Guess I should've kept my mouth shut

quietpeen · Dec 4, 2011

that sucks man. From what i hear - its not a matter of if the dash will crack on the 2nd gens. but a matter of when.

Rogan68 · Dec 4, 2011

There's historical data of MY99-00 trucks getting their dashes replaced in early 2000s; that's how poor the material is.

per Tapatalk on my EVO

txbass06 · Dec 4, 2011

quietpeen said:
that sucks man. From what i hear - its not a matter of if the dash will crack on the 2nd gens. but a matter of when.

Pretty much lol. If I ever retire this one from being my DD, I'll probably make one out of diamond plate or something and be done with it

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wermbang · Dec 5, 2011

Rogan68 said:
There's historical data of MY99-00 trucks getting their dashes replaced in early 2000s; that's how poor the material is.

per Tapatalk on my EVO

My 01 was replaced in 03 per the receipt I found in the glove box. I believe it was $1100

rambob · Dec 5, 2011

lol. sorry to hear that.

mine is bad. the PO tore it replacing the heater core, but he said it was cracked before.

my dads was bad also. he replaced it with a $300 one.

both from high humidity, hot climates.

txbass06 · Dec 5, 2011

I need to replace my heater core too...
Heat still works good enough to keep me warm during the "winter" down here so I'll probably wait till spring and order a cover so I'll have it. Just gotta keep a rag with me to wipe the windshield down lol

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smiley · Dec 5, 2011

We have had a '95, '98 and most recently another '98 and none had cracks. I wonder if it is heat since we don't have many hot days only warm.

$miley

txbass06 · Dec 5, 2011

I can say that I've noticed more with trashed dashes in warmer climates than cooler ones. My truck was bought new in southern OK and stayed there till I got it last October. There were plenty of 105+ days down here this summer.

Whenever I replace mine, I'm gonna try just hand tightening everything and see if it'll help with it flexing in the next few years

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rambob · Dec 5, 2011

I've read to keep the windshield bolts loose.

rambob · Dec 5, 2011

There was also a discussion on if Armorall type products speed up the process. Making it brittle.

rambob · Dec 5, 2011

I used black duct tape to put mine together. I plan to get a dash mat one day.

Badger · Dec 5, 2011

I heard about this problem on Chevy cavaliers so when I got mine new I. 2002 I puuled all the bolts and put rubber washers in on both sides of the plastic. It never cracked and I sold it in 2009? I think. But it worked and I had zero squeaks or rattles. Maybe that is the solution.

Trupiano · Dec 5, 2011

That sucks bud. I don't think new dash covers are that expensive. Just food for thought: On my 05, I bought a windshield shade so my dash wouldn't heat up and crack like that. Put just about 100K miles on it and never had a problem. Maybe it would be a good idea?

Mopar1973Man · Dec 5, 2011

From what I understand about the problem is the plastics don't hold up to extreme heat and bakes the oils out of the plastics and becomes brittle and breaks from vibration.

This is most likely why I don't have the problem because summer heat here might get to 100*F but rarely is the truck left out in the sun for long periods. If so like traveling to Boise, ID for shopping then I will use a sun shade to reduce the dash temps.

Out for curiousity I place a digital themometer on the dash with a dash shade you can still see roughly 120-130*F on the dash on a hot summer day. Even worse without a shade... (Ekkkk!)

Badger · Dec 5, 2011

Yeah the windsheilds act like a magnifying glass.

txbass06 · Dec 5, 2011

I'll probably buy one of the sun shades when I buy the dash cover. Gonna get some tint too so maybe that'll help keeping the temps down in the cab during the summers down here

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Mopar1973Man · Dec 5, 2011

Actually better yet to leave both rear windows open or roll down the front windows about 2" from the closed position. As long as the heat can get out the temps can build up. Then if the sun can shine directly on it also stay cooler...

txbass06 · Dec 5, 2011

I do crack the front windows but never thought about opening the backs lol

Rogan68 · Dec 5, 2011

I open my QC windows, and vent the fronts, but I always forget to close the 1/4 glass, usually after it rains I remember...

ramthis9501 · Dec 5, 2011

I got my dash cover off eBay for $30 shipped.

Guess I should've kept my mouth shut

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