How to replace this part of the dash...

[mxsuprastang]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2383/lsdfadfkasfadsjfasjdf.jpg

I wanna know if that piece of carpet can be removed and be replaced by vinyl. The car was in a fender bender before i bought it and the airbag went off, and obviously the guys who redid the car didn't really care. Just wondering cause I dont wanna have to get a whole new dash...any tips would be helpful...

 

[sbr420a]

they put carpet? thats a first.

 

[mxsuprastang]

i know right, like i said, don't think they cared. and its been buggin me. I just wanna know if i can just take it to someone to recover or what....

 

[El_Diablo]

to do it properly it would have to come out anyways......

if all goes well i'll be selling my tan dash before to long

 

[95PGTTech]

you need a new dash. sorry.

 

[JeremyAlan]

carpet?

w

t

f

?

 

[GDTrumbo]

i know right, like i said, don't think they cared. and its been buggin me. I just wanna know if i can just take it to someone to recover or what....

Is the original dash panel behind that carpet? Or is it hollow/broken/cracked? Have you looked in behind it?

GT

 

[mxsuprastang]

No I haven't really tried to look bhind it. Partially I'm afraid that if I start peeling it back, I'll make it even worse, but maybe today's the day I muster up that courage :-D

 

[GDTrumbo]

You might get a better idea of whats there if you remove the glove box/door assembly. Kinda look & feel around in there. Got a small mirror? Could be some damage from someones knee or something. Surely just that panel could be replaced.

GT

 

[mxsuprastang]

I just looked. I was installing my new seats (pics later) and decided to peek behind the carpet. The panel is there, and in decent condition, but since the airbag at one point went off, the panel has some gashes in it making it actually uglier than the carpet. Sure the carpet is cheesey, but it at least makes the dash look "clean". With the carpet off it just looks old and beat up (not the look im going for). So I'm hoping I can somehow just replace that little part of the dash...

 

[stanger]

Certainly a local junk yard would have one that you could buy as a replacement.

 

[YUNG VEEZU]

carpet?

w

t

f

?

+1

 

[GDTrumbo]

I just looked. I was installing my new seats (pics later) and decided to peek behind the carpet. The panel is there, and in decent condition, but since the airbag at one point went off, the panel has some gashes in it making it actually uglier than the carpet. Sure the carpet is cheesey, but it at least makes the dash look "clean". With the carpet off it just looks old and beat up (not the look im going for). So I'm hoping I can somehow just replace that little part of the dash...

Looks like the exact same gray color as mine.

Since the pass. side airbage was replaced with what looks to be a "dummy" panel, does it throw a code for the SRS system?


GT

 

[mxsuprastang]

That's the thing. Whoever did this f'd up or just plain sucks. One of the two. There is an airbag behind the panel, the panel just isn't on completely straight. I don't know what will happen if I move the panel and try to fix it. The airbag shouldn't go off, but still, one of those things...

 

[GDTrumbo]

Oh. From the pic, it's hard to make out the running horse or the SRS logo on it.

Working in the airbag area isn't too bad. You just disconnect the battery for a minimum of 20 minutes before you start. Just may not be mounted correctly.

I felt a little funny installing my FR500 steering wheel at first but, no problem.

GT

 

[mxsuprastang]

Well, is there any type of filler or something that I can put into the gashes in the vinyl and paint over? I just bought some Dupli-Color spray today for the interior and I did a practice run on my center console and HOLY COW it matches perfect and brings the interior back to life. I'm gonna do my door panels Half black (top) and half gray(bottom). But like I said, if there's something to fill in a vinyl gash, like a vinyl putty or something, I could see what some TLC can do...anyone know of any such thing?

 

[El_Diablo]

depends on how larger the gouges are..... if they're small permatex makes a decent kit

 

[mxsuprastang]

ya they aren't super huge. Just one decent size one (quarter size of a pen) and then little tiny guys. Not too deep either, just damage from when the airbag rubbed on the vinyl at high speeds and temperature. I'll look into a permatex kit.

 

[95PGTTech]

replacing the entire dash in these cars is not a difficult task.

 

[mxsuprastang]

But it's one I want to avoid if possible. It does take a decent amount of time and effort plus the cash that I don't have. Plus, It's more fun doing things the long difficult way, that's how you learn :-D