2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Top of Dash on National Backorder at Dodge Dealer

[Mike Ellis]

I finally got sick of looking at the canyons in the plastic dash and listening to the symphony of rattling squeaking and groaning, so I went in to order a new dash top. The guy told me they were on national back order for all the 2nd gens, and that it might be months :{ before it comes in. On a positive note, while I was talking to him their body and trim guy came into the parts office and heard us talking. He said the replacement dash parts are a bit more flexible and don't seem to crack as quick as the old ones did.



He also passed along a couple of prep tips:

1) Don't use sandpaper on the dash to roughen it up for the trim paint, use Scotchbright and it will let the paint adhere without removing the texture of the plastic



2) Avoid Armor-All unless you use it religiously. He said he had seen many dashes where the owner used Armor-All for a while and quit, and that this seemed to have some effect on the plastic because when it dried out it would immediately crack.



Just passin' along what they told me... .



PS - I told them the guy who designed the dash and the evaporator / heater core setup should be beaten to death with a piece of barbed wire for his stupidity. He has given engineers all over the planet a bad name with his lack of thought.



WHY, OH WHY can't they design these $&%*! things with a removable door to make accessing the components easier? #@$%!

 

[Bob4x4]

I finally got sick of looking at the canyons in the plastic dash and listening to the symphony of rattling squeaking and groaning, so I went in to order a new dash top. The guy told me they were on national back order for all the 2nd gens, and that it might be months :{ before it comes in. On a positive note, while I was talking to him their body and trim guy came into the parts office and heard us talking. He said the replacement dash parts are a bit more flexible and don't seem to crack as quick as the old ones did.



He also passed along a couple of prep tips:

1) Don't use sandpaper on the dash to roughen it up for the trim paint, use Scotchbright and it will let the paint adhere without removing the texture of the plastic



2) Avoid Armor-All unless you use it religiously. He said he had seen many dashes where the owner used Armor-All for a while and quit, and that this seemed to have some effect on the plastic because when it dried out it would immediately crack.



Just passin' along what they told me... .



PS - I told them the guy who designed the dash and the evaporator / heater core setup should be beaten to death with a piece of barbed wire for his stupidity. He has given engineers all over the planet a bad name with his lack of thought.



WHY, OH WHY can't they design these $&%*! things with a removable door to make accessing the components easier? #@$%!

The dash panels come in your color... . no need to paint.



Bob

 

[swhalen]

i can second the statement that the dashes are on national backorder. however, i called around and found one at a local, smaller volume dodge dealer. if you want a dash w/out the wait, that may be an option to explore. i thought the shelf life of the dash at the smaller dealer versus waiting and buying a fresh dash, but figured that the chances of cracking over a 3-4 year time frame were small so rolled the dice.



btw, after reading about the time involved in swapping out a new dash and considering my lack of patience with plastic trim and such, i elected to let the dodge dealer have at it. contrary to numerous reports here, i have had nothing but good luck with my dealer in the few visits i have made. my dealer didn't blink an eye at the job and swaps em out at a flat $750. testimony to the frequency he performs the job. the other two dealers i talked to while looking for the dash reluctantly indicated that they would do the job, but i didn't get a quote.



i am told that the replacement dashes do come in the various colors of the interior... . except the dark blue (don't know what that is officially called). moreover, dodge does not make that paint any longer. so, of course, my interior had that rare color and it was off to the body shop for a paint job prior to install.



long post, sorry, just relaying my experience. regards, steve whalen

 

[WDixon27]

is that the older dash that's on backorder and if so how much are they raping us for one, my dash is turning to rock candy

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

I would not mind waiting for one and installing it myself... . how much are they?

 

[Mike Ellis]

They are $170, I just got mine today in fact. The dealer in Fort Worth was able to find it for me in spite of the backorder.



They come in a big old LONG box. I'll be taking it and the truck to the dealer to get it put in along with new heater core and evaporator. Boy my wallet will be screaming, I was going to do it myself but while I was looking at Joe Donnelly's article the wife pointed out it might not be smart to be thrashing around in the floorboard of the truck so soon after having my gallbladder took out. :{



Oh well, it will give me an excuse to prowl around the lot lusting after the new 6. 7's... :-laf :-laf

 

[ssalmons]

Seems like a pretty good scam, I mean business move on Dodges part.

Install an inferior part that has wide spread failure and charge a grand to make it right!