3LT dash bubbling - possible fix
08-26-2019, 08:57 PM
#21
Drifting
Member Since: Jan 2015
Location: Fleming Island Florida
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I’d call it “detached” or “delaminated.” Probably shrunk a bit. It almost looks like there’s a groove in the vent that the leather popped out of. It’s not terrible really. Local interior guru at Sargents said if I keep it supple it shouldn’t get any worse.
09-05-2019, 02:23 PM
#23
Racer
Thread Starter
Still holding at 4 weeks. I believe attacking the problem early helped. My theory is that the adhesive that let loose was still active enough to
be aided by heat and pressure.
be aided by heat and pressure.
The following 2 users liked this post by Near Miss:
Flame Red (09-05-2019),
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09-17-2019, 11:42 AM
#24
Racer
Thread Starter
It has been almost 6 weeks since the repair. No sign of lifting. I will post again at the 2 month mark whether still working. At this point, If I have to re-do it every 6 weeks to
2 months, so be it. We will see how it goes.
2 months, so be it. We will see how it goes.
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09-17-2019, 12:00 PM
#25
Safety Car
Glad to hear its staying put.
I've got some micro-suede on my 3LT door that has pulled back slightly so I might try this trick and see if it will stick back down.
I've got some micro-suede on my 3LT door that has pulled back slightly so I might try this trick and see if it will stick back down.
10-07-2019, 05:29 PM
#27
Racer
Thread Starter
It has been 2 months since the repair and it is still holding up. A small spot in an area not previously repaired appeared to be bubbling up. Two minutes of work and it is gone.
The fix is just too easy to not work out any additional areas.
The fix is just too easy to not work out any additional areas.
04-12-2020, 08:10 AM
#34
Drifting
Member Since: Jan 2015
Location: Fleming Island Florida
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Gotcha. Fortunately, mine has remained unchanged for about 2 years now. I took it to an upholstery guru to see if they could do anything about it. They said it really wasn’t bad enough for the amount of time and money it would take to get it right. They told be that even though the manual tells you to only use water and maybe light mild soap to treat the leather, he said that’s crazy. Leather WILL shrink if it’s not kept soft/moist. Told me to keep putting a leather treatment on in to keep it soft.
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Ron_Attleboro_MA (02-27-2022)
04-12-2020, 11:34 PM
#36
Gotcha. Fortunately, mine has remained unchanged for about 2 years now. I took it to an upholstery guru to see if they could do anything about it. They said it really wasn’t bad enough for the amount of time and money it would take to get it right. They told be that even though the manual tells you to only use water and maybe light mild soap to treat the leather, he said that’s crazy. Leather WILL shrink if it’s not kept soft/moist. Told me to keep putting a leather treatment on in to keep it soft.
Our leather is plastic coated, so no amount of "conditioner" will ever reach the leather until you use it often enough that it actually dissolves the plastic coating.
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04-13-2020, 08:44 AM
#38
Safety Car
I wonder if a small steamer might work. I saw them use that technique to glue up a leather headliner on Kindig-It Design. I believe the heat activates the glue while the water keeps the leather from becoming damaged.
04-13-2020, 09:50 AM
#39
Melting Slicks
Looking through the windshield, this is what mine is doing;
From the inside looking at the defroster vent;
I have yet to try to fix the issue, been waiting for a sound solution.
From the inside looking at the defroster vent;
I have yet to try to fix the issue, been waiting for a sound solution.
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Ron_Attleboro_MA (02-27-2022)
04-21-2020, 01:38 PM
#40
c7 dash
Thanks for the tip 
I've often wondered if some kind of glue could be inserted thru the leather with a very fine / small needle. I am diabetic (T1) and thus deal with needles - they are so fine they don't leave a visible mark on your skin. Even if they did in leather I'd rather have a tiny hole then a big bubble.
My 3LT dash is good so far... but I've got a section of microfiber on the door that is pulling back / separated. I believe it was caused by using my elbow to push open the drivers door. I might try the heat trick in that spot.
I've often wondered if some kind of glue could be inserted thru the leather with a very fine / small needle. I am diabetic (T1) and thus deal with needles - they are so fine they don't leave a visible mark on your skin. Even if they did in leather I'd rather have a tiny hole then a big bubble.
My 3LT dash is good so far... but I've got a section of microfiber on the door that is pulling back / separated. I believe it was caused by using my elbow to push open the drivers door. I might try the heat trick in that spot.