How to fix scratches on dashboard?

snowcherry · **October 31, 2010, 00:48:16**

at some point between hyundai and bob jane tmart (neither who will take responsibility) the dashboard on the passenger side of my car has been badly scratched. not just lightly scuffed, but sorta etched in.

i know i didn't do it and from the drivers side its quite hard to see so i didn't see it 'at the time' of damage so was never able to 'prove' who was to blame. anyway i'm wondering if anyone has a known place or way of fixing it. i asked at hyundai themselves but they had no ideas.

hope the photos are good enough.

in case too big and change to thumbnail http://img222.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=car2edit.jpg

Dazzler · **Reply #1: October 31, 2010, 00:51:36**

I am not an amourall fan SC but Something like that or even a bit of baby oil maybe neatly wiped over that section will help a lot .. Something that keeps moist will pretty much hide it..

You could go to Autobarn or Supercheap and get one of the more knowledgeable guys to take a look and see what they recommend.. Give them a challenge..

snowcherry · **Reply #2: October 31, 2010, 00:58:07**

bleh amorall

...the few people who have seen it though seem to agree a normal cleaner is not going to help it, the etching is too bad
i haven't tried any yet though - well no i have had your normal car cleaner on it, but no heavy cleaners

Dazzler · **Reply #3: October 31, 2010, 01:01:57**

They are right.. it won't clean off but you can pretty much hide it with some sort of vinyl conditioner..

agentr31 · **Reply #4: October 31, 2010, 01:03:09**

you need to ask a plastic fix expert.... they have all sorts of tips and tricks

look up plastic dash fixing in your local area might be well worth the shot

failing that, a new trim...

you can try what i do when i damage trims, scratch off the little bits with your nail/finger and rub it lots with a rag and amour all... sort of like polishing it, but not...

snowcherry · **Reply #5: October 31, 2010, 01:42:41**

oh i meant to add - anyone know any good people in Brisbane area? any recommendations that they may have used before?
i have asked around a little up here and have one to check out but would like some others in case they don't pan out.

^i'm a little wary of pulling bits off myself at this stage, at least til i have a couple 'pro's' look at it and give some advice. not sure if i'd make it look worse? but i understand what you mean though in technique etc.

Myowni30 · **Reply #6: October 31, 2010, 02:14:44**

I had an official Toyota bluetooth handsfree kit fitted to my new Corrola before I took delivery of it a few years back and they marked the dash in several places. The palstic in that was quite hard like the Hyundai and they did repair it. I don't know how, but it can be done. I would try some good body shops (UK car speak for damage repair - not sure what you call them down under).

Dazzler · **Reply #7: October 31, 2010, 02:29:31**

Quote from: Myowni30 on October 31, 2010, 02:14:44

I would try some good body shops (UK car speak for damage repair - not sure what you call them down under).

In Tassie they are mostly called Panel Beaters.. but probably different in each Oz state...

agentr31 · **Reply #8: October 31, 2010, 06:53:48**

yer body shop, panel beater, rip off merchant, ect ect

my dad knows a bloke who does plastic repairs... ill ask him tonight (if i can remember) he is in brisbane... i think he has fixed cars my dad has owned and worked on cars at the dealer dad used to work at...

agentr31 · **Reply #9: October 31, 2010, 11:45:50**

i got a lead for you snowcherry... the guys name is 'steve' dad doesnt have a number or a card...

BUT he always sees him at "brad kimberley cars" http://www.bradkimberleycars.com.au/

so ive asked him to get a card for you, or you could phone brad kimberley cars and ask for "steve the plastic guys number"

snowcherry · **Reply #10: November 01, 2010, 00:17:28**

^oooh thanks!

hey did my photos die?

Dazzler · **Reply #11: November 01, 2010, 01:13:19**

Quote from: snowcherry on November 01, 2010, 00:17:28

^oooh thanks!

hey did my photos die?

Yeah looks like it SC??

Could you re-post them through Photobucket or some such host when you get a chance please (Bumpkin has posted a "how to" in the welcome section..)

agentr31 · **Reply #12: November 01, 2010, 07:51:37**

Quote from: snowcherry on November 01, 2010, 00:17:28

^oooh thanks!

hahaha no problems, just hope you get some success tho!

Shambles · **Reply #13: November 01, 2010, 08:35:04**

Quote from: snowcherry on November 01, 2010, 00:17:28

^oooh thanks!

hey did my photos die?

Sorry, they were tied to your account "in limbo", so when the others [from your failed upload] were decoupled, the ones at the top of this thread went with them. Oops, sorry

snowcherry · **Reply #14: November 01, 2010, 10:16:30**

^i figured thats what happened, no worries

Dazzler · **Reply #15: November 01, 2010, 10:41:00**

Quote from: snowcherry on November 01, 2010, 10:16:30

^i figured thats what happened, no worries

You did a good job with the photos SC (Perfect!)

agentr31 · **Reply #16: November 01, 2010, 11:28:15**

if you chase that guy up before my old man does let us know what he says!!!

