Common R32 Dashboard Bubble

[r32line]

Hey guys,

I have had my r32 for a while and when I bought it the dash was bubbled as i have seen in many an r32 (ref to pic below if ur not sure what i am talkin about).

I am only now gettin around to fixing it, i was wondering if anyone had any advice, or has got someone to fix a similar problem? I called one place and without looking at it he suggested re-skin of entire dash, but on a hot day, u can push it right in to how it should be....so i dont think a full re-skin is necessary.

Any help appreciated!!!

Edited May 31, 2006 by r32line

[berzerkled]

Hey guys,

I have had my r32 for a while and when I bought it the dash was bubbled as i have seen in many an r32 (ref to pic below if ur not sure what i am talkin about).

I am only now gettin around to fixing it, i was wondering if anyone had any advice, or has got someone to fix a similar problem? I called one place and without looking at it he suggested re-skin of entire dash, but on a hot day, u can push it right in to how it should be....so i dont think a full re-skin is necessary.

Any help appreciated!!!

Both of my r32s have had this. What you can do is get a needle and fill it with glue, poke it through the center of the hole and push a bunch of glue in and hold it down until it dries. Haven't tried it but it should work only leaving a very small hole.

[r32line]

Both of my r32s have had this. What you can do is get a needle and fill it with glue, poke it through the center of the hole and push a bunch of glue in and hold it down until it dries. Haven't tried it but it should work only leaving a very small hole.

I had a similar idea, but has anyone actually tried this??

[predator]

lol.. I think the chances of it working well are pretty low when I've thought about doing it.

I think the real solution is if it bothers you, taking the whole dash out, taking it to a trimmer, and paying the $300 or whatever it will cost to get it retrimmed in a similar look.

These cars are getting old, pretty much just a wear and tear like any old car experiences.

[r32line]

I feared this would be the case :

a freind of mine will be able to help me take it out, mite find a dash off a half cut going cheap!!

Thanks for the help guys

[r32line]

I've just had a better idea, i went out and looked at the dash, wen u open the gbox, u can put ur finger up into dash and feel the plastic the vinyl is attached to, so if i take out gbox, and some of the plastic thats in the way, then drill small holes in plastic, i could inject glue up through that way and ill be able to put a piece of wood across dash were it comes to a point, and clamp that down.

my neighbour has some liquid cement glue that when bonded is strong as. he showed my, by stickin 2 bits of wood together, he got a hammer to seperate them, and the wood cracked, while the glue remained bonded with the pieces of wood it was stuck too

What you guys think, at least if it doesnt work there no damage, and no holes in the vinyl, only the plastic inside dash no1 can see.....

[PHATR32]

its a good idea injecting glue with a needle, its an even better idea doing it from the bottom!

If you a gonna retrim, try this first, youll have nothing to loose.

Steve

[PHATR32]

i just had another idea, you ould remove the center vent and peel up the remaining small section (red arrow) and inject glue through there.

steve

[r32line]

i just had another idea, you ould remove the center vent and peel up the remaining small section (red arrow) and inject glue through there.

steve

Yeah i was thinkin of that too, cause with the vent out, u only need to lift a little bit, and if u could get a decent length needle u could get the glue right in were its needed, ill see how i go though, if the drilling idea aint too hard ill give that a crack first,

Thanxs for the feedback guys!!

Edited June 1, 2006 by r32line

[PHATR32]

carefull to drill slwoly, you dont wanna slip through the whole thing!

[r32line]

HAHAHA, will do, after all, a bit of lifted dash aint as bad as one with a big drill hole through it Sux how so many r32's have this problem, my one has been in australia since 1999 so half its life, and the aussie sun is a merciless mutha!!

[sammus]

i just replaced my dash. 30 bux.

[skylinegtts]

just a quick questions, does the centre vent just pop out or is there something i should watch out for before taking it out. asking coz i dont want to break it and have to pay $125 for a new one.

cheers

[WazR32GTSt]

how common is this?

mine is fine.. looks like i have something to look forward to in the next few years

[sammus]

how common is this?

mine is fine.. looks like i have something to look forward to in the next few years

very common. i'm surprised you haven't noticed everyone elses r32s with it. keep your car out of the heat and that just might keep it nice and flat*

[zique]

Ive had three GTSTs and they both had that same problem..I asked a car dealer about it and apparently he said its partly caused by car dealers using silicon on the dash to make it shiny for sale.Dont know if thats true but it really looks ugly having those bubbles.

Best to just get a re-trim..least you know you wont have a problem for a few more years.

[xRHETTx]

Yeah my cars got it too - it had it from Japan though.

One day when its starts to piss me off to much i'll use a syringe to inject some glue and clamp it down for a few hours - i cant see how it wouldn't work.

And i couldnt be bothered sourcing a new immaculate dash and installing it.

[PHATR32]

just try to fix it and if it doesnt work, then retrim it.

you cant lose!!.....unless you break th center vent and accidently inject your self with glue......then youll lose......

steve

[Roy]

Heat gun or just retrim it, im retrimming mine in a botu 7-8 weeks time

[cowie165]

Roy would you mind posting price and pictures once you've had that done please? I'm sure (at least!) half the R32 guys would be interested in how you went.