Dashboard Complaints

[careyk]

Hey Mean Green...I guess the 3 Pts you and your wife have have OK dashes because you must be taking CREWZIN's advice and using the back seat on all three...ha ha ha:rolleye s:

[Howell53]

I have a 2002, and a few months ago I noticed the dash cracked from the middle dash vent forward to the windshield, from both sides of the vent. Now it also has a crack from the middle of the vent to the front of the dash. and it has been garaged! I found a source to buy a replacement, but I did not see any replies to the question of how to remove the old dash. Anybody???

[SRG]

How to take the dash cover off (up to 2005 models only):

1. Pull the 4 ac knobs off (protecf them with a cloth if you need pliers to do this).

2. Pry the power window switch assembly out of the dash, carefull of damaging the dash. It should just pop out. Then you must remove the cable by sliding the lock tab thingy (on the passenger's side of the switch I believe) and hold down the release, then pull off. Put switch aside.

3. Look inside the hole where the switch was, you'll see a phillips head screw, this holds the center console cover in place. Remove screw. gently grab the edge of the switch hole and pull. The entire cover is held in by clips, work your way around the cover until its off.

4. There are 2 phillip head screws now showing to either side of where the first phillips screw was, remove them.

5. Carefully pry the A-pillar covers off both sides of the dashboard. Like most of the trim in the car, they are held in place with metal clips.

6. The dash cover is now held in place by clips across the edge of the dashboard closest to you. Start at one side, grabbing the exposed edges, pull up and unsnap the clips. Haveing 2 people doing this together make it a LOT easier. When the back side of the dash is up, pull dash cover towards you, this will disengage the hooks that hold the front of the dash cover in place.

Install is the exact reverse of these instructions. A helper would make things a lot easier.

You'll notice that metal clips play a large part in the assembly of the trim of the PT. Be careful not to lose any as sometimes they fall out of the part. Just slide back in place.

Sorry to be so long, but it is very easy and a crime to have to pay a dealer (or anyone) to do it!!!

srg

[soonercruiser]

A 2002....and thinking of replacing the dash cover because of a crack; that is otherwise not a structral problem (cosmetic only)?????

I'd do a dash mat myself. I start from the beginning with one, as a preventive measure. If in the hot sun a lot, use a full window shield/visor.
**But, if you want to be creative....
(picture to come tonight!)

[Howell53]

This is great, very detailed directions. Thank you very much!!

Originally Posted by SRG

How to take the dash cover off (up to 2005 models only):

1. Pull the 4 ac knobs off (protecf them with a cloth if you need pliers to do this).

2. Pry the power window switch assembly out of the dash, carefull of damaging the dash. It should just pop out. Then you must remove the cable by sliding the lock tab thingy (on the passenger's side of the switch I believe) and hold down the release, then pull off. Put switch aside.

3. Look inside the hole where the switch was, you'll see a phillips head screw, this holds the center console cover in place. Remove screw. gently grab the edge of the switch hole and pull. The entire cover is held in by clips, work your way around the cover until its off.

4. There are 2 phillip head screws now showing to either side of where the first phillips screw was, remove them.

5. Carefully pry the A-pillar covers off both sides of the dashboard. Like most of the trim in the car, they are held in place with metal clips.

6. The dash cover is now held in place by clips across the edge of the dashboard closest to you. Start at one side, grabbing the exposed edges, pull up and unsnap the clips. Haveing 2 people doing this together make it a LOT easier. When the back side of the dash is up, pull dash cover towards you, this will disengage the hooks that hold the front of the dash cover in place.

Install is the exact reverse of these instructions. A helper would make things a lot easier.

You'll notice that metal clips play a large part in the assembly of the trim of the PT. Be careful not to lose any as sometimes they fall out of the part. Just slide back in place.

Sorry to be so long, but it is very easy and a crime to have to pay a dealer (or anyone) to do it!!!

srg

[SRG]

Yes, the dash cover that sits on top of the dashboard of 2001 to 05 is only a cover, I doubt it has any structural value at all.

srg

[soonercruiser]

The Preventive Measure....my custom dash mat!

PT Cruiser World

[Dragonfly]

I have a 2002 limited edition Cruiser and I have the crack too. Except I have mutiple. These run from the dash middle vent all the way to windshield. I see someone got this paid for any ideas on how to do this. I don't want a hidious dash pad in my car. And I have been using a sun visior everyday since I have had my car and the dash still cracked. Also does anyone have a noise under the front end of their car. mine sounds like it is going to fall apart. But when I have it serviced each time I always have them to see if the front end is messed up or what is causing the noise.

[CREWZIN]

I would be extremely surprised if Chrysler, or any other manufacturer, would replace a cracked dash after 6 years of ownership.

You might have covered it up with a visor everyday you owned it but are you the first owner? What did he/she do for the first couple of years? How about being in the heat/cold itself, visor or not, it gets to be way over 100 degrees in the summer visor or not and freezing in the winter depending on where you live. The winter sun gets pretty hot also. Was your visor on in the winter months?

As far as your noise. On a 2002 model, the most common places for noise are the front sway bar links and the front suspension bushings. You say they look but can't find anything. Is that a Chrysler dealer? If so, try an independent mechanic. Most auto places will look for your problem free of charge hoping that you use their services to fix whatever problem they find.

By the way... to the forum

[Teekypt]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

Skylight, Do you mean the rear quarter panel window being sucked out of the PT? Never heard of the screen thing your referring too.

Definitely a first 4 me!