Dash Cover Mat
 

My E-Brake light goes on and off on my dash cluster. I know it's the deal where l need to remove the cluster and solder the cracked solder joint. But, for now, l just put a wedge against the cluster connector for a temporary fix just to get thru inspection.
As l was removing the dash cluster panel, it cracked from side to side. Instead of paying $134.27 to Ford for a new one, or $50 to a salvage yard, l want to put a dash mat. I want to buy it from EBAY, but there are so many choices. There are a lot made in the USA, and the others are import. Prices range from $14.95-$20.95. Has anyone bought one for their truck, and if so, can you recommend one?

Dash Mat or "Cover Craft" ?

I have them on dash of '01 Mercury GM, '92 T-bird, '95 T-bird, '08 Mustang, '07 FX4 all in black and on rear deck of the '01 Merc and both T-birds and the Mustang too I think. The Mercs is matched to car int color, a tan … and the rest are black.

It's usually a first purchase for a car for me, especially black for dash so no reflections in W-shield. My first was in late '80s for our '85 T-bird we used to have. Before that.... I sometimes made my own. I have always like the fit of theses.

This was with tray thing I added for sunglasses, etc in recent years, but mat dates to 2009. I'll look for better pics.

https://i220.photobucket.com/albums/...psigsoxxxi.jpg

Never really understood the point of them, personally. I've never had a dash crack or discolor, but I don't generally park my vehicles outside except when at work. I haven't been hampered by glare, either, even though most of my dashes have been grey/charcoal. I just keep them detailed with a wipe-on protectant like Mother's or Meguires products.

Not glare …. reflections is / are what I don't like. Most every product I've seen that coats the dash also makes for more reflections.
Black carpet like mat never reflects. Besides, my bottle caps, phone, shades all stay where I place them until I move them.

and so I did.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...122f065c6f.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...23f09e1e10.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...ce69770e6.jpeg
TBEAR, I was going to get gray to match the gray interior, but now that I see it in black, that's what I'm getting. The one I was going to order looks exactly like yours.
SoonerTruck, the point of a dash mat is when you don't own a shed/garage/carport to park your vehicle in, it has to be parked out in the weather. When that happens, the continuous beaming of the sun on the dash makes the plastic brittle. When the dash panel has to be removed to fix a broken solder joint in the cluster, the LEAST little movement of said panel has a 99% chance of cracking! So, instead of paying $134.27 to Ford, or $50 to a salvage yard, for one, a $21 dash mat seems to be the better choice.
I hope it never happens to you. If so, you will understand why a dash mat is a GREAT choice!
TBEAR, the link below is the dash mat I'm getting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/173388017325?ul_noapp=true

[QUOTE=BlueOvalFitter;5252555]
TBEAR, I was going to get gray … etc …
https://www.ebay.com/itm/17338801732...rue[/QUOTE]

That's it, good price too! I feel sure you are gonna love it, and soon forget the crack. I see they have done away with Velcro and gone to a non slip backing. I like that. I didn't use but two pieces of Velcro and once the pad flattened out, it lays perfectly still. That '85 T-bird I mentioned had a blue interior, the pad I bought for it was blue and it showed up in the windshield as a reflection. I tried black next and that's all I use now.

The flap on passenger side is for air bag. Makes a great hold down for that letter you don't want to forget to drop in the mail box.

The cover sits up just a hair over on right side of center above sat radio, I have wires hidden there.

I may get me one of these and do away with Velcro all together.

In the pic it shows a gray dash mat and states gray in the title. But, if you scroll down to the specs, it reads black. How do you know which one will be shipped? I'm so confused! It's hurting my tiny wittle bwain! :think: :help:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GRAY-Dash-C...EAAOSwcw9dDDkU

I'd contact the seller and ask, letting them know I wanted black, not gray.

Or look at others, like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-For-20...EAAOSwIaFZJPGt

I want the one I chose because it has a dash console cover (the small piece of carpet 6X6).

Then for sure, I'd contact the seller and ask, letting them know I wanted black, not gray.

I contacted them and they said it can be ordered for a delivery date of August 21, 2019. So, I ordered another black one that will be here next Monday, or sooner.
My EBAY packages arrive quicker than their stated dates/times. For instance, I ordered a 100 ct. MAXWELL HOUSE K-CUP coffee box last Friday. It was delivered today.

I thought most people used sunshades to combat heat/UV damage from coming through the windshield? :think: They always just looked a little clunky to me.

I tried one of them for a week. It gets very old unfolding/folding it up to several times a day. I too have always used 303 dash protection spray. But, it still doesn't protect the plastic from getting brittle after 11 years exposed to the elements. Besides, I have seen other friends' dashes crack/break even when they used a sun screen and dash spray protection. :fyi:

TBEAR, it arrived today.
Did yours come with stick on tabs to put in place on the dash to hold down the mat? If so, where did you place them?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...79702f277.jpeg

No tabs that I saw, used some short strips of Velcro, I just applied a piece at end of dash next to windshield pillar on each side. If that's got a non slip backing, it'll stay put without much effort. Mine does not have non slip backing, but it stays put very well. I'm not so sure it even needs Velcro, I have a couple in cars that I did NOT use the Velcro with.

If I remove the cover, the Velcro is easy to remove with GOOF OFF or WD40.

Looks great from what I see, and it'll flatten out in use / time. One day you'll wonder where the folds went. Laying on the dash in the warm sun will help.