I have a dealer that is giving me some bull. Long story short, they scratched up my dash board around the heater controls and radio. They want to have some guy do a repair on the plastic because they say that if they take the dash apart, it will never go back together right and will make a lot of noise.

Now here are my questions:

I know a few people will have already taken their dash apart, any problems with a lot of noises and rattles? Also, did you use a big flat head screw driver to pry things apart like it looks like the tech at my dealer did?

Would you feel comfortable taking your car to a dealer, or any shop for that matter, that says they can't put something back together without it being all messed up?? I don't, and they still have to replace my rear lower control arm. Which, I have already had looked at twice now.

Has anyone had their dash or anyother interior plastic pieces replaced and seen discoloration or noticable changes in the new/old pieces?

Am I just being a dick or should I just let them do their thing and forget about it?

Thanks for listening if you have nothing to say.

 

The only thing that I know of that takes prying is round where the head unit and the air controls are and you do that with your thumbs, not wit ha foot long flat head screw driver. I've taken apart my dash numerous times and never had any rattles or anything. If you're feeling brave, some of the how-tos i nthe this forum out line how to take certain parts of your dash off. You might want to try tigtening up and screws and check that they're all there. (My dad's 86 Cressida went into a shop and it came out hellza greasy and had half of it's dash screws missing.)

Discoloring? Wouldn't an older piece have more discoloring o.0 ?

 

i think the rattling your dealer dude is talking about is only on oldschool cars. these newer cars dont do that, i love the lancer cuz everything either pops off or screws off. real simple to dissasemble and reassemble. ive taken my dash apart at least a dozen times and ive never had any 'new' noises.

 

As a former professional car audio installer, using a flat head to pry off ANYTHING is a big NO NO! You're supposed to use pick tools to remove dash peices that just clip in, door panels same thing you use door panel poppers (actual tool just for that). There's a proper tool for every job, sounds like they're a bunch of half assers. And no there's no rattling after dissassembling, I've taken my whole dash apart about a dozen times and don't have a single rattle.

 

i had my whole dash taken apart by the dealership because i had a fuse problem, and ive never had any sort of problem whatsoever except for the fact they put a tiny little dent in it, but other then that, the guy is totally giving you the crappy end of the stick

 

Thats what I thought. I mean i have had the ENTIRE dash of my 78 camaro and my 76 firebired totally out of the car for heater cores and vaious other crap. I guewss it was my own fault for letting them touch my car, should have done it myself.
I'll let them "fix" it and if it looks like pooh, i'll make them replace it.
Thanks alot

 

I've also taken my dash apart on several occassions without any rattling. I used a flathead and was careful not to break or pop out any of the clips.

No. If you're paying someone to do something, they ought to do it without messing things up. That's kind of the point in paying someone to do it. Tell them that.

I swapped the old instrument panel with the one from an evo and there's no discoloration in either the new one or the old one.

 

don't just go taking a screwdriver and start trying to pry pieces out of your dash, each piece is also held in by screws in addition to clips. The first step to taking apart your dash is to remove your AC control knobs, you'll find two screws, take those out and the center big piece will come out, Also you'll need to remove the piece sitting on top of your guages, then finally you can take out the piece that has the clock + hazard lights on it. I've taken apart my dash like 3 times now and don't have ANY kind of rattling noise, how could there be? Everything gets secured down again with screws and strong clips.

 

imo, you should do some research and do it yourself. i know i wouldn't bring it to anyone. like the other guy said,its not their car so why they care if its missing some screws lol! i would trust noone when it comes to my car.

 

17 months later, I'm sure he really appreciates it...