Dazzler · **Reply #17: November 01, 2010, 21:24:19**

Looking at those photos I really do think some vinyl cleaner + Vinyl conditioner and a good rub with something like a tea towel would be enough to hide them...Obviously give the whole dash a once over at the same time..

duke · **Reply #18: November 02, 2010, 01:01:32**

HEAT-GUN , COLOR PASTE, TEXTURE FIXED !!

Ugly Mongrel · **Reply #19: November 02, 2010, 02:41:53**

Poor Snowcherry

How bloody unprofessional of both Bob Jane and Hyundai to deny the damage one of them obviously did to your little baby.

Please let me know which BJTM and Hyundai dealership you suspect as I'm up for a 15k service soon (not me...my car!!

) and I will steer clear of them.

If you don't want to post it them on the forum, just PM me.

Hope you manage to get it fixed. Let us all know how you go..

snowcherry · **Reply #20: November 02, 2010, 06:57:55**

Quote from: Dazzler on November 01, 2010, 21:24:19

Looking at those photos I really do think some vinyl cleaner + Vinyl conditioner and a good rub with something like a tea towel would be enough to hide them...Obviously give the whole dash a once over at the same time..

hmmm. well i guess vinyl cleaner isn't going to hurt. i got some interior cleaner the other day (griots garage care? or something like that) for vinyls etc, might give that a go first. cheers

Quote from: agentr31 on November 01, 2010, 11:28:15

if you chase that guy up before my old man does let us know what he says!!!

i'm not sure when i'm back down in brissy, its a fallback measure if i haven't sorted it out prior

Quote from: Ugly Mongrel on November 02, 2010, 02:41:53

Poor Snowcherry

How bloody unprofessional of both Bob Jane and Hyundai to deny the damage one of them obviously did to your little baby.

Please let me know which BJTM and Hyundai dealership you suspect as I'm up for a 15k service soon (not me...my car!! ) and I will steer clear of them.

If you don't want to post it them on the forum, just PM me.

Hope you manage to get it fixed. Let us all know how you go..

thanks for the thoughts! i'm up in central qld, i don't think you're in any danger lol

or do you live in CQ?

stupid me for not noticing it for sure when it was actually done i guess. i thought it might have been BJ as i had seen the guy scrambling around in my car looking for the lock nuts (including checking where the glasses go wtf?) and looking like to me he was putting his dirty shoes on the front seat. there was dirt on the seat afterwards but they said it was just his knees. so i said perhaps his boot had scraped it. my other thought was that hyundai damaged it when the stereo was replaced as there is a scuff mark under the stereo itself along the seam line. my hunch was more with BJ and that was the one i chased more firmly and even had talked to the manager but he flatly denied his guy could have done it.
with hyundai the extra nice service guy who fixed my rattles asked on my behalf if they recalled damaging the dash when replacing the stereo, but of course they denied as i expected them to whether they had or not as it had been too long.

Lorian · **Reply #21: November 02, 2010, 08:09:14**

To me the scratches look like they were caused by something long being carried in the car, lying lengthwise from the scratched area towards the back seats/back window.

I think a rub with a hot damp microfibre cloth might help a bit. As with anything you try, always try on a bit that doesn't notice first to make sure you don't make it worse.

2i30s · **Reply #22: November 02, 2010, 08:11:53**

Quote from: Lorian on November 02, 2010, 08:09:14

To me the scratches look like they were caused by something long being carried in the car, lying lengthwise from the scratched area towards the back seats/back window.

I think a rub with a hot damp microfibre cloth might help a bit. As with anything you try, always try on a bit that doesn't notice first to make sure you don't make it worse.

like lengths of wood!

Lorian · **Reply #23: November 02, 2010, 08:13:29**

Quote from: 2i30s on November 02, 2010, 08:11:53

Quote from: Lorian on November 02, 2010, 08:09:14
To me the scratches look like they were caused by something long being carried in the car, lying lengthwise from the scratched area towards the back seats/back window.

I think a rub with a hot damp microfibre cloth might help a bit. As with anything you try, always try on a bit that doesn't notice first to make sure you don't make it worse.
like lengths of wood!

Indeed. That's how I have done similar damage to cars in the past (more than one!)

2i30s · **Reply #24: November 02, 2010, 08:15:52**

i have scratches in my boot area on the plastic from bits of wood.

agentr31 · **Reply #25: November 02, 2010, 10:23:25**

LOL heat gun...

that and some auto oil bring faded bumpers back to looking new again!!

snowcherry · **Reply #26: November 02, 2010, 15:01:43**

hmmm i don't believe i become a lumbar jack in my secret life

eye30 · **Reply #27: November 02, 2010, 16:11:36**

Quote from: snowcherry on November 02, 2010, 15:01:43

hmmm i don't believe i become a lumbar jack in my secret life

duke · **Reply #28: November 02, 2010, 22:07:20**

Agent 31 lol heat gun works ! did you ever repair porcelian sink or tub ?

anyway heat,paste,texture is the way its made and repaired. its a secret process .

agentr31 · **Reply #29: November 03, 2010, 06:55:09**

yer i know how its done!!! its not that secret *shiftey eyes* they were doing it at tafe, and we got a go... mine looked horrid HAHAHAH