Dash trim around heaters

Is there anything I can do to the trim around the heaters on the dash. It's started pealing a bit. Im sure i read there are clips but I can't find them anywhere

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The vents for the windscreen? You can get them at vw heritage

Sent from a phone, please excuse all the medium steaks. Stupid autocorrect!!

No the ones around the blowers that are face on

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Hard to tell which model that you have, but on latter Cabriolets, there are 2 clips on each side of the Center Vent that hold it firmly to the dash.

The major issue is that the front edges of the vent are extremely brittle and that if you try to Pull the vents out you usually break the trim.

I have a easy way of removing the center vents to eliminate the damage.

You need a wire coat hanger.
Cut the wire on the hanger  above the bend so that you have a bend in one side and center cut the bottom.



You are going to take the straight bottom and bend it about 1/4 inch to make a hook.

Feed that through the vents sides, to catch the vent at the back where it enters the connector to the airbox.





You then can safely remove it with out damaging the trim edge on the front.





I can't locate the part number of the 2 metal clips that are on each side of the center vent opening.

To repair the Broken trim, I used thin metal parts out of a Computer to reaffix the trim to the housing using JB-Weld.


 

Thanks for that. I have a 1991 cab clipper. I will take a photo when I get home to make it more clear

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I was adding pictures to my reply so I think I may have added what you need.

I have also used Cardboard and Tape to over lay Epoxy on the corners to rebuild the part that broke off.  I used a Tooth Brush to texture it, while it was almost hardened, as well as crimping a "edge" to match.  When it was totally hard in 24 hours, I removed the Cardboard backing and Sprayed the entire frame with Krylon Fusion Satin Black to make it good as new.

I didn't take photos of that while I was doing it, sorry.

Every vent fix I could ever think of….
Originally titled Cold Hands Whistling Vents.

http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/showthread.php/9898-Cold-Hands%5C-Whistleing-Vents

Thst is what I was trying to describe

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That type of repair is wicked.  That is the Vinyl has become unglued (heat sealed pressed) at the factory from the Cardboard backing, and it has also probably become slightly Brittle.

I would try at least the following.

Remove the Vent from the Dash.

Make a template for the hole that is Tapered on the edges to fully engage the entire Vent Hole  Center bore a hole in the middle of the square.   You are them going to use a 4 inch toggle anchor to engage a wood or plastic bit to the rear of the hole so you can reform and press while gluing the material back into place.   You can also try a piece of board that is Tapered to the angle and then clamp it with small self-locking pliers… either way

Cover this bar or block with Saran plastic wrap.

Soften the Vinyl covering with heat from a heat gun, or hair dryer to make it supple.  (the issue with heat on vinyl is that it softens it as well as shrinks it if too hot.  There are Chemicals that can re-soften vinyl be your own judge, just be careful.

While the vinyl is still warm you will wet the back side of the vinyl and the cardboard packing slightly, then use the brown Gorilla Glue that is water activated, and expands, apply it to your cardboard backing and then attach your clamp.  Gorilla Glue has about a 5-10 minute working  time, and cover where you don't want it to stick with Saran Plastic Wrap,  this glue comes out like syrup….

It will expand in to the cardboard and vinyl, and the press should hold those edges back in to place.  It fully sets in about an hour.

The Saran Wrap will keep the foam from attaching to the wood block or bar, as you don't need that to glue to what you are trying to repair, cooking parchment paper would probably work as well as it is silicone based IIRC.  Take care in removing the clamping device as to not pull the vinyl, you may have to trim the expanded foam glue a wee bit. The Gorilla Glue can be sanded, filled and painted when hardened.  I usually watch it for expansion and drips and wipe them away as it forms where I can. A little goes a long way, and when you are done with the glue force all the air out of the bottle and re-cap.  If you don't the glue will harden in the container.

There are many ways that you can repair it, the results are different each time.  You might want to take it to a AutoMotive Interior shop
and see what they would charge.  If they do quote you a good result and price, then you can remove the whole dash and cart it off to them.  Auto Restorers are really good at repairing old vinyl……

 

That's amazing thanks for that. To be honest I was thinking of taking the dash out and getting it leather wrapped.  Do you know anywhere that does it

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It looks like your vent is also broken as the 3 upright fins should all move when you change the direction of air flow.
Briano1234 is based in the USA so unlikely to know of some where in Wales to fix dashes but I could be wrong?    

Thanks for that. I have only had the car 3 weeks but am slowly getting through to the little bits that let it down

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The vents can be a pain to get out so when you have decided what you are going to do with the dash, re trim or re glue it then fit a working vent, put a post up in the wanted section or see if any one breaking a car has one?
Sorry can't be any help on trimmers.

Never seen a dash come unglued from that vent before, it's usally the vents near the windscreen which come unglued, you can buy a kit which fits in the holes and holds the vinyl back.

No that's great thanks for your help. I'll look into it and see what I can find

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If you don't have these fitted it's worth getting some to help with de misting the window and holding the vinyl back.

Other places also sell them.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MK1-GOLF-Dash-Vent-Insert-Kit-Mk1-Golf-1980-171898461-/181941135096?hash=item2a5c8966f8:g:7CgAAOSwBahU9cgh

New dash side vent, Genuine VW £12.50

http://www.classic-vw.co.uk/mk1-golf-chrome-trim-dash-air-vent-171819701-3676-p.asp

Yeah I'll get some of those. I will prob get it all wrapped and then fit new

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mark1gls said

It looks like your vent is also broken as the 3 upright fins should all move when you change the direction of air flow.
Briano1234 is based in the USA so unlikely to know of some where in Wales to fix dashes but I could be wrong?    

Well actually I only know of a place that I used to buy my British Leyland parts from… Back then they would quote me a price in pounds, I then had to get a money order in pounds to send to them and wait…. but they had all the parts I needed.

Read the link on the thread about all the vent issues I have ever fixed.  It could be that the vents came unclipped and that is why they are flopping about, but usually the Bar Breaks at the pivot.  My thread tells you how to safely remove the things to repair.  

Get some high temp contact adhesive. Pop vents out. Gingerly peel the vinyl out slightly.
Apply glue to both areas sparringly. Level to flash off, press together and champ with some bulldog clips all round.



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