Another Sticky Dash Issue

nis350 · 02-24-2020, 12:46 AM

I honestly think the dash issue is related to the material having some kind of chemical reaction/deterioration due to aging. My car was under a car cover in the garage in very mild temperature in SOCAL for 2 months. I cleaned it with the 303 aerospace protectant before covering the car. It was nice, but it turned grayish now. The car cover didn't come off during this time period.

The sun/heat obviously would cause the dash to become sticky, but the root cause is likely the material used for the dash is deteriorating due to aging.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I don't think UV is the cause. Probably doesn't help matters but I don't believe it is the root problem. It happens to too many garaged cars to be a UV problem, unless the Alcantera is terribly sensitive (since other Nissan models don't seem to suffer as bad, I don't think that's the case).

I didn't use any chemicals when cleaning the dash, so I think I can rule that out. Used mild window cleaners and sprayed on cloth, not directly on window.

My guess is that heat is the culprit - I usually drive with A/C off and windows down so my dash can get pretty hot on sunny days.

viragoboy · 04-05-2020, 12:00 PM

I finally found time to complete this project, I had originally applied the cleaner product about 3 weeks ago and the gray dust started coming back so I had to do that again.

Some observations:
- my dash was not super sticky but some places closer to the glass were definitely worse
- as you can see from the pics it was turning gray everywhere, even places that were covered by plastic and never got sunlight
- the cleaning product alone cleared out the dust almost completely
- it is really difficult to not get splotchy results. In very visible areas (passenger side dash) I applied multiple coats. Use long back/forth strokes front->back. Don't skimp, you're unlikely to run out of product.
- disassemble everything you can. The triple gauge cluster was the most difficult since I cannot see in the back and cannot be removed easily. Still splotchy there, but can't really see so much.

My verdict: It's worth the effort and money, I look back at the pictures I took before I started and it's obvious I had to do something. It will take 4+ hours to complete, but I did it over a week since it's not my daily driver.

JARblue · 04-05-2020, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viragoboy

I finally found time to complete this project, I had originally applied the cleaner product about 3 weeks ago and the gray dust started coming back so I had to do that again.

Some observations:
- the cleaning product alone cleared out the dust almost completely
- it is really difficult to not get splotchy results. In very visible areas (passenger side dash) I applied multiple coats. Use long back/forth strokes front->back. Don't skimp, you're unlikely to run out of product.

So you applied the cleaning product the second time and then finally applied the coating? And you're saying the coating application was difficult to apply without splotches?

I am very interested to know if the splotchiness goes away or remains there more than a few days. And of course, in for the longer term results as well

viragoboy · 04-06-2020, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

So you applied the cleaning product the second time and then finally applied the coating? And you're saying the coating application was difficult to apply without splotches?

I am very interested to know if the splotchiness goes away or remains there more than a few days. And of course, in for the longer term results as well

Yes, applied cleaner twice. The instructions are pretty clear and point out that the coating should be applied shortly after the cleaner or have to start over. Thinking about it now it probably would have turned out better (less splotchy) if I hadn't applied it sparingly. I was afraid if I ran out then I'd be SOL.

Anyways, definitely not a UV issue in my case since the car has been garaged for 10 years with only 50k miles. I bought a few of these to soak up the humidity in the car, unfortunately too late:

https://www.amazon.com/Eva-dry-333-R.../dp/B00LVN7BM0

Spartan 1771 · 02-18-2020, 06:43 AM

My car has spent the majority of its life in the garage under a cover and I just noticed that my dash is starting to look a little funky. I'm going to venture to say this is an age issue.

nis350 · 02-19-2020, 01:11 AM

same here... car is always in the garage under a cover in SOCAL weather.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartan 1771

My car has spent the majority of its life in the garage under a cover and I just noticed that my dash is starting to look a little funky. I'm going to venture to say this is an age issue.

JARblue · 02-18-2020, 06:56 AM

There's no way it's a UV issue.

old guy · 02-18-2020, 08:03 AM

Thanks Guys,
Something to look forward to...... NOT

Indiana102 · 02-22-2020, 02:29 PM

Thankful I ran across this thread - I thought I was the only one with this issue! My ‘10 Z has always been garage kept and I started noticing this issue about 6 months ago. It looks slightly better after I clean it, but you can tell something is still wrong as it’s still tacky and doesn’t clean as easy as it used to. I ordered some of the stickydashfix myself too. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out!

nis350 · 02-23-2020, 10:35 AM

i think mine became sticky after about 5 years. it gets kinda grayish during the cool/dry in the garage during the socal Winter. I used the 303 Areospace protectant and it would look nice again. my guess is that it would get shiny under the sun/heat, but I am hoping at least it would avoid cracks down the road.

our g37s has a similar dash materials and has zero sticky issues.

I am curious if the stickydashfix would keep the dash dry and in matte color under the hot sun.

please keep us posted. thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indiana102

Thankful I ran across this thread - I thought I was the only one with this issue! My ‘10 Z has always been garage kept and I started noticing this issue about 6 months ago. It looks slightly better after I clean it, but you can tell something is still wrong as it’s still tacky and doesn’t clean as easy as it used to. I ordered some of the stickydashfix myself too. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out!

cv129 · 02-23-2020, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

i think mine became sticky after about 5 years. it gets kinda grayish during the cool/dry in the garage during the socal Winter. I used the 303 Areospace protectant and it would look nice again. my guess is that it would get shiny under the sun/heat, but I am hoping at least it would avoid cracks down the road.

