Dashboard Cracking?! Options

[jetpacman]

Is it true that the 1G Accents are prone to dashboard cracking. Where I live (South Africa) I have seen a few Accents with cracks and have been told its a factory problem. Does this happen in other parts of the world too.

A crack appeared in my dashboard now. I can't complain though because I got the car for next to nothing. Is there anything I can do to fix this?? Do they do after market Dashboards.

[STRacer]

I think it would be a nightmare to replace the whole dash....getting all the clips in.....//shudder//...I think I would just get a dash cover made out of fabric or somthing....I've seen them on ebay....where is it cracked?

[quebec128]

Hmmm not too sure if its a factory problem... I know for sure here in Ottawa Canada I have a 1999 Accent and the interior is perfect condition still.

Perhaps it mostly has to do with the climate in South Africa ?

[srosa98]

Is it true that the 1G Accents are prone to dashboard cracking. Where I live (South Africa) I have seen a few Accents with cracks and have been told its a factory problem. Does this happen in other parts of the world too.

A crack appeared in my dashboard now. I can't complain though because I got the car for next to nothing. Is there anything I can do to fix this?? Do they do after market Dashboards.

I have the same problem - a major crack. Living in the south, I presume its from the heat. I also would like to find out if it is a reasonable job to replace - or if the parts are even available! At first glance, it looks to be a one piece unit.

[Jovica]

i have a 1999 hyundai accent and my dashboard is cracked in 2 places leading from the windsheild towards the drivers seat i tried supergluing it together but it didnt work and now everytime my car is idleing and is quiet you can hear the dashboard shaking its really annoying haha

[D-a-n-i-k]

changing a dashboard isnt hard..
i had to change mine because when i got my car, is was in a wreck, so i had to change the whole dash..
it wasn't that hard.. took a couple hours, thats all.

[marktoyota]

yes, it may be production problem. if there happen all over.

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[4Faith6]

My Dash is also cracking and it scars me because the crack is very long! Can't you fix it with clue or some sort?

[olly.harris]

I'm in Australia, and this happens to just about every accent (Excel) here. It's to do with the heat and the sun being magnified and intensified through the windscreen, the plastic on the dash isn't very thick and it does crack.

I've managed to buy one without a crack though, even after our last summer of 47 degree celcius days... (117 deg. f)

Not sure there is much you can do other than change the dash out. Good luck..

[4Faith6]

I was wondering, would you be able to use fibre glass to fix it?

[usherly]

one of the two main hyundai design faults in the x3's
dodgy dashboards and weak SOHC heads
lol

it happens everywhere
no you cant fix it with glue or fiberglass as it will flex
its not hard to pull the dash out
just check HMAService for details on how to do it

[hendryc]

As yet another member from Australia, AND a recent owner of a 96 Excel (X3) which I bought for my daughters 'first' car I can only echo previous posts about dash cracks.

The dash is constructed (as already stated) from fairly thin lightweight material and was probably never intended (or tested) for the sort of longevity it is now expected to endure in such diverse locations with the wide ranging climates it now exists in, and makes for the cracking that can become evident.

If it is a major concern in eg your highly modified show car, they are quite easy to replace as stated above, - if you can get your hands on a pristine replacement.

I do however empathise with owners who are subject to this issue, as the dash is not something you anticipate you would need to replace during the normal life of your car - but its something that will probably become more common as the industry cuts weight, costs and therefore effective life.

[emoscambio]

Look, I am not a specialist, but you might want to fill the cracks with something that remains *soft" while not looking too messy. To avoid the vibrations, you've got to damp them in the crack.

Silicone or acrylic rubber for bathrooms might be an option, but has to be applied carefully.I would rather suggest some kind of waxy paste for repairing plastics, that remains soft, those for wood repair become quickly hard in the sun. There are some kind of wax-sticks for repairing scratches on car paint repair ...

It obviously depends on how thin the cracks are...

[leerixone]

I live in northern cali and my dashboard is cracked up pretty bad too, i got 3 looooong cracks running from left to right on the dash,

[bluwav43]

Hello all,

If I may offer a little help about cracked dash boards. Try to prearrange all the parts back into original placement. See if there are any parts missing. Then, one by one, take a part out, working from the front of dash board by the windshield.
Use 100% Silicone clear in a hand squeeze tube, any local parts store has this. Apply some to each side of borken part. Place part back into position, IF there is nothing to hold up the part as you wait for it to dry, first use a piece of duck tape, stretch it from side to side, upside down, to form a little support bridge. Being that the sticky side is exposed to the part being placed back in to position, it should hold it while silicone is drying. Continue this process until complete, remember, roll down the windows, 100% silicone smells, and gives off a little vapor.And remember, if you make a mistake, relax, you can use a razor knife to cut it back out, it easy as cutting butter, after it dries....

This post has been edited by bluwav43: Jul 31 2009, 09:16 AM

[accent sport]

I don't know about everywhere else but here in Canada you can buy a dash repair kit for cracked dashes from any atuo parts store. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif)

[ruscorp]

My dash started to crack a few days after I bought it used (with 79k mi.)

I just fixed it with Pentax dash repair kit.

I didn't even bother painting it because of the errnomous size the crack has grown to.

[beanz]

I live in Aus and dashboard is split in about 4 or five places. Have heard its really common in Aus. I'm about to start working on mine to fix or replace it. I've tried taking my dash out and having trouble getting the panel out that surround the cd player/ air con etc? Any tips or tricks? I'm thinking of trying to reinforce my old one and covering it with vinyl as I want it black anyway and if I buy a new dash it'll only crack again at some point anyway. Perhaps you could get yours covered, most I've heard about don't keep cracking very much, once the initial stress cracks are made so could be a better investment.

[atrain]

Bought my car in Canada with a broken dash - I don't care. If the car drives well, thats all that matters to me.

I've tried taking my dash out and having trouble getting the panel out that surround the cd player/ air con etc? Any tips or tricks?

Look up any guides for replacing the stereo. Basically, you have to disconnect the hvac cable behind the glove compartment, and 2 cables from under the steering wheel. You'll have to pull the peice of plastic from under the wheel off to get access to those 2, and they clip off with a bit of effort. (do glove compartment first, so you can see how the clip works, because its a lot harder to get to those other two.) I've never completely removed this panel/the dash before, but I think its just a matter of disconnecting all the electrical connections and pulling those cables through / disconnecting them on both ends.

[carmine]

I have a 2006 Sonata and I have a crack where the air bag will come out. I told the dealer and they told me it is not covered by any warranties. To replace it will cost about $1K, not worth it