My dash fascia started peeling above the cluster a couple of months ago. The other day I noticed that it has started to peel next to the radio. What can be done to stop it and ultimately how can this be fixed or how can the fascia be refinished since they are no longer available new?

 

if it were mine I would just get a good used one and replace it.

 

Easier said than done, new ones are not available and 05 was the only year they were black, so only junkyard 05's for selection.

You can always paint one from an older excursion or king ranch pickup. They used the same dash style as the excursion.

 

I masked my dash around the radio to protect it while installing an iPod adapter. The masking tape pulled the paint off. There's no doubt that the 2005s dash bezels were painted black over black plastic. (I ordered my Ex new and took delivery the day it arrived)

I pulled mine, removed all the switches, vents, nameplate, etc. I carefully striped the area where the paint came off so that it wouldn't leave a mark under the new paint. There are also paint removers made for plastics that could be tried. It really can't be sanded because the plastic underneath is textured.

I used one of the SEM vinyl dyes and I think it came out great!

I'm assuming that the bezel isn't cracked...just the paint above?

Finally, the SD bezels are different with the air-bag switch. The Ex ones are long disco'd from Ford.

 

Get it wrapped in leather.

 

A good idea in theory, but leather is thick (ish) and will fit to snugly in the space for it to work.

 

I will add that I was surprised how the plate where the 4x4 switch was installed. Looks like Ford has a number of different plates depending upon the options installed...and the plate just snaps in from the front. (I pulled that out, removed the switches, etc to paint the plate so that it matched the rest of the dash....)

 

Matt, that paintwork looks great.

 

Matt, your dash looks AWESOME!!!! Thanks for showing it.


Mine is not cracked, just peeling so it should be able to be finished.

 

I've used SEM dye for many other things and it always sprays well. They have a Trim black that is a really nice color and SEM dye and paints have UV protection already in them. Just fyi.