Dashboard cracks: Here's a quick, easy, and low-cost fix.
First let me say that I love my Red 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 and have no intention of selling or trading it. This past year I started seeing cracks appearing at several places on my dash board top and a couple of cracks starting down around the instrument panel which were basically continuations of the dash cracks. Then I Googled the problem and discovered that many others were having this same problem mostly with
the 2001 model year. This is obviously a manufacturing defect but Dodge is denying that.
Dash rugs do NOT fix the problem.
Ok here's a fix that works and what I have done:
1. Clean the dashboard around the full length of the cracks with a solvent. Make sure it's dry before continuing.
2. Use a medium grit sandpaper (about 80 grit or so) and rough up the surface over and around the full length of the crack.
3. Go to your local hardware store (ACE carries this) and get the PC11 Marine Epoxy. It comes in 2 cans, (PC-11A) white paste and (PC-11B) green hardener. I got the small cans (12 oz).
4. Also get a can of Krylon Black Metallic Hammered (#2915) spray paint. For those dashes that are a dark or medium gray this is a near perfect match. Try Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace for the paint.
5. Using 2 separate sticks (I broke a wooden paint stir stick in half) and a piece of cardboard, scoop out an equal glob of the 2 parts of the epoxy onto the cardboard and then mix them together stirring until it is all white with no bits of green showing.
6. Then using a small spatula (no more than 1" wide), trowel the epoxy over the cracks. Using the flat side of the spatula, make sure that you apply enough pressure to squeeze some epoxy into the crack as well as covering the crack (about an inch wide). Do not cover the cracks with a thick coating of epoxy. Keep it thin. If the the crack is not even, i.e., doesn't line up, use something to hold it in place like masking tape or a weight, etc. Trowel around the tape or weight. You can always go back and finish after the epoxy is dried and hard.
7. When finished, let it dry over night. In the morning it will be hard as a rock. Use sandpaper to smooth it out and remove any rough edges of epoxy. By the way, it will be white when it dries.
8. Finally, tape newspaper to the inside of the windshield and any areas you do not want paint (like over lettering, nearby knobs, etc. Then shake the paint and spray over all the epoxied surfaces. Let it dry. The paint blends very close to the dash color.
9. You can leave it like this OR you can get one of the hard molded dash covers to cover the dash. The epoxy stops all cracking in the damaged areas and the dash will now be stronger than before. The dash cover will only be cosmetic now as the original dash after epoxied will be extremely solid. After several months, there are no new cracks.
That's it! It works and will prevent your dashing from crashing and collapsing. It took me less than an hour to fix mine. This is a lot better than paying the "big bucks" to replace the dash.
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First let me say that I love my Red 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 and have no intention of selling or trading it. This past year I started seeing cracks appearing at several places on my dash board top and a couple of cracks starting down around the instrument panel which were basically continuations of the dash cracks. Then I Googled the problem and discovered that many others were having this same problem mostly with
the 2001 model year. This is obviously a manufacturing defect but Dodge is denying that.
Dash rugs do NOT fix the problem.
Thank GOD someone else here, besides myself, has common sense here.
Quote:
Ok here's a fix that works and what I have done:
1. Clean the dashboard around the full length of the cracks with a solvent. Make sure it's dry before continuing.
2. Use a medium grit sandpaper (about 80 grit or so) and rough up the surface over and around the full length of the crack.
3. Go to your local hardware store (ACE carries this) and get the PC11 Marine Epoxy. It comes in 2 cans, (PC-11A) white paste and (PC-11B) green hardener. I got the small cans (12 oz).
4. Also get a can of Krylon Black Metallic Hammered (#2915) spray paint. For those dashes that are a dark or medium gray this is a near perfect match. Try Home Depot, Lowes, or Ace for the paint.
5. Using 2 separate sticks (I broke a wooden paint stir stick in half) and a piece of cardboard, scoop out an equal glob of the 2 parts of the epoxy onto the cardboard and then mix them together stirring until it is all white with no bits of green showing.
6. Then using a small spatula (no more than 1" wide), trowel the epoxy over the cracks. Using the flat side of the spatula, make sure that you apply enough pressure to squeeze some epoxy into the crack as well as covering the crack (about an inch wide). Do not cover the cracks with a thick coating of epoxy. Keep it thin. If the the crack is not even, i.e., doesn't line up, use something to hold it in place like masking tape or a weight, etc. Trowel around the tape or weight. You can always go back and finish after the epoxy is dried and hard.
