blueracer17

As most of you here have experienced, my dash has the faded ashy look, with the airbag outline going on. Since the dealer was of no help I went to Acura Client services who turned my case over to a case manager. Acura "as a one time good will gesture" wants to "re dye" my dash to bring it back to factory new appearance. They farm out this procedure to an outside company. He claims they have had good results. The dash doesn't have to come out for this procedure. I am very skeptical, anybody else hear of this or have it done? I ordered the 303 cleaner and the protectant, I may just go that route instead of risking my dash looking even worse after there "re dye" job. Please help/advise, I have 3 days to get back to my case manager. BTW, they denied my rear BC paint peeling, claiming it was in an impact and the BC rubbed on the tailight (whatever) .
Thanks,
Eric

darksom1

I definitely would let them do that! Not only can it wind up looking nicer, but if it doesn't, that's even better - then they will replace it for free and you'll have a brand new dash cuz they screwed it up! Go for it dude! Hellz yeah!

ballinfizzle89

iTrader: (6)

I agree with dark, better than just living with it

Evader

I might have to look into this too. I can't stand the outline of the airbag on the dash.. For a car that I bought in march there is no excuse for this.

ballinfizzle89

iTrader: (6)

I'm kinda confused by what you guys mean, I think I have a similar problem, but not enough to annoy me, which is pretty easy to do. I guess I'll post pics later.

Tripnbeats

we dye dashes all the time at my shop all they will do is send it to an upholstery shop that does interiors and they color it. if ur so anal about it, id go with a product called perfect 10 i believe wurth makes it. spray it on wipe into plastic and it has a neutral finish not toooo shiny but not dry. i use it on mine every few months. o0r when it dries up. the paint process needs to be done with a heat gun...somew people/shops dont use the gun they just spray and let it dry. the reason i dont like the paint is because it comes off after some time. run your hands on it all the time and you clean it all the time its bound to rub off.

aSPECtL06

I have the same problem...I haven't spoke to Acura about it but maybe I should look into it or check out this "Perfect 10" that Tripnbeats is talking about.

Manach

I would agree with this but I suggest you ask if you are unsatisfied with the results will they replace/redo the dash. Getting an agreement in writing would be best, have them guarantee their work! The last thing you want is another headache because they said it was a one-time thing. Also see if it will have a waranty on it, so if it starts to peel or discolor down the line youll still be covered. Good luck with it and be sure to take before and after pics for us if you get it done!

u1arunit

iTrader: (1)

I agree with Dark. Let em do it and if it's not right you will 'need' a new dash.

revitupwriteitoff

I spoke to all 4 acura dealerships in my area multiple times, including the one I bought my car from & was basically given the 'long walk, short pier' speech every single time. The fading started after 3.5 months...

That's why (one reason) I have a Lexus now.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

Do the 303 treatment imho:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ght=faded+dash

chill_dog

The Lexol they sell at the dealership works great, too.

KJSmitty

I would avoid having them dye or paint (whatever the process) the dash. UNLESS, like others have mentioned that if it turns out bad, you have definitive recourse with either the dealership or the shop performing the process. Besides, I also seriously doubt you will like the finish when done. Definitely ask the shop to show you a recently applied surface/car dash etc..

I can not stress enough that I had the exact same problem with my 04TL's dash. Started about 6 months after bringing it home. I literally used every product that I trusted/used in the past - even straight silicone spray and nothing looked right or lasted. The white, hazy, chalking just kept returning with a vengeance. FINALLY, after reading about the 303 product on AZ,, I scrubbed the dash good with soap and water and applied. I only reapply about every 6 months and the dash has literally looked like new for the past 3+ yrs. I also use the stuff on my boat religiously now.
303 may not get rid of your airbag markings (my dash never had this and still doesn't) but it definitely keeps the dash looking pretty darn good in my book. And i'm a picky SOB like most of us here on AZ.

- Try the 303 first. Hopefully you will be as pleased as the majority here on AZ.

Best of luck BR17

juruki

iTrader: (2)

So wait, the outline of the airbag isnt supposed to be showing?

ezland00

can you guys take the pictures of the faded dash. my dash looks like a layer of white dust over it.

leedogg

From what i understand, it isnt the dash thats fading, but there is insulation material that seeps to the surface? in which case a simple dash cleaning should suffice. I would not let them touch your car until you've tried fixing this yourself. If you get the car back with a new scratch, or scuffed up seats, or whatever, dont say I didnt warn you.

blueracer17

if it looks ashy/dusty/blotchy/faded/ect., then you have what we are describing and don't need pictures, just look at your car. If you can see an ouline of where the airbag is (shouldn't be able to see this), then you have what we are describing here. My Audi A4, though it had issues, never showed the airbag lines like the TL. I will admit, the TL is a better car overall than the A4. Wish we had AWD though, that I do miss.

Acuraboy7

Tell them to redye themselves

ncinirator

hmm, wonder if I should tint my front windshield to avoid this problem.

