dashboard melting?

cranky

cranky

Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Posts
889
Likes collected
1,054
Location
essex
Funster No
23,489
MH
Rapido 9090df
Exp
20 years (unless you count my dads VW which makes it 52 years with a few gaps!!)
Hi all
I know its been very warm lately but even before this hot spell I have noticed the black plastic between the original dash and the windscreen appears to be degrading. leaves black marks on your hands if you lean on it and when its hot like it has been actually seems to be getting soft and sticky. the original Fiat part which is grey seems unaffected.
anyone had similar experience and is there anything I can do about it as in coat it with something?
Cheers in advance
 
What make and model?
 
cover it with lining carpet

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cranky said:
Hi all
I know its been very warm lately but even before this hot spell I have noticed the black plastic between the original dash and the windscreen appears to be degrading. leaves black marks on your hands if you lean on it and when its hot like it has been actually seems to be getting soft and sticky. the original Fiat part which is grey seems unaffected.
anyone had similar experience and is there anything I can do about it as in coat it with something?
Cheers in advance
Click to expand...
Reminds me of the old BBC Doomwatch series (youtube says it was a comedy but it was a sci-fi series)
 
I have a 9083df and that is exactly what happens to mine. It's very tacky even when cold. At least things don't slide on it! I think Rapido cut a few costs there.
 
In the Middle East and very hot countries you can buy ready made dashboard top coverings to protect the plastic/leather from heat damage. Never seen them here.
 
after a bit of googling it seems it is not uncommon.
www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Rapido-9083df

Just wondering if anyone with the above van has had the same problem as ourselves . 3 years ago the dash started to go sticky soft adjacent to the windscreen .We were in France at this time and put it down to the hot sun .Over the last couple of years it has slowly progress towards ,for want of...
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk
looks like choices are cover it with something or take it out and have it refurbed by a bodywork refinisher.
Thanks all
 
bobsnicholson@ said:
In the Middle East and very hot countries you can buy ready made dashboard top coverings to protect the plastic/leather from heat damage. Never seen them here.
Click to expand...
We do frost bite protection in the UK
 
The same happened with our Rapido. To take the panel out would be a nightmare, maybe have to take the windscreen out, and all the gubbins underneath......don't even think about it !!
I tried to remove the sticky bits and ended up having to take the complete surface back to the bare panel ( I think it's polycarbonate ).
I bought a heavy duty rubber backed entrance mat in charcoal grey and cut to fit. Had to take the speakers and air vents out and cut holes etc.
The mat is heavy enough to sit where it is. It doesn't move. There are two big recesses in the panel which I filled high density foam rubber and I lifted the speakers half an inch. The air vents went straight back in. It's only been done a few weeks so I am letting the mat "settle in" so I will give it a final trim round the edges in another few weeks.
The whole job cost about £100. It maybe isn't perfect, but my wife is happy with it........and that says it all really !!
 

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pj650 said:
The same happened with our Rapido. To take the panel out would be a nightmare, maybe have to take the windscreen out, and all the gubbins underneath......don't even think about it !!
I tried to remove the sticky bits and ended up having to take the complete surface back to the bare panel ( I think it's polycarbonate ).
I bought a heavy duty rubber backed entrance mat in charcoal grey and cut to fit. Had to take the speakers and air vents out and cut holes etc.
The mat is heavy enough to sit where it is. It doesn't move. There are two big recesses in the panel which I filled high density foam rubber and I lifted the speakers half an inch. The air vents went straight back in. It's only been done a few weeks so I am letting the mat "settle in" so I will give it a final trim round the edges in another few weeks.
The whole job cost about £100. It maybe isn't perfect, but my wife is happy with it........and that says it all really !!
Click to expand...
thanks for that. I am going to investigate further once its cooled down a bit!
 
My mate had that happen to his Disco years ago

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Remember the 70s dashboards on some cars..... Like a sandwich left out overnight, curled at the edges and covered in cracks and splits.
 
We had the same problem in
20180108_154540.jpg
rapido , we had it flocked!!

solved the problem but not cheap about £400.
20180119_142154.jpg

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