7. When finished, let it dry over night. In the morning it will be hard as a rock. Use sandpaper to smooth it out and remove any rough edges of epoxy. By the way, it will be white when it dries.
8. Finally, tape newspaper to the inside of the windshield and any areas you do not want paint (like over lettering, nearby knobs, etc. Then shake the paint and spray over all the epoxied surfaces. Let it dry. The paint blends very close to the dash color.
9. You can leave it like this OR you can get one of the hard molded dash covers to cover the dash. The epoxy stops all cracking in the damaged areas and the dash will now be stronger than before. The dash cover will only be cosmetic now as the original dash after epoxied will be extremely solid. After several months, there are no new cracks.
That's it! It works and will prevent your dashing from crashing and collapsing. It took me less than an hour to fix mine. This is a lot better than paying the "big bucks" to replace the dash.
Awesome write-up, and this needs to be in the DIY section. The dash in my 1997 is getting worse, and I'd love to fix it. I will use your method.
__________________
<< Insert long list of crap that's been purchased and bolted on to said vehicle here >>
Well mine is cracking also (about 5 good size cracks, nothing falling through - yet). I live in GA. Today I called Chrysler at 1-800-992-1997 after I registered on the Dodge web site. I told them the problem and the person transferred me to their supervisor.
I again explained the problem and this person asked me if I have taken the truck to the dealership yet. I said ‘no - I was reading the Dodgeforum and viewing the new reports from Orlando News (http://www.clickorlando.com/news/132...ail.html#story - click on Related for videos) and they suggested that I call Chrysler first.’ Then the supervisor asked me what I want Chrysler to do for me about this dashboard cracking . . . . I told the supervisor that I want it replaced (note: I was so temped to pull one of the “here’s your sign”, but choose to keep it professional)
Well, the supervisor asked for the closest dealership I would take my truck to. I gave the supervisor the info and the supervisor called the dealership and next thing I knew I was taking the truck to the dealership with a reference number. After I got there I found out that I am the 3rd owner of this truck (thought that I was the 2nd – oh well).
The dealership did their check and yep the dashboard is cracking. After everything was said and done and the dealership called Chrysler back – it is going to cost me $250 to have it replaced by the dealership. That is 250 out the door – Chrysler is picking up the rest of it. The dealership said something about a Care Number from Chrysler . . . not sure what this is about, but the service guys were all in a fuss about it and got things done in a hurry.
So now I am in a holding pattern until the dealership gets the part.
I have a 2000 and mine was split and cracked all over the place. I ordered one from JC Whitney, for about 100 bucks looks great and easy to install yourself. Cheap fix and it looks good.
I have a 2000 and mine was split and cracked all over the place. I ordered one from JC Whitney, for about 100 bucks looks great and easy to install yourself. Cheap fix and it looks good.
An actual DASH or a COVER?
__________________
<< Insert long list of crap that's been purchased and bolted on to said vehicle here >>
So how well do these plastic covers work for those that have installed them? My 2000 started cracking in 2003 and there is little left of the dash now. I contacted Chrysler in 2006 but they wanted me to take it in for a diagnostic, at my expense. I never bothered, wasn't about to give them more money to come up with an excuse for not replacing it. My local mechanic said he could get the part for about $550 and install it for about $350. Not doing that either. I figure the plastic cover is my only option unless Chrysler is willing to make this right, which isn't likely.
I found a Dodge Technician in the Atlanta area on this forum and paid him to install a new dash. I paid him $800 including parts to replace the old dash with a new one. It looks great and doesn't give me any problems like the last one. I've had the new one since I bought the truck in September of 2007.
I have a good friend that has a body shop. When I got my 97 NASCAR pase truck to fix up we went to his fav. wrecker yard to get a dash because mine is in 1000 of peices. I was told by the wrecker guy if he had 200 in decent shape he could sell all of them in one day. this is a very bad problem the south where it gets hot. I had to go to the dealer and pay $230 for the top and $160 for the part over the glove box. and what sucks is the plastic is the same that came with the truck. so if I don't take very good care (armol) and block the sun it will crack again.
Dashboard cracks: Here's a quick, easy, and low-cost fix.
Dash board cracks
