How to Repair Cracks in a Dashboard

by Brooke Pierce

Most of the damage on your dashboard is caused by direct sunlight whose rays are magnified by the glass. When you run the air conditioner or heater, you expose the dashboard to those temperature changes. Prolonged exposure causes the vinyl to crack. Repair your cracked dashboard using readily available materials that are affordable and will save you time.

Items you will need

Cleaning rag
Sandpaper
Knife
Paintbrush
Vinyl paint
Caulking gun
Silicone caulk
Scuff pad

Prepare the Dashboard

Use the sandpaper or a knife to bevel into the cracked area, and ensure that you sand out any crusty or dried foam. Clean both the inside and outside using the cleaning rag.

Tips

Most old and some new car dashboards are made of vinyl. Proper preparation of the dashboard is critical to the success of the repair, as it will enable the filling to adhere well to the dash.

Warnings

Be cautious to avoid cutting too much of the surface.

Filling The Small Cracks

Fill the silicone caulk in two layers in the smaller cracks. Inject enough to fill the crack, and allow it to cure. Smooth out excess silicone on the surface using your fingers. Use the vinyl tape to cover the silicone that has dried and also to prevent it from spreading to the good dashboard vinyl. Use the brush to paint that part so that it can blend with the rest of the dash.

Tips

Silicone caulk preserves your car dashboard and helps it remain flexible over time. It is also strong enough to hold fast in the edges of the panel cracks as they contract and expand.

Repair Large Cracks

Texturize the silicone within 10 to 15 minutes before it dries. Use the texturing portion of the vinyl-repair kit to accomplish this. Let the silicone dry for about two hours. Lightly scuff the surface using a scuff pad to get rid of any spots. Paint your car dashboard using the vinyl paint to minimize visibility. Blend the edges to match the dashboard.