Discolored dashboard from sun or ??? any way to bring it back?

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gbrittenum

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I have a 1986 Mustang SVO that sat out in the sun for a year, and now I am trying to get things looking back right on it. The dashboard is very discolored either from the year in the sun or Armor All which was very popular when the car was new. Is there anything anyone would recommend to try to clean it? Or if that doesn't work what would be my next step (short of trying to locate a new dash)?
 
I think the dash is probably discolored not from ArmorAll or sitting in the sun for a year....but from sitting in the sun for 28 years. Doubtful you are going to bring it back to looking new.

You are going to want to gently clean it and then "moisturize" it with some dressing.

I'd probably use these:

DP Total Interior Cleaner cleans plastic, vinyl, leather, carpet, and upholstery without harsh solvents or caustic chemicals.
303 Aerospace Protectant, 303 aerospace, 303 protectant, aerospace protectant, 303 products, 303
 
Well it could be discolored from the sun, armor all or moisture therefore I would clean that dashboard with apc(all purpose cleaner) to break though all the layers of dressing etc then I would take a water based dressing of choice and apply three coats of dressing with 15 minute dry time in between each coat now hopefully the dash is looking even again now you can apply one more coat and knock the shine down with a semi damp towel if you don't like a shiny dash. good luck my friend
 
On a car that age you can try what's been advised but really it's probably just faded from age. If the suggestions don't work you can always try a vinyl and plastic dyeing paint.
 
If none of the suggested fixes work: and it is really bothering you:

I think you should be able to find a replacement online for around $200
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I will have to order the DP interior cleaner, since I doubt it is available locally.

No, it has sat in a garage for most of its life. Only driven for fun or raced now and then. It only has 32,000 miles on it and I am the original owner.

Is it difficult to paint/dye vinyl? That may be my only option if cleaning it doesn't work out.

Sadly there were less than 10,000 SVOs made, so parts are hard to source. So I am hoping I can get the dash looking good again with the great suggestions I have gotten.
 
Being that the dash has only incurred discoloration:
ArmorAll can't be the culprit. Instead...
Isn't:
"Dash cracking" the often reported phenomenon that allegedly happens from its use? :D

Anyway...As suggested:
A good, yet gentle, cleaning; followed by an application of 303AP: should bring new life to the dash.

Note:
Don't be surprised/worried if more than one 303AP
application is needed for this rejuvenation to occur.

Bob
 
gbrittenum said:
Thanks for the suggestions. I will have to order the DP interior cleaner, since I doubt it is available locally.

No, it has sat in a garage for most of its life. Only driven for fun or raced now and then. It only has 32,000 miles on it and I am the original owner.

Is it difficult to paint/dye vinyl? That may be my only option if cleaning it doesn't work out.

Sadly there were less than 10,000 SVOs made, so parts are hard to source. So I am hoping I can get the dash looking good again with the great suggestions I have gotten.
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I have painted a few leather and vinyls parts so far and did not find it more difficult than painting anything else. The tricks is to apply many very light coats instead of 1 or 2 heavy ones. Depending on the brand of dye paint you purchase, it's usually 10 minutes in between coats. So you are talking about a 2 hour job if you go for 5 or 6 coats.

Once the paint has been applied, I would wait a few weeks and apply a leather conditionner on it. Then make sure to apply protective products to make sure it does't fade again.
 
Also if painting or dyeing make sure its super super clean. You have to remove all protective products in all the cracks and crevices. Scuff it with a light sand paper and do a good scrub with a mineral spirit or a paint prep surface cleaner. You may want to even scrub it in with a brush. If you don't it will bubble up and never stick.
 
gbrittenum said:
No, it has sat in a garage for most of its life. It only has 32,000 miles on it and I am the original owner.
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Good for you. Some plastics and rubbers seem to deteriorate simply from age, even if they have been "stored" in benign conditions. Hope this works out for you.

BTW there are many cleaners you could use, you just want to make sure it's something mild.
 
Reproduction parts, including dashboards are readily available.

Why spend $50 on a dye kit and pray for acceptable results.
 
Some people like to try the diy aspect? Idk. If a replacement is fairly cheap I'd swap for that. Depends on the price difference I guess.
 
allenk4 said:
The OP didn't indicate that he was having trouble cleaning the dashboard.

He indicated that it was discolored.
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Yeah, and several of us suggested that he clean it first before tackling the discoloration. I'm just not sure who would just pull the dashboard out of their car as a first step rather than clean it and try some dressing. If there's anything else you'd like to argue about I'll be here all evening, don't forget to tip your waitress.
 
OP

Please post some pictures of the dashboard discoloration
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yeah, and several of us suggested that he clean it first before tackling the discoloration. I'm just not sure who would just pull the dashboard out of their car as a first step rather than clean it and try some dressing. If there's anything else you'd like to argue about I'll be here all evening, don't forget to tip your waitress.
Click to expand...

Nobody said to pull it out first. I said if the suggestions on cleaners and dressings don't work he could dye or paint it. And then it was suggested by another that if it does not clean with what had been suggested that replacements are cheap.
 
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