How to Avoid Needing a Replacement Dash Pad in a Classic Car

Posted by Edna Howard on June 5th, 2021

Newer vehicles are less likely to exhibit dashboard cracks than classic cars, though the problem does still come up. There are tons of reasons that older cars wind up with dashboard cracks, from UV damage and temperature or humidity changes to accidents. Once those cracks start to appear, the only effective way to resolve the problem is to install a Replacement Dash Pad. As with most things, though, prevention is the best cure, so drivers of older cars may want to read on to find out how to avoid cracks, to begin with.

Park in the Shade

The UV and infrared light produced by the sun are a dashboard's greatest enemies. In fact, they can crack all kinds of vinyl and plastic interior parts. Avoiding the sun by parking in the shade either in a garage or beneath a carport helps to reduce UV damage. In open parking lots, even finding a large shade tree to park beneath can help.

Use a Windshield Sunshade

Windshield sun shades aren't as effective as parking in the natural shade since they only block the UV light coming through the Replacement Dash Pads front of the vehicle, but even that minimal coverage can help to protect the car's dash. Sunshades are affordable, easy to use, and pack up tightly for easy transport when drivers are behind the wheel, so it's worth having one to minimize damage from parking in hot, shadeless parking lots.

Tint the Windows

Window tinting blocks some of the sun's UV and infrared light, reducing not just sun damage, but also the level of heat in the car. Since extreme heat can also damage dashboards, maintaining a cool, comfortable temperature inside the vehicle is very wise. Unfortunately, tinting windshields is illegal almost everywhere, which means this solution can only be applied to passenger and driver's side windows.

Install a Dash Cover

Dash covers are designed to both protect and conceal the cars' factory dashboards. They come with cutouts for air vents and controls and are available in many fabrics and colors. Some drivers dislike dash covers because they detract from the overall appearance of their vehicles' interiors, though, and high-quality or customized models can be quite expensive.

The Bottom Line

The key to keeping an older car's dashboard looking its best is to avoid things that could cause it damage. While there's no way to guarantee 100% avoidance of accidents on the road, or even in the driveway, it's relatively easy to reduce sun exposure. Of course, taking these steps won't guarantee that the dashboard will stay safely intact, but the good news is, replacing the dash pad is more expensive than most drivers think. Order a replacement for a cracked dash, then take care of the new one to make sure it lasts for decades to come.