If you're tired of seeing these massive cracks each time you climb up into the driver's seat, it's probably time to believe about a 1999 dodge dash replacement. It's a well-known secret among Dodge owners from that era—especially those along with a Ram or even a Dakota—that the factory plastic was basically designed to switch into potato potato chips over time in the particular sun. One time you've got a tiny hairline fracture, and the next thing you know, half of your dashboard has literally fallen into the defrost vents. It's irritating, ugly, and honestly, a bit associated with a safety danger if chunks of plastic start soaring around.
The good thing is that you don't need to just live with a crumbling interior. Fixing it is a big job, sure, but it's totally achievable for any DIYer along with a bit of patience plus a decent place of sockets. Regardless of whether you're looking to swap the whole structural piece or just cover up the mess, generally there are plenty of methods for getting your vehicle looking decent again.
Why these dashes fail within the first place
You might be wondering why your 1999 Dodge seems to be falling apart whilst your neighbor's outdated Ford looks good. It mostly arrives down to the specific mixture of plastic material Dodge used back in the late 90s. It just didn't hold upward well to UV rays. After years of sitting in a driveway, the warmth cycles cause the particular plastic to lose its oils, producing it incredibly brittle.
Eventually, the vibration through driving is enough to snap the mounting points. For this reason you'll often hear the rattling sound arriving from the front from the cab prior to the dash in fact starts to divided. If you push down on it and it feels like it's crunchy, you're definitely in the marketplace for a 1999 dodge dash replacement.
Choosing between a complete dash and a cover up
Before a person go out plus start ripping items apart, you need to decide exactly how deep you would like to move. You've basically got three options right here.
First, there's the full dashboard replacement . This particular involves removing the whole top assembly. It's the most "correct" way to do it, but it's also the most labor-intensive. You'll be dealing with the airbag, the particular instrument cluster, and everything the HVAC ducting.
The second option is a shaped plastic cover . These are usually called "dash skins. " You basically clean up the clutter, apply some high strength adhesive, and stuff a new plastic shell right over the top of the outdated one. If your original dash will be still mostly in one piece, this is a lifesaver. It looks surprisingly good plus takes a cheaper time.
The third, plus cheapest, is really a carpet pad . Let's be real, though—this will be just a band-aid. It hides the particular cracks, but it doesn't stop the rattling or maybe the pieces from falling out underneath. If you're searching for an extensive 1999 dodge dash replacement, you're better off having a difficult plastic solution.
Gathering the proper tools
You don't need a professional shop to deal with this, but you will certainly need more than just a multi-tool. To do a proper 1999 dodge dash replacement, make certain you possess a great socket set (especially 7mm, 8mm, and 10mm), a variety of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, and some plastic material trim prying equipment. Those prying tools are great due to the fact they won't scratch your door panels or even the remaining great plastic in your cab.
You might also want a magnetic tray for all your screws you're about to remove. Dodge used a lot of them, and they aren't all the particular same size. Losing one behind the particular heater core is really a fast way to ruin your Sunday. Also, grab a bottle of glass cleaner and several shop towels. As soon as that dash is definitely off, you're heading to see 20 years of dust plus grime that you'll want to clean away before the particular new one goes on.
The particular teardown process
If you've went for the full 1999 dodge dash replacement, the 1st thing you need to do—and We can't stress this enough—is disconnect the battery . You're heading to be operating around the passenger-side airbag. You do not want that thing going away from while your encounter is six ins away from it. Provide it about 15 or 20 a few minutes after disconnecting the battery to let the capacitors discharge before you begin unplugging wires.
Start by removing the trim items around the radio and the instrument cluster. They usually just pop off, but become gentle. Even the particular trim that isn't cracked yet is usually likely brittle. Work your way through the outside in. You'll have in order to drop the steering column slightly to get the main dash structure out, which sounds frightening but is generally just four mounting bolts.
Maintain an eye away for "hidden" anchoring screws. There are often the couple tucked away close to the defrost ports right up towards the windshield. This is where most people get trapped and end up taking a piece of the newest dash because they missed one stubborn fastener.
Installing the brand new dash shell
Once the old, crumbling plastic is out there of the way in which, it's time for that "fun" part. If you're using a high-quality aftermarket 1999 dodge dash replacement, the fitment should be pretty close in order to OEM. However, don't be surprised when you have to do a little little bit of trimming or even filing. These trucks weren't exactly constructed with aerospace accuracy to begin along with.
Before you bolt everything straight down, do a "dry fit. " Set the new dash in position and make sure all the screw holes fall into line. Examine the clearance throughout the A-pillars and the glove box. When everything looks directly, go ahead and start threading the screws in manually. Don't use the power drill to tighten up them. It really is extremely easy to over-torque a screw and crack your brand-new plastic. Snug them up with a hand driver and you'll be much safer.
Coping with the wires spaghetti
While you have the dash off, consider a look with the wiring. It's a great time to repair any hack-job stereo installs from prior owners or to zip-tie loose wires that might be leading to rattles. If your heater core has been acting upward or your blend doors are adhering, this is furthermore the absolute best time to fix all of them. You don't wish to finish your 1999 dodge dash replacement only to realize fourteen days later that will you have to get it all apart again to fix a $40 heater core.
Make sure the vacuum cleaner lines for the HVAC system are all plugged in securely. If 1 of those jumps off, you'll end up stuck with atmosphere only blowing out there of the defrost vents, no issue where you set the particular dial. It's a common headache that's easily avoided with a quick double-check.
Tips for a rattle-free finish
One of the biggest complaints after a 1999 dodge dash replacement will be a new noise or rattle. To avoid this, you can use thin whitening strips of adhesive-backed was feeling or foam record. Apply them to the areas where the plastic dash satisfies the metal frame from the truck or where two plastic material panels overlap. This particular acts as a buffer plus stops that irritating plastic-on-plastic rubbing sound if you hit the bump.
Also, make sure the vents are seated perfectly. When the ductwork isn't lined up, you'll lose a great deal of air pressure, and your ALTERNATING CURRENT won't feel nearly as cold. It's the little details like this that make the difference among a job that looks professional plus one that feels like a DO-IT-YOURSELF hack.
Safeguarding your investment
Now that you've spent the period and money on a 1999 dodge dash replacement, you probably want to make sure it doesn't happen again. The biggest enemy remains the sun. If you live in the hot climate, invest in a good quality sunshade. It's a $20 repair that can save your valuable interior for one more twenty years.
You might also wish to avoid those oily, shiny interior protectants. Some of all of them actually contain chemical substances that can speed up the breakdown of certain plastics as time passes. Stick to the simple UV-protectant aerosol that has a matte finish. It'll keep your plastic elastic without making it look like a person smeared butter throughout your dashboard.
Final thoughts upon the project
Doing a 1999 dodge dash replacement is a little bit of a rite of passage for Dodge owners. It's one of those jobs that appears intimidating when you see the interior of your truck completely gutted, but the result is really worth it. It can make the truck experience ten years newer and significantly increases the particular resale value in the event that you ever choose to part with this.
Simply take your time, maintain your screws structured, and don't power anything. If the piece isn't fitting, there's probably a reason for this. Once you turn that key and discover a clean, crack-free dashboard staring back again at you, you'll be glad you took the plunge and fixed it right. After all, these old Dodges are great trucks—they simply needed a little help in the plastics department.