[ranjithpd]

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year and miles and miles of fun and laughter this year.

I have a 2011 Linea MJD, last year post a service my dash seems to have become a coal mine and seems to be melting, if we end up touching it we have black paint on our hands, it seems like someone has polished the dash with Kajal.

The car is not driven around much and most of the times it is parked is a covered area, so I don't suspect our hot sun to be the cause. I guess something went wrong at the service center and they don't have a clear explanation and I don't trust a word that they say, anyways I have stopped going to Fiat service centers for service these days.

Would anyone know if the dash on my 2011 MJD can be replaced and if yes, any idea on how hard it would impact the pocket please.


Thanks,
Ranjith

[deep_bang]

Before going to the extreme step of replacing the dash, did you try to go to a FNG and ask him to clean it? May be worth spending a thousand bucks before you decide to spend a lot more on it.

[crdi]

Had faced this in a palio. The coating on the dash deteriorated very badly. It went totally sticky after a service appointment. The dark areas of the dash were appearing as though it was coated with wet paint and scraping would reveal the beige colour underneath.I doubt the quality of the dash plus the cleaning agent used by the service center to have caused the problem.

Instead of replacing the dash, I went a little DIY way. Used paint thinner to clean the sticky areas as much as possible, then painted it with blackoxide/black board paint. The results were pretty good. The textured surface of the dash had masked even the brush strokes nicely. It had lasted quite well, till the car was sold a couple of years later. You could either try a diy or instruct an FNG to remove the dash and do it. Preferably the later, as it would avoid splattering and staining in the adjacent areas.

P.S. The paint thinner would leave a bad scar on glossy/clear plastic.

[itwasntme]

Here you go:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ob-indigo.html

Maybe you can refer this thread to a local painter who is knowledgeable?

[ranjithpd]

Originally Posted by deep_bang

Before going to the extreme step of replacing the dash, did you try to go to a FNG and ask him to clean it? May be worth spending a thousand bucks before you decide to spend a lot more on it.

Yes, did clean up both at an Authorised Service Center as well as at a water service station, but did not help.

Originally Posted by crdi

Had faced this in a palio. The coating on the dash deteriorated very badly. It went totally sticky after a service appointment. The dark areas of the dash were appearing as though it was coated with wet paint and scraping would reveal the beige colour underneath.I doubt the quality of the dash plus the cleaning agent used by the service center to have caused the problem.

Instead of replacing the dash, I went a little DIY way. Used paint thinner to clean the sticky areas as much as possible, then painted it with blackoxide/black board paint. The results were pretty good. The textured surface of the dash had masked even the brush strokes nicely. It had lasted quite well, till the car was sold a couple of years later. You could either try a diy or instruct an FNG to remove the dash and do it. Preferably the later, as it would avoid splattering and staining in the adjacent areas.

P.S. The paint thinner would leave a bad scar on glossy/clear plastic.

Thanks for the suggestion...will give it a go, but as suggested by itwasntme, try my luck with a body shop first and updated back.

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Here you go:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ob-indigo.html

Maybe you can refer this thread to a local painter who is knowledgeable?

Thanks for the suggestion...will give it a go and updated back.

[hserus]

Originally Posted by ranjithpd

I have a 2011 Linea MJD, last year post a service my dash seems to have become a coal mine and seems to be melting, if we end up touching it we have black paint on our hands, it seems like someone has polished the dash with Kajal.

My guess is as an "extra service" they might have billed you for some interior detailing product like a dashboard cleaning shampoo, and used whatever cheap stuff started to detirorate the plastic. If you can see that on your bill, ask the service centre for a new dashboard replacement as it is their error.

[varoon9999]

Originally Posted by ranjithpd

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year and miles and miles of fun and laughter this year.

I have a 2011 Linea MJD, last year post a service my dash seems to have become a coal mine and seems to be melting, if we end up touching it we have black paint on our hands, it seems like someone has polished the dash with Kajal.

The car is not driven around much and most of the times it is parked is a covered area, so I don't suspect our hot sun to be the cause. I guess something went wrong at the service center and they don't have a clear explanation and I don't trust a word that they say, anyways I have stopped going to Fiat service centers for service these days.

Would anyone know if the dash on my 2011 MJD can be replaced and if yes, any idea on how hard it would impact the pocket please.