.

Yes it’ll get shiny, or “melts” under the sun, worse if clear sky and without AC. Be careful when it gets so shiny that the the reflection (the image of the dash start to show on the windshield) starts to distort you driving vision a bit.

old guy · 02-23-2020, 06:03 PM

Yeah, sorta have come to that conclusion. I’ve never used anything on my dash but a damp cloth so we’ll see. I don’t have any problems now but, if it starts to deteriorate that will really bum me out

cv129 · 02-24-2020, 02:37 AM

I have a decent sample size. 4 Nissan/Infiniti dash around the same model year (all 09-11). 1 dash I purchased from a member that had the car stripped, and dash had been in his attic. The other 2 were garage kept and low miles. 4th one gets parked outside, Texas car all it’s life (heat and sun!!!!), has most miles, got the most abuse.

Guess which one was fine, and which 3 got sticky?

It’s as if the dash likes the sun and the heat, and will have temper tantrum if it doesn’t get abuse from sun and heat. I just shake my head sometimes...

nis350 · 02-24-2020, 05:32 PM

Perhaps the dash issues are limited to certain batch of the dashes.... something was different in the process or materials?

Again, our g37s that was driven more and exposed to the sun/heat many times more than the Z. It's dash is in great condition, not even a hint of stickiness or discolor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cv129

I have a decent sample size. 4 Nissan/Infiniti dash around the same model year (all 09-11). 1 dash I purchased from a member that had the car stripped, and dash had been in his attic. The other 2 were garage kept and low miles. 4th one gets parked outside, Texas car all it’s life (heat and sun!!!!), has most miles, got the most abuse.

Guess which one was fine, and which 3 got sticky?

It’s as if the dash likes the sun and the heat, and will have temper tantrum if it doesn’t get abuse from sun and heat. I just shake my head sometimes...

cv129 · 02-24-2020, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nis350

Perhaps the dash issues are limited to certain batch of the dashes.... something was different in the process or materials?

Again, our g37s that was driven more and exposed to the sun/heat many times more than the Z. It's dash is in great condition, not even a hint of stickiness or discolor.

Not for my G lol. It’s one of the 3 melting dash I have, it wasn’t driven too frequently after my first born came and I started working from home 4 days a week. Parked in garage, next to the Z. Same condition, same fate, happened at the same time frame. For context, as of this moment, the G has 60k and my Z has 37k miles.

The FX50 (no longer own) was our work horse, and dash was perfect.

02-18-2020, 06:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Spartan 1771 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,280 Drives: Wife crazy & 09 370Z Rep Power: 105454	My car has spent the majority of its life in the garage under a cover and I just noticed that my dash is starting to look a little funky. I'm going to venture to say this is an age issue. old guy likes this. __________________ ~Rob -DD Air Guide, Stillen G3 CAIs, 63mm Throttle Bodies, Motordyne M370, Berk HFCs, FI TDX CBE (non-res, CF), Sprint booster v3, Ecutek Dyno Tuned, and the list goes on...

02-18-2020, 06:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 44 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684441	There's no way it's a UV issue. KaienZ34, Spartan 1771, madwi and 1 others like this. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

02-18-2020, 08:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
old guy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: S.E. Michigan Age: 68 Posts: 2,711 Drives: 13 magma touring Rep Power: 2684370	Thanks Guys, Something to look forward to...... NOT Spartan 1771 and sx moneypit like this. __________________ I better walk before they make me run....

02-22-2020, 02:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Indiana102 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Knoxville Posts: 30 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 18	Thankful I ran across this thread - I thought I was the only one with this issue! My ‘10 Z has always been garage kept and I started noticing this issue about 6 months ago. It looks slightly better after I clean it, but you can tell something is still wrong as it’s still tacky and doesn’t clean as easy as it used to. I ordered some of the stickydashfix myself too. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out! old guy likes this. __________________

02-23-2020, 06:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
old guy A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: S.E. Michigan Age: 68 Posts: 2,711 Drives: 13 magma touring Rep Power: 2684370	Yeah, sorta have come to that conclusion. I’ve never used anything on my dash but a damp cloth so we’ll see. I don’t have any problems now but, if it starts to deteriorate that will really bum me out __________________ I better walk before they make me run....

02-24-2020, 02:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,263 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	I have a decent sample size. 4 Nissan/Infiniti dash around the same model year (all 09-11). 1 dash I purchased from a member that had the car stripped, and dash had been in his attic. The other 2 were garage kept and low miles. 4th one gets parked outside, Texas car all it’s life (heat and sun!!!!), has most miles, got the most abuse. Guess which one was fine, and which 3 got sticky? It’s as if the dash likes the sun and the heat, and will have temper tantrum if it doesn’t get abuse from sun and heat. I just shake my head sometimes... JARblue, sx moneypit, old guy and 1 others like this. __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield

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