Need help with dash seperation

Hello,

I have a 98 taurus. My dash is seperating. :eek: What is happening is that if you are sitting in the drivers seat and looking at the dash you have the actual top of the dash that is adhered at the front to the black plastic section that houses the instruments etc. Its coming loose from the plastic. Its raised about a half an inch and is quite easily pushed back to the plastic when its out in the sun.

My question is does anyone know what I can use to reglue it?? Something is good and strong and wont come loose when out in the heat? I was thinking I could let it sit out in the sun apply whatever you guys recommend and use some small plastic clamps to hold it in place while the adhesive sets up. Do they make soemthing for dashes that stand up to the summer heat??? Thanks a lot

Carito

Welcome to the forum!

I had a similar problem on my 1998 Taurus SHO. I tried automotive Goop with no luck. I removed as much Goop as I could and tried using a small amount of Gorilla Glue with clamps. That held very well. I live in Iowa where we have hot sun and temps in the summer and bitter cold in the winter, and it survived both extremes.

This topic has been addressed before on the forum. I suggest you search the forum for other's suggestions and attempts as well.

-Rod

Thanks for the reply Rod. Had never been here before so didnt even think of using the search function. I saw the two most used things mentioned were the Gorilla Glue and something called Dap Weldwood Top and Trim Adhesive. I'll check into the both of them. Thanks again.

Carito

Thanks for the reply Rod. Had never been here before so didnt even think of using the search function. I saw the two most used things mentioned were the Gorilla Glue and something called Dap Weldwood Top and Trim Adhesive. I'll check into the both of them. Thanks again.

Carito
What did you end up using? There is regular DAP Weldwood Contact Cement (not High Heat), and there's DAP Weldwood Contact Adhesive - Landau Top & Trim - HHR (High Heat Resistant) Solvent Type.
You may have read my thread asking the same thing about a Lumina dash and someone suggested Landau Top & Trim HHR stuff:
http://www.dap.com/product_details.aspx?product_id=302
But according to that page, the smallest size it comes in is a box of four 1 gallon containers. So I couldn't get any.
This page shows just a 1 gallon, but I'm not sure if you can just buy just one. Also don't know how you can have it shipped (might cost a lot).
http://www.perfectfit.com/product.asp?Product_id=148343

You can find the regular Weldwood in several sizes, under Contact Cements and under Specialty Adhesives here:
http://www.dap.com/product_subcategories.aspx?catid=4
I'd be interested to know how well it holds in the summer heat.

But I'm wondering if the DAP Weldwood High Strength Spray Adhesive (also on the Specialty Adhesives page) would be stronger than the Weldwood Contact Cement. Sold here:
http://www.perfectfit.com/product.asp?Product_id=154451

Silicon sealer will work.

Corkscrew,

Actually I read that post about the top and trim, but like you saw that it only came in gallon sizes or larger. I had also contacted gorilla glue and was told by them that heat wise it would hold up, but that they didn't really recommend it to be applied to the type backing that a dash has. They told me that it might hold up or it might not. So I actually ended up forgetting about it altogether until I got your email. I still need to fix it. Checked into the silocone sealant also, and they dont recommend that either. Seems there are things they "may" work short turn and then there are those things that are maybe made just for that.

Im going to check around in a couple of body shops and see if they have a little something that I can buy to use, like the top and trim, or what they would charge to reglue it. At least that way I know its warrantied.

Carito

Please keep us updated. I need to buy something in the next few days too. I have to fix this dash so we can sell the car. No, I wouldn't use silicone.
I called either DAP or perfectfit and was told the high strength spray I mentioned above is about as good as the Landau HHR stuff. But I dunno.

I'm sure a place like JC Whitney would have something for this...

I've been looking for an answer to this problem for a LONG time. My dash has also separated. I finally found a nice guide with pics of the process on google: http://v8sho.com/SHO/Dashboard%20Repair%20or%20Bad%20Dash!!%20Lay%20Dow n.htm

I know this post is about 2 years old, but I thought I'd still post to help others with this problem... :banghead:

I had the issue with my 98 Taurus. I used regular contact cement and it has worked fine in both the high heat and extreme cold of the midwest. :) So far its been 1.5 years and no reoccurance.