plastic dropclothes and went forward with the dashpad having the dashpad land on it's edge on the cement. It cracked alright, BUT the spot that took the brunt of the impact was right where I had epoxied, and that area didn't crack, it held firm... if only I would've glued the rest of the dashpad.. last night I found a write up about how to remove it in the stereo and electronic section, I am sorry for the bad info earlier, that piece can be removed with out removing the whole dash, Kyle got it right, thier are a only clips holding it on and velcro. I would think you need to go easy not to damage the paddded front piece. Good luck. I am still looking for the link to it I book marked it, but no luck, it took me long enough to find this thread again.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 1
From: The Houndstooth
I have this problem on my car too... We've had 5 93+ TA's and only one so far has had this crack appear. Its funny two of the 3 we have right now are parked outside a majority of the time and the only one to crack was my garage queen lol.
I would really appreciate it if you could find the write up on how to remove the dash pad without messing everything up. I don't have a replacement yet and it might take a little while to get the $$ together depending on how cheap i can find one. If you find the write up please post it so that i can figure out what the heck i am doing. Thanks!!
to remove the dash piece, you need to remove both a-pillars as stated. Then, get your fingers underneath the plastic starting at one end (easy now that the a-pillars are out), and slowly work your way across the dash to pop the clips out. The back is just velcro'ed down. Once it's up, you need to maneuver it around a bit to clear the metal a-pillars and come out of the car, but it's not too hard.
mike
mike
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
I have a crack in my dash above the glove compartment. I was parked outside and when I returned 20 minutes later, there was the crack. I think I'll try the plastic epoxy route on the underneath to strengthen the thing. Do you also apply this stuff to the crack on top as well? I suppose it would look better than the crack itself if you sanded it with really fine paper.....
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
I've decided I'd like to pull mine out and take it to someone who can fix it and maybe strengthen it so it doesn't happen again. So it sounds like the A pillars on the left and right that extend down and touch the dash pad - how do you remove these? I don't want to rush it and crack something else in the process. Thanks!
Teching In
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
97-99 dash new i recently purchased a camaro and have to replace the section of the dash i found this site about a week ago a lil pricey but not sure how u would fix it without the crack showing...heres the site
http://www.ecklerscamaro.com/product...dept%5Fid=1648
http://www.ecklerscamaro.com/product...dept%5Fid=1648
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
I see that Permatex has a dash and vinyl repair kit that will probably look like an obvious fix. I saw on camaroz28.com that some have wrapped their dash with vinyl - the only issue is working around the vent.
Last edited by MrEddie; May 15, 2006 at 02:06 PM.
