Instrument panel cover

[gtxhawaii]

I need a 1.6 instrument panel cover. A PO broke all the molded mounting points and then glued it to the dash. I have a '94 in v. good condition to trade. OR a really good suggestion for securing the present one while still allowing me to remove it with no drama when necessary. Tape is notable mostly for not adhering to an ArmorAll'd dash!

[RodneyR]

I broke my mounting points too. I just "jiggled it a little" during cleaning and all of the dry weak brittle old attachment points snapped :shock: :? The attachment points don't have much "meat" there from the start and the 15 year old plastic is low quality.

I have mine attached with two long screws, approx 1-1/2" long with washers at the base to prevent them from slipping through since the recessed column hole stops broke open. I used blue loktite on the threads to prevent them from vibrating out. It stays put amazingly well and only rattles on the worst of pot holes (because the forward section isn't supported from tilting in the up direction).

I intend to pay some $150 bucks from Moss or even cheaper from Mazdaspeed (haven't checked yet) and get a new one altogether some day but it's holding really well as is.. It didn't even rattle this morning on the way to work or during autocross.

[ChimChim]

If you have some extra cash, maybe you could get Zoom Engineerings radio surround upgrade. http://www.zoom-eng.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49_51_205&products_id=156&osCsid=b44b28c8f916942a492cad4545d19a26

You can get it with or without synthenic leather wrap and black or silver faced. Then your choice of 2 or 3 guages.

Bill... you should get one of these for your supercharged car! :)

[Astroboy]

Yup, all of my mounting points are broken also, it's fun to watch it slam back and forth as I mash the gas and brake. I wonder how many of us have broken hoods...

[gtxhawaii]

Thanks Rodney. I'll try that. And maybe some double sided tape under the front of the panel cover. Now if I can find the square removable access(?) piece from the top of the steering wheel controls surround!
From the response, I reckon:
A. There are likely Very few intact Inst. covers out there to salvage/trade/buy, so I'd best work with the one I've got.
B. That batch of molded plastic wasn't Mazda's shining hour!

[RodneyR]

I think you have to remove the steering wheel altogether to get that other square steering control surround panel off correctly.

Those two 1-1/2" long screws I used are in the original threaded hole locations (located upside down, underneath closer to the steering column). They just have to be longer to reach the original female threaded clip side now that he plastic recessed holes broke off that used to hold the originally shorter screws in place.

[Kamakura Kid]

I wonder how many of us have broken hoods...

Me, for one. Its probably easier to count how many of us DON'tT have busted one.

[Kamakura Kid]

If you have some extra cash, maybe you could get Zoom Engineerings radio surround upgrade. http://www.zoom-eng.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49_51_205&products_id=156&osCsid=b44b28c8f916942a492cad4545d19a26

You can get it with or without synthenic leather wrap and black or silver faced. Then your choice of 2 or 3 guages.

Bill... you should get one of these for your supercharged car! :)

Oooooh...

Sexy eye candy.

I like!

[gtxhawaii]

1 1/2" #10 sheet metal screws (Ace hdw) with phillips pan head worked. I used two sizes of nylon washers to keep the head above the access holes to the original screws. 1" probably works fine, but I had it together and didn't want to go back in the store and swap them. Found the square access plate under the instruments! The upper steering wheel control stalk surround unscrews from underneath, and has to come off to remove the instrument cover. Broken cover pieces right over the steering column missing next to the clear plastic face, but only a miata owner would notice. Like ME! I'd be happy to find a cover with no exernal damage, just the screw bases broken out. Rodney's idea worked fine for the bottom. I'll be looking for my double sided tape tomorrow for the top. And a black marker pen to camoflage the screws and nylon washers.