My guess is that spilled brake fluid causes the plastic to fail.  After 
having brake fluid changed I noticed it leaking out the front and bottom 
of the dash, and I guess the mechanic had spilled some.  The next day, 
screws and pieces of plastic from the instrument cluster started falling 
on my feet as I drove.

Mike <mjcatlin@wheel.dcn.davis.ca.us>
82 diesel

On Wed, 14 Aug 1996, Gerald Skerbitz wrote:

> Wow, weird. My '82's were all cracked up at the corners and I just swapped 
> in the '84's.  I wonder what makes them do this?  Heat? Cold?  Some kind of
> chemical getting on them?  Why was my '84s in such good shape?   Anyone else
> seeing this or know why they disintegrate?
> 
> On Wed, 14 Aug 1996 EdBuzz@aol.com wrote:
> []
> > vanagon.I dont need the instuments, just the black frame.For some reason the
> > one in my 87 Stinkcrow disintegrated and the instruments are hanging on by
> > one screw.Thanks for looking.
> --
> Gerry
> Gerald Skerbitz <gsker@med.umn.edu> U of MN Med School Admin 6-5379
> Home St. Paul,Ramsey County,Minnesota, USA
> 
> 
>