Another Sticky Dash Issue

nis350 · 02-20-2019, 12:14 AM

my car is always garage in socal where the temperature is quite mild.

Based on all my readings here, I have tried cleaning the dash with just water with a little soap. the dash would look quite nice and non-sticky, but after a month or so, the dash would turn a bit grayish on the surface, it almost felt like a film because it would turn a bit darker if I just wipe it with my hand.

I would clean it again with water and put a very light coat of meguiar natural vinyl protectant. The dash color would restore and looks really nice. However, after I drive the car under the sun for awhile, the surface started to turn oily and develop glare on the windshield, probably due to the heat.

I have recently repeated the process, but with the 303 vinyl protectant as you suggested. The temperature has been quite cold recently, so the dash still looks pretty good.

I am ok to repeat this process once a month as long as the dash doesn't crack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

Yep, dark + moisture seem to be the real culprit. I have 3 cases on my hand now, all developed under similar conditions. I also had an old Escort 8500 mounted in the Z, and the rubber cover on the coiled power cord did the same thing.

If the Z is being stored, I suggest:

Be sure the dash is clean,
Be sure the dash is protected (like the 303 spray)
Put one of those moisture absorbing thing in the the interior.

cv129 · 02-20-2019, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

my car is always garage in socal where the temperature is quite mild.

Based on all my readings here, I have tried cleaning the dash with just water with a little soap. the dash would look quite nice and non-sticky, but after a month or so, the dash would turn a bit grayish on the surface, it almost felt like a film because it would turn a bit darker if I just wipe it with my hand.

I would clean it again with water and put a very light coat of meguiar natural vinyl protectant. The dash color would restore and looks really nice. However, after I drive the car under the sun for awhile, the surface started to turn oily and develop glare on the windshield, probably due to the heat.

I have recently repeated the process, but with the 303 vinyl protectant as you suggested. The temperature has been quite cold recently, so the dash still looks pretty good.

I am ok to repeat this process once a month as long as the dash doesn't crack.

Sadly the melting dash has no cure. Once it starts, nothing will reverse/stop the process. I had the same experience, freshly applied 303 won’t stop the dash from melting in warm and sunny days. The worst thing is the glare/reflection showing on the windshield (due to dash being shiny) actually blocking the driver’s vision.

Lol if driving in sunny+warm days, make sure the AC is on and must park in a shade.

It hurts my brain everytime I think about it.

Zingston · 02-20-2019, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

Sadly the melting dash has no cure. Once it starts, nothing will reverse/stop the process. I had the same experience, freshly applied 303 won’t stop the dash from melting in warm and sunny days. The worst thing is the glare/reflection showing on the windshield (due to dash being shiny) actually blocking the driver’s vision.

Lol if driving in sunny+warm days, make sure the AC is on and must park in a shade.

It hurts my brain everytime I think about it.

These sticky dashes... are they random across model years, or seen more with earlier 370zs?

cv129 · 02-20-2019, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zingston

These sticky dashes... are they random across model years, or seen more with earlier 370zs?

No idea, but my personal experience is with one a 09, and 2 x 2010 dashes. My research on this topic on other platforms seem to also point to the earlier 2000 periods also. But I can’t make any guarantee. Whatever the year, take extra caution if your car is a garage queen.

I must stress again, UV and heat aren’t the only thing that cause this. The extreme opposite can also lead to melting dash. Melting buttons happen on garage queen Ferrari’s and Porsche’s as well.

I currently have an 09 Z, 10 G, 11 FX (all the same platform). FX gets parked outside, takes a beating everyday, and no issue. Z becomes a garage queen 3 years ago, G gets driven a whole lot less in this same period (semi garage queen), both dashes started melting during their hibernations. All 3 cars have Covercraft screens, and parked in shades whenever possible.

nis350 · 02-20-2019, 11:10 PM

I am also curious if this sticky dash issues impact all Z's.....

I imagine the materials and processes are the same for all dash regardless of where they were produced. Unless some factories screwed up.

Again, I don't mind cleaning and applying the protectant as long as the dash doesn't crack....

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

No idea, but my personal experience is with one a 09, and 2 x 2010 dashes. My research on this topic on other platforms seem to also point to the earlier 2000 periods also. But I can’t make any guarantee. Whatever the year, take extra caution if your car is a garage queen.

I must stress again, UV and heat aren’t the only thing that cause this. The extreme opposite can also lead to melting dash. Melting buttons happen on garage queen Ferrari’s and Porsche’s as well.

I currently have an 09 Z, 10 G, 11 FX (all the same platform). FX gets parked outside, takes a beating everyday, and no issue. Z becomes a garage queen 3 years ago, G gets driven a whole lot less in this same period (semi garage queen), both dashes started melting during their hibernations. All 3 cars have Covercraft screens, and parked in shades whenever possible.

LennyK · 02-21-2019, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamnThatZGuy

www.Covercraft.com

Just put a dash mat cover on the dash and call it a day.

