Anyone have or seen a sagging dash on a 94-98?

[BDiddy]

Im assuming the dash is the same for 94-98. I have a 97 though.

A couple years ago my mom took the car into the dealer to get some work done on it. When we got it back, the drivers side dash near the windshield was/is still sagging compared to the passenger side. Im sure that the drivers side is sagging and the passenger side ISNT too high because I can see the felt material that lines the top of the dash where it would touch the windshield. I could never see this before. Ive taken the top vent trim off and all 3 bolts are there, and I took out the cluster to look behind. There doesnt seem to be anything to support the top of the dash other than the shape of the dash. Was the dealership right when they said oh its just warped? I never believed this story because it was dropped off and was properly fit, but we get it back 2 days later its not fit right so its obvious to me that you broke it and then refused to fix it because its probably really expensive. We had some HVAC work done so thats why I think they broke it.

So has anyone seen this and is it fixable? Ive been prying and poking but i cant seem to figure it out and to be honest, Im not taking the whole dash apart, unless I know there is a fix for it.

I can get some pictures if you guys need them.

 

[RedDaemon]

please do post pictures

 

[twogts4us]

A couple of years ago? I would have pushed the issue with the dealership when this happened. If they did HVAC work, they likely had the dash off and f'd it up. And they NEVER want to take responsibility for their actions.

 

[BDiddy]

A couple of years ago? I would have pushed the issue with the dealership when this happened. If they did HVAC work, they likely had the dash off and f'd it up. And they NEVER want to take responsibility for their actions.

I did press the issue at the time and I know when Im beat. I did call Ford and file a complaint about it but as usual nothing happened. I also spoke to the owner and he didnt want to do anything about it either since its probably a 4-5 hour job and if they have to buy a new dash Im sure this could easily be $1000 bucks they have to eat. Its real simple though. They dont get my business or any business from people I know and ask for a good dealership.


Sorry for the bad pictures. My good camera is not here. Ill try to get some better ones tonight, but you can see the problem even in these.

Sorry about the cell pics, you you can see on the left side of the dash, below the garage handle, that dark dark black line, thats the lower part of the windshield. VS the right side all you see the grey top of the dash. This is taken straight up from the center of the car.


View attachment 213731
Same height, just a continuation to left of the clock. You can see the line getting bigger and bigger.

Again, sorry for the bads pics. Im trying to get my friend with his nice camera over after work to snap some very clean pictures of it for you. And maybe the whole dash since you can see with the top down while standing behind the car. Thats how bad it is.


Will have much better pics in about an hour and a half. But if you can see the problem here, please let me know. Its driving me insane.

 

[BDiddy]

And yes, I know I need to paint my garage doors

 

[twogts4us]

Typical dealership story...as I said they don't want to take responsibility for anything.

 

[BDiddy]

As you can see the picture is taken right in the center of the car and the driver side starts to sag way before it should. Click the picture for full size. I have a couple others, but that one shows it the best

 

[BDiddy]

 

[streethorse]

wow whats all that rust......do you live near the ocean.
I would try to manualy pull the dash up to the right level and shoot some
expanding foam under it, let the foam set up. Its a 15 year old car so no
big deal if its not perfect. If you want it perfect, get a pro to fix it....
and Im sure that would be about a $1k job. if its low miles and good condition,
would probably be worth it.

 

[BDiddy]

I do live up in the North East on the CT shoreline. But Im pretty sure that rust is pretty typical behind the gauge cluster. It hasnt been well maintained, but its nothing that cant be fixed with some TLC. Body needs a little work and it needs to be repainted as it is North East car, but its pretty clean otherwise. At least I think so. A good full car detail will probably do it wonders. Clean out some of the rust and oxidized aluminum under the hood. Little stuff that isnt difficult or too expensive.

I only have 761xx original miles on it. So I plan on keeping it, which is why i want the dash to be fixed.

 

[EPIK]

That rust is normal. My 03 Mach sits in the garage, only has 56k miles, & all the metal supports under the dash have surface rust on them...

 

[streethorse]

Rust is normal if you live near salty ocean air......

 

[BDiddy]

thinking about a heat gun and attempting to pull it up a little. I can get my fingers under it and pull up, but then it falls right back down, which makes me think it isnt put in properly, but there is nothing there to support it where its sagging, so I thinking heat gun and pull to see if I can get it up where it needs to be.

thoughts? anyone else actually seen this issue?

And no, you dont need to live near a salty ocean to get rust. You just need sufficient time and moisture. Salt is just a bonus that makes it rust quicker. Unless where you live is 100% dry all the time, you will probably have some of that rust as well.

 

[EPIK]

Rust is normal if you live near salty ocean air......

Poke your head under the dash of your stang & you will be surprised. The nearest ocean air is 80 miles away from where I live BTW...

 

[S&B]

rust is normal anywhere under the dash supports, its not protected metal.
I will get you a pick of what it looks like from the back i have dash in the garage i assume some of the mounts bent under extreame heat or cold

 

[BDiddy]

Well i guess the good thing is I can find used dashes for like 100 bucks. MPS actually has a 97 GT with the tan interior they are parting out so Im going to call them on monday see if its in good shape.

Or if i can find one at a pick and pull(do those still exist or did the scum sucking lawyers put them out of business?) ill grab it, but im still going to try and heat it up see if it works.

That would be great S&B. I was just thinking the same thing. I dont think there are any supports up there, but I was hoping to get a pic from behind to see. Thanks very much!!!

 

[BDiddy]

Poke your head under the dash of your stang & you will be surprised. The nearest ocean air is 80 miles away from where I live BTW...

Imagine how easy it is for moisture to get trapped back behind the gauge cluster as well. Hot and cold temp changes from winter and the heat and summer and the AC.

Oh and mine is a convertible so and Ive had a couple of those "hey it looks like its going to sunny all day today!" situations only to park the car for 3 hours with the top down and have a massive down pour while Im watching a movie or something. So im sure some moisture got up there as well.