Thanks,
Ranjith

Dear Ranjith,

I also had somewhat similar issue with my Punto's dashboard just after 3 years of purchase, I've never applied any aftermarket polish on my dashboard always used 3M interior polish to clean interiors, when I showed my dashboard to FASS they straightaway refused to help and blamed me to have applied some local dashboard polish on frequent intervals, which in result have spoiled it.

"Inferior plastic quality" is purely to be blamed here, there were many other FIAT' s going through the same plastic quality issues. Early 2010-2011 lot of FIAT's were most affected with such poor plastic quality dashboard with paint peeling off in patches, mine is 2010 model and there were couple of patches with chipped paint, I asked for extended warranty which was denied, as FASS said it's me who have spoiled the dash and there is no problem with the plastic and QC.

I was not ready to buy the justification given by FIAT, hence I wrote to FIAT MD and got the same changed under goodwill.

Assuming yours is Linea emotion-pack with Airbags, Attached two pictures, one is from my punto and other is for dashboard price. (Source www.99rpm.com)

[h14]

Sorry to hear that Ranjith. I would recommend you check with some of the specialists out there like "Colour Glo" who can resolve this rather than replacing.

My erstwhile Palio had a similar issue and the guy who got it from me got it resolved with a specialist similar to Colour Glo.

[--gKrish--]

Originally Posted by h14

Sorry to hear that Ranjith. I would recommend you check with some of the specialists out there like "Colour Glo" who can resolve this rather than replacing.

My erstwhile Palio had a similar issue and the guy who got it from me got it resolved with a specialist similar to Colour Glo.

In our 2010 linea, there are some sticky patches in the dashboard, but no colour fade or color getting into hands. Will Colour Glo help in my case?

[h14]

Originally Posted by --gKrish--

In our 2010 linea, there are some sticky patches in the dashboard, but no colour fade or color getting into hands. Will Colour Glo help in my case?

I've not had any first hand experience with them. But what they pioneer is on changing the color for the interiors and I'm suggesting Ranjith to do the same. Either get the same colors re-done or choose some different colors. Being in KL it is easier for you and you can check with them for this.

[ranjithpd]

Originally Posted by hserus

My guess is as an "extra service" they might have billed you for some interior detailing product like a dashboard cleaning shampoo, and used whatever cheap stuff started to detirorate the plastic. If you can see that on your bill, ask the service centre for a new dashboard replacement as it is their error.

Thanks Hserus, not sure if that is the case, but will check for sure.

Originally Posted by varoon9999

Dear Ranjith,

I also had somewhat similar issue with my Punto's dashboard just after 3 years of purchase, I've never applied any aftermarket polish on my dashboard always used 3M interior polish to clean interiors, when I showed my dashboard to FASS they straightaway refused to help and blamed me to have applied some local dashboard polish on frequent intervals, which in result have spoiled it.

"Inferior plastic quality" is purely to be blamed here, there were many other FIAT' s going through the same plastic quality issues. Early 2010-2011 lot of FIAT's were most affected with such poor plastic quality dashboard with paint peeling off in patches, mine is 2010 model and there were couple of patches with chipped paint, I asked for extended warranty which was denied, as FASS said it's me who have spoiled the dash and there is no problem with the plastic and QC.

I was not ready to buy the justification given by FIAT, hence I wrote to FIAT MD and got the same changed under goodwill.

Assuming yours is Linea emotion-pack with Airbags, Attached two pictures, one is from my punto and other is for dashboard price. (Source www.99rpm.com)

Hi Varoon9999, thats some news, I did not expect it to be of such bad quality. Good to know that they replaced it for you, I am simply terrified of arguing it out with the FIAT service folks, last time around they would have ended up killing me and my family because of their carelessness, I have to write up a specific post on that one though.

Anyways once I am back in April, will take it up with the Service team. Thanks a lot for the pics and pointing me to cost of the dashboard. I will check with Bosh service guys if they can replace it for me that is if nothing else works out.

Originally Posted by h14

Sorry to hear that Ranjith. I would recommend you check with some of the specialists out there like "Colour Glo" who can resolve this rather than replacing.

My erstwhile Palio had a similar issue and the guy who got it from me got it resolved with a specialist similar to Colour Glo.

Thanks h14, will do check with ColourGlo too.