Dashboard lose passenger side

dejongmc · Post by **dejongmc** » 26 Sep 2016, 12:11

The dashboard on the passenger side is lose. With every bump is shakes and I'm afraid it will come lose more overtime.
It is not just the dash pad on top, but the whole dash console so to speak.

I already took the glove compartment out to see if I can fasten it again but do not see how.

Anybody an idea how to fasten this side without having to take the whole dashboard out, which is way too much work.

Thanks,

blkbeauty · Post by **blkbeauty** » 26 Sep 2016, 12:28

I made a L-bracket attached it to the side of the dash and the A-pillar with self taping screws. Removal o f the dashpad is essential. I used 3M Fire Block Foam, works wonders in all open area under dashpad.

Post by **cn90** » 26 Sep 2016, 12:50

Search for the posts by Ozark Lee.
Be prepared to spend a whole day on this project.

Post by **erikv11** » 26 Sep 2016, 13:08

There are two causes of this, they are both super common.
(1) the 4 screws/bolts that mount the dash to the firewall come loose.
(2) the 4 plastic mounts on the dashboard side get brittle over time and break.

If you are lucky it is just (1), for sure it is the first and easiest thing to check. In your cose it is definitely possible, since it is only passenger side. Open the hood, pull off the wiper arms (mark their orientation with white-out or something), pull the plastic cowl, and you will have access to the 4 bolts. The passenger side ones are the easiest to get to.

Step (1) is easy, takes like 40 minutes start to finish, and almost always improves things, but not if reason (2) is far along.

If the screws are tight but the dash is still bouncing, there are two options:
(2a) The easy one is something like the L bracket solution blkbeauty describes, there are many of those out there, some of them really quite good. Search the forum. Other people jam foam or cardboard in between the windshield and the dash, but of course this just ruins the mounts even more. Up to you, it's a fine line between going nuts with the squeaking and finding the time to fix it. L brackets or similar are a nice compromise.
(2b) The hard one is to remove the whole dash (very big job), repair the mounts with epoxy and/or sheet metal, and reinstall it. This is the most thorough solution. This route takes all weekend if you are prepared and know exactly what to do going in to it. Longer if you don't.

Post by **gmh** » 26 Sep 2016, 20:05

Here are the links to the Ozark Lee's two comprehensive posts on dash repair if you choose option 2b.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... ir#p296211

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... ash+repair

Post by **kahl** » 27 Sep 2016, 07:39

This past Saturday I had to replace the evaporator in my new to me 98 V70XC. Removing the dash overall is tough. Mentally I broke the dash into steps that I have completed over the years to remove the overwhelming feeling of UGOH. Dash pad..NBD, glove box..NBD, steering wheel..NBD, center console..NBD, radio and climate control..NBD...etc.

My neighbor helped, not a mechanic but knows righty tightly, lefty loosely. We had the dash out in 1.50 hours. I used a 3M urethane epoxy P/N 04747 with the loaned applicator 04991 from my NAPA store to repair two broken mounts. Install of the dash took two hours.

Dash was quick and easy compared to R & R of the evaporator in the HVAC tub. Don't let the dash removal overwhelm you, it is a combinatin of relatively easy tasks.

BTW NBD stands for no big deal.