Brought my airbag for the recall and a few weeks later the dash started this.
 

Does replacing the airbag on the passenger side effect the dashboard, where removing it causes the dash to flex.

Or is my dash just going and it has nothing to do with the work that was perform.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...d39b2277c8.jpg

Coincidence. This happens to all 8's

^ This.

If you RX8 is parked outside it happens more often as the sun's heat and cycles of heat and cold over time degrades the dash. It seems not to happen so often for RX8's that are garaged and/or covered. Just the info from my local dealership that has replaced more than a few of these.

Also not a good idea to use any protectants like Armourall on the dash, as they also can degrade the dash material over time.

My car has been garaged it's whole life and when I do drove it, I have covered parking at work and use a sun shade. I don't use amorall or any of that crap either. It just happens over time, there is no way to prevent it, I have seen it happen on many garage queens.

Probably just going to have an upholsterer re-vinyl mine for like $100.

Yeah we have had a few locals do that, looks okay. I was bragging because mine had not done it yet and then it went full retard in couple of month span, :lol:

I plan to wrap mine in alcantara.

Interesting idea... how will that work with the airbag, or do you care? I would think it would have a hard time punching through.

My understanding is that passenger side airbags deploy to the windshield first, so timing isn't AS important as the steering wheel bag. Here's a guy who had a shop do it on his Lotus steering wheel. . . though, apparently, you just need to score some areas to allow the bag to break through.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f92/custom-oem-elise-steering-wheel-check-out-w-pics-97939/#/topics/97939?page=1&_k=rkqf5y

My issue has been finding ANY local upholsterer willing to cover an airbag panel.

Hey 9krpmrx8, I don't doubt your personal experiences in the Texas climate. In my dealership's experience here in New Jersey, the dashs they had to replace mostly came on cars that were parked outside. Seems our hot summers to very cold winter temps. cycles accelerates the deterioration process over time. And yes I had read,in other automotive discussions ,that the ingredients in Armourall, and the like, can inadvertently lead to cracks.

one quote: "posts in various newsgroups that say Armour All is no good and causes
damage to the dash and other plastic parts. I recall one note saying the reason it can cause the dash to crack and split
is that it seals the surface and does not let it "breathe".

Nah, my buddy bought a brand new one a year ago and you can already see the lines where it will start to crack. It's just a shitty design, my Integra GSR has had 18 Texas summers and there is not a single crack on the dash or air bag cover. Same with my daughters 21 year old Accord.

No lines yet on my 2008 RX8 dash. Car is garaged. Obviously the materials are substandard for the design and conditions, we can agree on that. But around here the garaged RX8s seem to last longer without cracks.

if that ever happens to mine i'm gonna flock it

Dash cracks on the air bag cover are very annoying. Out of the three RX-8's that I own, two have the passenger side air bag cracking. Just be glad you don't own a Porsche 944.. My 85 944's dash looks terrible and has multiple cracks. A very poor display of materials indeed. Luckily the air bag cover is easy to replace and doesn't require removing the entire dash for repair.