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How do you paint an interior car dashboard?
I recently got a great deal on a used car, but the interior is in rough shape. I’ve already purchased new carpets and seat covers, but I want to freshen it up even more by giving the dashboard and trim a fresh paint job. How do you paint a car’s dashboard?
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Painting your car’s dashboard and trim will undoubtedly help freshen up the vehicle and make you a proud owner!
The first thing you should do is find a well-ventilated area to paint and disconnect the battery starting with the negative lead. Once done, decide if you want to remove the dashboard and trim pieces or if you want to seal off the area.
If you want to remove the dashboard, you will likely need a socket wrench and a screwdriver. Once you have your tools:
- Consult the owner’s manual to see if it has instructions on removing the dashboard and trim.
- Remove snap-in pieces using your screwdriver.
- Remove the dashboard and remaining trim by undoing the screws and fasteners and disconnecting any attached wiring.
- Be sure to keep track of the pieces and not break any of them, or reassembly could be a nightmare.
If you choose not to remove the dash, or you’ve removed all the pieces you can, follow these steps:
- Protect the area by covering surfaces you don’t want to be painted with plastic and painter’s tape.
- Prepare the pieces you wish to paint by cleaning them with rubbing alcohol, roughening them with 1500-grit sandpaper, and then wiping them down using a tack cloth.
- Apply the paint and primer as directed.
- Once dry, remove the coverings and reinstall the dashboard and trim.
Congratulations, your car should now be freshened up and ready for its new owner!
To find a
car insurance
policy equally as fresh and customized as your car, you should download Jerry
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- Gregory R.
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