The leather has come loose in a couple of areas. Looks OK, but in some light it looks shocking. Short of pulling the dash has anyone found a way to repair this? I was thinking (bad, I know) that I could maybe get a needle/syringe, fill it up with glue and poke a few little holes and see what happens. It sounds rough, but it could work!................in theory. The holes would be really small. I did search and found some threads on taking the dash top off, but would rather not. In fact, I would rather have a root canal with no anesthetic than pull the dash top! If it's the only way then I guess I have no choice. Cheers
I had that happen on one of my Porsches. Took it to an car interior shop and they repaired it. Looked good, but they did have to remove the dash. Also happened on my Aston under warranty, but they just re-glued and pulled it tight (not sure how). Before you start injecting, take it to a professional and see what they say
In my 99, the dash has shrunk pulling it out of the front depression and making it tight and smooth on the top. In other words, there should be a depression at the front of the dash below the window. On mine the leather is so shrunken, no amount of glue can stretch it back and stick it into place.. the dash needs to come out to get new leather fit to the dash. If you just have loose leather (bubbles, lifting areas, etc.) I might use the syringe trick.. but if it's shrunken in size so the leather can be made to fit, then you just have to bite the bullet. If they remove my dash.. the time and effort involved means that if this is done I'm just going to get it recovered in leather or buy a replacement refurb.
Surgeon and 993: I am real concerne about my dash eventually shrinking as I live in Phoenix. My front windshield is clear tinted so this should keep some of the UV rays off. Can you please share with me how you cared for your dash? Did you apply leather conditioner and if so, how often? Did your car sit in the sun much? Any other info you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
I just gave mine a treatment of Leatherique to keep it soft. However, from what I've read here that's not the issue. I think the glue they used at the factory was rubbish and just doesn't hold up well. Much like the sticky buttons. I think I will take off the dash, but only when it looks really bad.
I do just have bubbles actually. Give it time and no doubt it will shrink. In the post I read the dash comes out quite easily. One day I will find out!
993: How often did you apply Leatherique? Did you notice if the stretching got worse after applying the Leatherique? I ask since I wonder if the Leatherique breaks down or affects the glue.
mine has come loose at the front vents. The dash hasnt shrunk at all, but of course this is causing some lift. Are these vents simply glued down too, or are the clipped in?
Theres a full write up somewhere that explains all this. I read it before. Search it. By the sounds of things it's not as bad as what we think it might be to pull the top off. I'm still kind of liking the idea of a syringe filled with glue personally. Rob Leatherique can only be a good thing. It softens the leather and from all the reading it wont harm anything. It takes a long time to soak in though.
perhaps.... lightly soaked sponge (leatherique) placed on the leather with a plastic wrap on the top to prevent evaporation.... then place a sandbag on the sponge/ plastic wrap..... then put it out in the sun to bake for a few hrs... leave the weight over an extended time period to slowly stretch the leather back down. might be worth a try. Rgds, Vincenzo
I have a small bubble on my air bag plate/front cover. Would the needle and glue work there or can I remove the cover and have it redone ?? Any ideas ? Thanks
Hahaha, my needle and glue idea might be a disaster, so let me be the first to try. Last night I had a good look and I do think it can work. As long as enough glue gets under the leather. I will try and buy a needle today but that's not as easy as you think it might be. Might have to ask my friendly vet. I'm thinking a needle they might use on a horse.
Some tidbits from my experience... - Try to put the needle through a stitching area to hide the hole. - the smaller/finer the needle the harder it is to push the glue through it - draw it up without the needle on it then put it on once drawn. - alternatively, remove the plunger, pour it in the top, put the plunger in the top then flip it 180 degrees to get the remaining air out.
How did the needle glue injection work out? Any issues? My 993 with a custom leather cover has detached it's self in the depressed area. The glue injection was my thought too. The seam stitching is far from the bad area. I will search rennlist site on dash removal next.
I like the idea about trying to stick the needle through the stitching holes, that should be completely invisible. If you have to shoot it through the flat part of the leather, maybe a needle that the dentist uses for novacaine would be the thinnest available?
Ijust had my bubble fixed by professional interior restoration man. It took about an hour to do. He took a leather hot iron, heated the area, shrunk the bubble, and it reheated the old glue Behind the leather, and it is back in place like new and perfect. His name is Jerry Noone, Noone Fine auto Restorations, Piedmont, S.C. 864-991-8168. In his shop he was doing restorations on a Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Austin Healy, and a couple of Mustangs.
Now there's a thought. I just managed to get a nice long needle from our vet to try the prick it through the leather trick and inject some glue. But now I am thinking I might get our iron and use a wet towel. That would work I reckon. Or should I say, could. Makes sense to reheat the glue.
Yes. Also makes sense to go see an upholstery specialist. I can't imagine that a heating repair would be much money and experimenting with an expensive car isn't my idea of a good risk/reward balance on something that could look worse for your efforts if not done right. Of course if the nearest is hundreds of miles away, I would feel differently.
I hear you. One of my customers left a pot plant on top of a speaker and the laminate lifted a bit. I called the guy that made the speakers and he said to get a wet towel (must be wet) and pinch the wifes iron and just sit it on the towel over the top of the lifted laminated wood. He told me this would reheat the glue without any damage. So I did as he said and it worked well. I know this is leather, but I really cant see the harm in trying. But I will talk to an upholsterer tomorrow and see what he says. The problem with NZ is that all the good guys are hundreds of k's away, so that's why I have the, 'I'll give it a go" attitude. It's a Kiwi thing
My dash cover has shrunk as well. Thankfully there are no signs at all around any of the forward facing vents and overall the leather still looks and feels new. It did all of its pulling away at the forward defrost vents and actually broke the vent cover tabs in the process (rather than tearing the leather). The front windshield is getting removed today. The repair will involve a glue, some heat, and new vents (sourced from back east). Disaster averted...hopefully! Thanks to Rob Roselli over in San Jose CA!