Johndoyle

Probably there are lots of good reasons to let them do it, but I just hate to let them do anything to the car for fear they'll screw something else up. Whenever I trust them, I wind up disappointed and feeling like it's too petty to complain -- they tried, after all. If you can hide it with 303 or Lexol or whatever, just do it every three months. I'd be afraid they'd dye it, it would look good for a while, and then later it would fail in some horrible way you couldn't live with. But by then your warranty would be over, you'd be up in miles, and told to get lost. I live with mine. I don't like it, but I'm afraid of making it worse.

leedogg

no. as I said earlier...

kappa821

shit i have this same problem, i just thought i was on my car, so what is the best solution here? has anyone else complained to the dealer about and what have they said?

02acuratl

My 05 had thwe same problem at 6 months.

The dealer gave a bottle of 'Pro Honda' VinyV/Leather Protectant.

That restored the dash to the original look. I use it about once a year, and the dash looks great.

HQTL6SPD

I finally went out and bought some 303 after seeing the pics in this thread. Thanks for link ggesq.

kappa821

where do u buy this magical 303 stuff? is the internet the only place

elkayem

Talk them into replacing an 07 dash for you!

leedogg

People seem to be confusing the dash discoloration issue due to the liner material seeping out with traditional dash fading due to sunlight. Acura's cleaner/polish is for cleaning this seepage, the protectant goes on afterwards, but I question its ability to prevent further seepage.

SatoRules

Was just at the dealer yesterday and asked the same question. They advised that it's not a fading problem but a chemical which off-gasses from whatever it is that the dash is made out of. They said though that the process is finite and after one or two treatments as prescribed by corporate, the problem should end. The treatment is as noted elswhere on this thread, Lexol, etc. They comped me the first treatment and my dash looks much better again. Much.

2005 MT, 34000 miles, CT, USA All season car.

borgit

Hey guys,

I have a different problem with my dash. It's wavy. There is like small depressions around the air bag area and the surface is just not even. I have tried McGuire's Protectant and 303. 303 is a bit better, and got rid of most of the airbag outline, but still this wavyness persists. Anyone experience or had this on their TL? Mine is an 06.

Thanks.

csmeance

take a picture of it. Have you cleaned the area properly before putting on the 303 or Meg's protectant? If not, it really does not have an effect, its kinda like painting on a dirty wall.

cM3go

few coats of lexol did the trick for me to maintain the niceness of the dash

borgit

I cleaned it using McGuire's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner. I read in one of the acura bulletins that Acura recommends either their product of McGuire's Leather Cleaner and Conditioner for the cleaning phase.

steve9207

I picked up a smaller bottle (8 oz I believe for between $6 - 8) at my local Murray's Auto Store (similar to Auto Zone, Advanced Auto Parts, etc). I bought it a while ago, so I could be off on the price slightly, but it's in that general range. I love the product, looks great, without that "Armor-all" glossy look. Here's a link to Parts America (which is the site that Murray's & Adv Auto Parts uses as their online vendor.

You can also get a big bottle online from Pat (exceldetail.com). Here's a link to the product. He sells the small one too, but IMO, if you're gonna pay for shipping on anything online, might as well get the bigger one, especially on a great product.

Oh, and btw, I too have had the "airbag outline" from day one on my '07 TL. Never thought anything of it, I just assumed all were this way

kenny5

I have an 06 and also have the "airbag outline." I kept telling myself that Acura is trying to show and convince me that it did put the airbag in the dash, and thus the distinct outline.

camporealer

I to have the same air bag outline in my car and it is only 7 months old. I didn't realize it was such a widespread problem.

I plan to try a good cleaner and them protectant before I complain to Acura.

I don't like a shiny dash, so I will try some of the "satin" armorall.

I'll keep you posted.

HQTL6SPD

Armorall is garbage, it's actually bad for your interior in the long run.

Plus it smells funny...

kappa821

i think its so funny that we all thought it was "supposed to be there" or that something happened because we caused it, i am going to try to bring it to my dealer on saturday,

although my friend has an 06, he bought it a year after mine, he doesnt have this problem yet, i guess yet is the key word

KJSmitty

Kappa,
I know someone gave a few purchase locations for 303 above but you can also check your local boat/accessory shops. 303 is used near exclusively in the marine environment. That's where I buy it locally.

kappa821

thank you, i am going to swing by the dealership hopefully sometime this weekend and order up some of that stuff

Tripnbeats

I have an upholstery shop.... i see it all the time if u want it perfect buy a new one thats the only solution....if u dye it u will be totally dissatisfied. its paint its not permanent. body shops send us shit all the time and the customer bitches that its not new or doesnt look new "BECAUSE YOU CANT MAKE IT LOOK NEW... ITS USED!" your best bet is using the conditioners. acura doesnt do the dye they send it to an upholstery shop that does it or a shop that says they do it.