Today, after finally getting my wagon mechanically up to par, I discovered an almost symmetric "Y" right over the gauge cluster where once there was none. Great sadness indeed. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a possible remedy for my girl's newly formed crow's feet on her dash? I guess I'll have to get a dashmat or some similar covering...but I'm wondering if any of y'all may have had success using any other cosmetic treatment.

Quoted from rickyzee

Today, after finally getting my wagon mechanically up to par, I discovered an almost symmetric "Y" right over the gauge cluster where once there was none. Great sadness indeed. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a possible remedy for my girl's newly formed crow's feet on her dash? I guess I'll have to get a dashmat or some similar covering...but I'm wondering if any of y'all may have had success using any other cosmetic treatment.

To keep that dashboard  Y from growing, try using a sunshield/sun visor when in the hot sun. Park your car in the shade whenever possible, and use a dashboard pad or dashmat if you can find one. Another remedy is to buy a used dashboard from a same color Toyota.  AFAIK, the fitment is the same.

Yes. I have a remedy, I did it on mine - had the same 'Y' shaped crack + many more..

Go to your hardware store in the silicone/plumbing/sealant area & do some reading on weather proof products.

Match the product description to that off the dash board environment.
IE. Heat & water resistant, Outdoor use, Bonds well with plastic.

Buy a tube of appropriate sealant, roll of masking tape, tiny brush & mini paint roller & 1 or 2 small pots of low sheen paint, depending on options below... 7 some water (I originally tried an oil based product but found water based worked better in the end - Up to you!
NOTE: make sure the sealant & paint have the same base IE: water or turps & be sure to buy 'low-sheen' - you don't want any reflections bouncing of your dash.


Get the closest color match of sealant to your dashboard that you can.

I ended up deliberately cracking all the brittle areas of my dash before re-coating - this re-instated the spongey feel.

Pot 1) The closest color to your dash that you can find
Pot 2) Either white or black - This is your tint - Depending on which way you need to go to match the colour of your dash. (darker or lighter)

OR

You can go for a 2 tone look by buying only 1 pot of paint that's a complimentary tone or color to that of the original dash color.

1)Clean the dash with the thinning agent(water or turps) & Neatly tape the edges of the area you want to paint
2) Thin the sealant product so that it has a consistancy like paint
3) This is your first coat that will easily fill the cracks & bond well with the foam beneath because you've thinned it down. Use the paint brush for this application & allow to touch dry.
When it dries it maintains it's rubbery consistancy. REPEAT   IF/AS   NECESSARY.
4) Now using a thicker consistancy, fill any remaing cracks. REMOVE TAPE Allow to dry properly - come back the next day & lightly sand any raised areas.
5) wipe the area down with thinners again & carefully re-tape the same edges.
6) Using your thinning agent, sealant & paint, mix all 3 together to get the colour & consistency you need for your final coat/s
Aplly with mini paint roller

Note: It's best to remove the masking tape at the end of each coat, otherwise you risk tearing all your hard work when removing the tape.
ALWAYS remove the tape before the coat has dried.
For this reason it's best to do this job on a day that's not too hot & in the shade or under cover.

I did mine 4 years ago & it's still nice & spongey/plasticky just like a dash should be!

Good luck!
Pictured is my first attempt: A bit lumpy & I used a semi gloss black paint - Too reflective - go the low sheen.

Only pic I've got on hand at the moment.

If you look near the front corner of the dash & between the air vent on the far left, you'll see the line that marks the edge of the re-coated area...

(Go the bouncy headed dinasour!)  

Nice... thanks for sharing Jed!  I'm planning on buying one of those cloth dash covers from ebay or wherever.  Maybe someday I can fix my dash properly.

My A-T came with a dashboard cover, which probably fits any Corolla of that same era 1988-1993.
Attached are some photos.

urrrrrgh.... dash covers give me night mares  

I'm hoping to get a dash cover that velcro will stick to... I have a couple things I want to decorate my dash with

I so wish I had a tach... never did find one in a junkyard.

Quoted from JedzWagn

urrrrrgh.... dash covers give me night mares  

Fugly, perhaps, but my dashboard does not have any cracks in them. I wish I could say the same for my windshield. Driving through Mexico, most roads are dirt, even in the outskirts of large cities.  Dirt = rocks = windshield damage.

Hello all, I've been so busy getting laid off 'n preparing for Microsoft certs that I've been away for a few...The dash cover idea also gives me a migrane but it appears the only "clean" approach to preventing further damage to the dash. Probing around online, I discovered a not so aesthetically offending cover made by Cover King. It's actually molded, heat molded I imagine, and goes for 65.99 + shipping. I'm waiting for payday before ordering. It looks like it might do the job. The link is...

https://store.coverking.com

Now to seek out decent seat covers...

If you're really good with the tools you can fin dash's from compatible ae** corollas in wrecking yards that have spent their lives covered with dash matts..

install one of those & take care of it with the right products park your car in shade as much as possible & or use a car cover..