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Today at Atelier Kaz - Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background

Defrost panel, Bilstein damper, iPod adaptor 03

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Before removing the Alpine Audio Head Unit in preparation for the dashboard removal, temporarily installed the USA Spec PA11-HON.




As always, I prefer using the connector located behind the left side seat.
Pass the adaptor loom along the factory cable behind the centre speaker panel.




I already serviced the head unit long time ago so no need to worry about burning the ACC line.
Quick check using the classic iPod mini.
Will modify the centre armrest glove box later.






Time to remove the entire dashboard and replace the defrost panel.




Initially, the owner and even myself thought that the higher temperature was helping in reducing the noise from the cracked defrost panel but I think I found the reason.
There were two more new cracks on the panel at exactly the symmetrical position.


As we didn't want to see the same thing happening on the new panel, I looked into the way in reinforcing the panel from the back and while I can create extra plastic layer, I was worried that it could cause new stress point resulting in crack at different position especially after looking at where the two new cracks happened.
There is no easy fix without carrying out extensive endurance testing in order to prove that the new fix won't cause new issues so I'm afraid I must install it as it is for the time being.

My defrost panel is also cracked and getting worce so when the time comes, I'll use my new panel as the guinea pig.

Comments

  1. NSXGB's Avatar
    I replaced my defrost panel (with a second hand one) over a year ago now. I reinforced the back of the panel around the sensor with some fibreglass matting to hopefully avoid it cracking in the future but as you say I'm worried that it would cause it to crack in a different place. So far it has been fine :touch wood: but by the look of the car you are working on it is liable to crack elsewhere, so it looks like something we have to live with.
    It does seem to get subjected to a lot of expansion as I noticed when the old one was cracked - when cold, there could be as much as a 3-4mm gap in the crack, when hot it would close right up and look like there was no crack at all.
    Does anyone make a CF replacement? That would be useful.
  2. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Hi, NSXGB. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    Two materials with different expansion rate bonded together so interesting to see how it goes.


    Ordinary aftermarket carbon parts won't survive the harsh environment at the defrost panel.
    It needs to withstand the thermal shock of freezing cold status and suddenly being cooked by the hot air from the CCU in DEF mode so careful consideration on the direction of fibre for each layer required.
    On top of this, the carbon will change its characteristic under UV ray so needs some sort of protection coating.

    Could be used as extra layer under the OEM defrost panel but considering the endurance, not going to be cheap option....

    Kaz
    Updated 20-06-2014 at 11:55 AM by Kaz-kzukNA1 (Extra info)
  3. NSXGB's Avatar
    I'll update if & when it cracks finally. It did survive a very hot day last year where my centre console actually bubbled up badly but the defrost panel did survive.
  4. NSXGB's Avatar
    Update - still OK....Had a good look when the windscreen was replaced and it's perfect. It did look like there was a small crack but it was the grain on the surface of the panel.
  5. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Hi, NSXGB.
    Thank you for the update.

    I need to replace mine as well and possibly, I need to do it this winter as the crack at my A/C evaporator is getting worse….. The whole dashboard out job in the cold winter day……….. I hope I won’t crack other plastic parts…. I already noticed that the plastic tabs at the A-pillar interior trims are getting very weak as I cracked one of them the other day while running the power line for the dash cam on my NSX.
    Hope Honda is still making the later spec black interior panels as I would like to convert mine to it.

    Kaz