Perfect Solution - Anyone Get This Cover - Looks Nice On Website - Pictures Please

OBTW - I Don't Have A Sticky Dash - Just Like The Looks

viragoboy · 01-09-2020, 08:28 PM

Looks like my Z has this issue as well. I stumbled on https://stickydashfix.com while researching the issue, seems to affect Japanese cars from various brands.

They seem to explain the problem well. Has anyone tried the product?

tonythetiger · 01-11-2020, 10:16 PM

lately the z has been sitting in the garage more often and noticed interior dash is starting to have cracks, white haze in certain areas, i thought i took good care of it over the years but seems the humidity is taking a toll on the z...

Spartan 1771 · 01-13-2020, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viragoboy

Looks like my Z has this issue as well. I stumbled on https://stickydashfix.com while researching the issue, seems to affect Japanese cars from various brands.

They seem to explain the problem well. Has anyone tried the product?

For $40 its worth trying!

viragoboy · 01-15-2020, 06:17 PM

I just ordered it, these guys look legit. Shipping was $10, but let's see how it works out....

cv129 · 01-15-2020, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonythetiger

lately the z has been sitting in the garage more often and noticed interior dash is starting to have cracks, white haze in certain areas, i thought i took good care of it over the years but seems the humidity is taking a toll on the z...

During fall and winter, I have a little utility heater blowing 24/7, keeping the 2 car garage relatively warm and humidity in check. It slowed down the deterioration in between coats of 303. Worth a try.

Spartan 1771 · 01-16-2020, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

During fall and winter, I have a little utility heater blowing 24/7, keeping the 2 car garage relatively warm and humidity in check. It slowed down the deterioration in between coats of 303. Worth a try.

I thought about this, but I was concerned with the safety aspect of leaving an electric heater running for long periods of time unattended.

Are you using just a basic electric heater?

cv129 · 01-16-2020, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan 1771

I thought about this, but I was concerned with the safety aspect of leaving an electric heater running for long periods of time unattended.

Are you using just a basic electric heater?

Ya just a basic little plugged in one

JARblue · 01-16-2020, 10:05 AM

I'm active in NFPA and definitely not comfortable leaving something like that plugged in unattended.

My garage is insulated and stays pretty reasonable with temp extremes around 55F and 85F. Austin humidity is pretty consistent middle of the road except when it rains. No excuse for this crap.

cv129 · 01-16-2020, 10:07 AM

Huh, perhaps I need to rethink my approach

Edit: when I said 24/7, I didn’t mean put it on constant on, my temp dial is at half way point and it runs intermittently. But, I think I still should rethink my approach.

01-09-2020, 08:28 PM	#97 (permalink)
viragoboy Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 111	Looks like my Z has this issue as well. I stumbled on https://stickydashfix.com while researching the issue, seems to affect Japanese cars from various brands. They seem to explain the problem well. Has anyone tried the product? Spartan 1771, JARblue and sx moneypit like this. __________________ 2009 / Touring / Sport Package / Platinum Graphite / Gray Interior Greddy Turbo Ti-C / Stillen Gen3 / Berk HFC / UpRev Tune by Forged Performance

01-11-2020, 10:16 PM	#98 (permalink)
tonythetiger A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SA, TX Posts: 1,035 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z PG MT Rep Power: 192	lately the z has been sitting in the garage more often and noticed interior dash is starting to have cracks, white haze in certain areas, i thought i took good care of it over the years but seems the humidity is taking a toll on the z... __________________ KWV3/Eibach/StillenG3/FI CBE+LTH+34Row/Uprev/SPL/SouthBendSS/QuaifeLSD/4.08/TommyKaira/Status/VolkZE40/AP Radical BBK/Seibon/Amuse/VIS/Sparco/WorksBellGTC/RJM/Nismo

01-15-2020, 06:17 PM	#100 (permalink)
viragoboy Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6 Drives: '09 370Z Rep Power: 111	I just ordered it, these guys look legit. Shipping was $10, but let's see how it works out.... KaienZ34, Spartan 1771, JARblue and 3 others like this. __________________ 2009 / Touring / Sport Package / Platinum Graphite / Gray Interior Greddy Turbo Ti-C / Stillen Gen3 / Berk HFC / UpRev Tune by Forged Performance

01-16-2020, 10:05 AM	#104 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	I'm active in NFPA and definitely not comfortable leaving something like that plugged in unattended. My garage is insulated and stays pretty reasonable with temp extremes around 55F and 85F. Austin humidity is pretty consistent middle of the road except when it rains. No excuse for this crap. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

01-16-2020, 10:07 AM	#105 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,192 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 159827	Huh, perhaps I need to rethink my approach Edit: when I said 24/7, I didn’t mean put it on constant on, my temp dial is at half way point and it runs intermittently. But, I think I still should rethink my approach. __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield Last edited by cv129; 01-16-2020 at 10:10 AM.

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