Hi all,
sorry for my English, I'm not a car terms expert.

My 1996 Barchetta is experiencing some strange "rusty-like" bubbles on the small painted area just under the front glass and some bubbles appeared also on the plastic part of the dashboard.

It' a pretty "stable" situation because it's about 10 years they do not expand or new bubbles appear but, giving the fact I'm bringing my car to the body shop for some repairs, I was thinking what could be the origin.

Any hints?

Ciao!

For the bubbles on the dash board take a pin and pierce *one* on the smaller ones and then squeeze with the back of a teaspoon to expel and trapped air, moving from edge of bubble to the pin hole. The keep an eye on it for a few days/week to see how it goes. If all is looking good then try the next biggest bubble.

Thanks s130!
What do you think could be the cause?

Anyone knows if the painted part is plastic or metal?

Thanks.

WileECoyote said:

Thanks s130!
What do you think could be the cause?

Anyone knows if the painted part is plastic or metal?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

The painted part is metal. It extends across the whole width of the car right up to the front of the dashboard. Where you have the bubbling black material then this is actually a stick on vinyl layer to match the black plastic of the front of the dashboard/instrument cluster bezel.

If you get a magnet then you can explore the limits of that metal surface.

I'm hoping that the bubbles on the dash material are trapped air and not rust bubbling up behind. That is why I suggested starting with a small bubble to begin with. If trapped air then the material should be able to be flattened. If it is rust/similar bubbling up then you have a more difficult task ahead of you.

As to the cause then I would think it is probably due to original poor metal preparation before painting and/or defective paintwork. Bearing in mind that even at the best of times the Barchetta by virtue of being a soft top car is a more damp environment.

Thanks,
that's true!
Is this a whole item that can be replaced by unmounting the dashboard or is a structural part of the car frame?
My fear is that there could be rust underneath and this means it needs to be replaced.
Does this implies also removing the front glass?

Thanks!

Hi,
I've tried but unfortunately it's not an air bubble but a rust bubble....

Is this dashboard metal piece in any way replaceable?

Thanks!

Yes I think it is replaceable but until I check then the price, let alone if it is still available will be way too expensive compared to having the original refurbished.

Sorry but I've never had to research / delve into this area of the "B" so I am as ill informed as you are.