DIY Dash Restoration

Each time you get into your vehicle, the dash is what you see the most. If your dash is cracked or faded, you have to look at it on a daily basis. Since the dash is exposed to extreme temperatures and is in direct sunlight for most of the day, it is prone to becoming faded and getting hairline cracks. Driving down the road can cause vibrations that make the cracks become larger. Restore your dash to keep it from becoming worse and to make it look good again.

• 1

  Sand any cracks with 220-grit sandpaper. Sand along the edges of the crack to smooth it and remove any rough edges. Use 800-grit sandpaper to sand around the crack. If the dash is faded, sand the entire dash with the 800-grit sandpaper. This smooths the surface and allows the new paint to adhere better. Without sanding the surface before painting, the paint will eventually flake and peel off.

• 2

  Apply dash filler with a plastic squeegee to the crack. Apply a thick coat of the filler so that it fills the crack and stands above the dash surface. Wait 30 minutes for the filler to dry, and use 220-grit sandpaper to sand it down until it is smooth with the surface of the dash but the crack is no longer visible. Sand over the area again using the 800-grit sandpaper. Wipe the dash with silicone wash and a towel to clean any sanding debris and to prepare the surface for paint.

• 3

  Use masking tape and paper to cover the windshield and any other surface that doesn't need paint. Spray a moderate coat of plastic sealer spray over any repaired cracks that have filler.

• 4

  Spray a moderate coat of texture coat spray over any areas with filler. Use a grain pad as a stamp and press it down onto the wet surface of the texture coat spray. Lift the grain pad straight up so the pattern is not messed up. Wait 30 minutes for the area to dry.

• 5

  Spray two to three thin coats of paint over the dash, keeping the coats thin to avoid any runs. Hold the spray can six to eight inches from the surface and wait five minutes between each coat. Wait four hours before handling the dash.