How Do I Clean Up After Safelite?

[BigMex]

After over 40k miles, I finally had to get a new windshield.

TLDR: The Safelite installer spilled one drop of Betaseal primer onto my luxurious plastic dashboard.
How do I get the spot out?

I'll add some pics here in a second. The installer was forthcoming and apologetic about the mistake, and hey... mistakes happen. I didn't have a cow on him or anything like that. I love my Bronco and would be happy to get the spot out. He said he tried wiping it off and using paint thinner. That made me cringe a little bit because I know plastics (like the dashboard) don't like solvents. The pic I'll post is what was left after his best efforts - and my effort with a wet microfiber cloth, some elbow grease, and then also a microfiber with isopropyl alcohol.

On the cracked windshield front, I'm pretty chill. I got three years and 40k miles before even a chip... and if you factor in that I drove an FJ Cruiser for 10 years and 140k+ miles with a factory windshield, I've won the lottery in the vertical glass department.

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[flip]

Find some touchup that matches and tiny brush? That's nasty shit and short of a getting in there with a dental pick or plastic razor blade and gently removing, no idea what type of chemical will take it off and not damage the plastic. Maybe start with isopropyl and see if that loosens it up any, I'd tape off around the spot in case it starts bleeding.

 

[Dreamer]

I would have Safelite replaced the dashboard with a new one. They did the damage they should replace it

 

[Hemisfear]

Find some touchup that matches and tiny brush? That's nasty shit and short of a getting in there with a dental pick or plastic razor blade and gently removing, no idea what type of chemical will take it off and not damage the plastic. Maybe start with isopropyl and see if that loosens it up any, I'd tape off around the spot in case it starts bleeding.

Finding a good touch up paint is easier said than done, I've been looking for over a year!

 

[flip]

Just spoke with my body shop manager and he said there's nothing that takes Betaseal off including lacquer thinner. He said if it was fresh, they've had some luck using an aerosol named Fastball but best bet is tooth pick and try to get as much off as possible or replace it. Ironically, the folks we sublet our glass to just did a bronco windshield but dropped a tool and gashed the panel. Glass company at the dash.

 

[HighVelocity]

https://www.amazon.com/BCSmyer-Bobb...8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

 

[BigMex]

https://www.amazon.com/BCSmyer-Bobbleheads-Decorations-Collection-Decoration/dp/B094VG5S39/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2JXZN1K2K9ID5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YDQjdPGs87PueIAT3xOs__hpqhWvgjiPSc_XeG-RrRaPhbni1ttYGQddXAy6_zVOoBF-LKJCs-aHbYyhXELcd99Jnv3gFNoWSngCBIKpNwTXESOtwGtWsA7f4xLhkSIzuD8RzfbaQvnY-EQ13bTlz4HUWUl2y6d5eY_fVInsy0Qqino77eGNZFa2XzHUu-PRlbgJQVqAw41YfoJVube0LWX1CtBnZ4jDPTam1aFmbvTiAZW3Vk2R2kg195TryMSkGpdB2mTb7jylKjCLS8fo6bKGVwSAIFk8w1COOr-hMng.d1HZKL9fP5fs7NAsX5FFuX4zMlMkxUts21fuCSP30D8&dib_tag=se&keywords=hula+girl+dashboard+bobble&qid=1726087844&sprefix=hula+girl,aps,173&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

You got me to double LOL. I missed the Amazon link the first time.

 

[BigMex]

Just spoke with my body shop manager and he said there's nothing that takes Betaseal off including lacquer thinner. He said if it was fresh, they've had some luck using an aerosol named Fastball but best bet is tooth pick and try to get as much off as possible or replace it. Ironically, the folks we sublet our glass to just did a bronco windshield but dropped a tool and gashed the panel. Glass company at the dash.

Sorry about the gash, and thanks for a great idea! I appreciate it when someone who knows what he's talking about shares some feedback.

UPDATE: no luck with the toothpick.

 

[BigMex]

Now I'm debating... besides the hassle involved, and facing the prospect of a dashboard replacement (I'm thinking I don't want more "work" done - keeping things factory as much as possible in this case is better).

On one hand, maybe I just embrace the kintsugi-ness of this, keep the spot, and just know that it is part of my Bronco's story? There are things worth getting bent-out-of-shape for and this doesn't seem like it is one of them.

A couple months ago I went nuclear on someone who scraped his shopping cart down the side of my Bronco (I'm glad I was there IN the vehicle - nice tinting). When I jumped out and started to drop some righteous anger, I realized he scraped along the side of my AR Stirrup Magnum sidestep and I immediately cooled down. After all, they're aluminum, so no rust, and blocking parking lot idiots is the primary reason I bought them. I was still angry that the dude never even looked back until I about jumped him and ripped his head off, but then I was fine.

This is one of those things that will not affect the performance or longevity of the vehicle, and I'm not selling it ever, so resale is not a worry for me either. Hmmm...

 

[thenewjs]

Safelite sucks.

Safelite replaced the windshield in a previous vehicle, broke clips, didnt replace them, left trim hanging and was generally sloppy. I paid the $800 to wrap my BRaptor windshield. No issues.

 

[Area51BS]

Looks more like the factory color was removed during clean up. Repaint the dash. I’ve thought of doing black.

 

[flip]

The closest thing I've seen that might match the dash color and sheen would be a rattle can grey primer. I'm redoing a '75 Ford 3000 tractor and using SEM etching primer which is pretty close to the grey dash and is flat instead of gloss. Rust-oleum has a grey primer that is pretty close too. You could spray a little in a cap and use a toothpick to strategically paint over the primer and at least make it a little less noticeable. The problem with things like this is once you see, you can't un-see it and will either piss you off every time you drive or eventually be able to ignore it.

 

[cbrenthus]

Safelite sucks.

Safelite replaced the windshield in a previous vehicle, broke clips, didnt replace them, left trim hanging and was generally sloppy. I paid the $800 to wrap my BRaptor windshield. No issues.

I had Safelite replace my wife's Pacifica windshield a few years back, and the tech did a great job. However, due to the thread linked below, I'll never allow another windshield replacement unless I'm sitting in a chair watching the whole time.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/safelite-windshield-replacement-leads-to-worse-damage.66505/

 

[cbrenthus]

As for the dash, if it were me, I would try to see what having it wrapped in matching MGV would cost

 

[GPPBronco]

Now I'm debating... besides the hassle involved, and facing the prospect of a dashboard replacement (I'm thinking I don't want more "work" done - keeping things factory as much as possible in this case is better).

This is smart. After a couple unfortunate incidents that required significant body/interior trim work, I can tell you it will never be the same. We can complain all we want about build quality from the factory (there are legitimate complaints to be made), but the quality of service/precision you can expect from Ford Service will leave you wondering if blindfolds are part of the FoMoCo service department dress code.

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