How To Dye/Paint Your Interior

The thing that has always bugged me about my black car is that it has a grey interior, it just looks odd in my mind.
I've thought about changing it to black many times but finding a black interior for these cars is hard because the only 2G with a black interior is the Special Edition Eclipse released in 99. Of course Eclipses were only sold in the US at that point and that's where most were to be found and I didn't want to pay to ship a complete interior.

So I started to research painting/dying my interior (not the seats or carpet though). That's when I came across SEM Paints. The make a line of paint and prep products that are made specifically for painting/dying vinyl and plastic. Everyone raves about this stuff so I had to try it for myself.

I rolled out to the local auto body supply shop and came back with all of this:


TSP - This is an all purpose cleaner used for removing grease and wax.
SEM Plastic/Leather Prep - SEM's spray on cleaner for removing grease, wax, finger prints, etc.
SEM Sand Free - A primer of sorts, sand free allows the plastic/vinyl to open up allowing the paint to sink into the panel. You apply your first coat of color coat while the sand free is still wet.
SEM Color Coat (Landau Black) - The color coat paint (use whatever color you want).
Red Scuff pad - For scuffing the plastic/vinyl a bit.
Dish Scrub pad and dish soap - For cleaning the plastic/vinyl.
Tack Cloth - A sticky cloth that picks up lint from the surface before and between coats.

Not pictured is a charcoal filter mask, I highly recommend wearing one.

Close up of the SEM products to see the part numbers.


Here's the test panel I choice, the driver side center console cover.


Put some dish soap and hot water in a bucket and grab the scrub pad.


Clean both sides of the panel with the soap and water.



Then hose it off.


Now you can either let it dry or wipe it dry, I choose to air dry the panel. Then spray the TSP all over, let it sit for 15 minutes, then hose it off.


Let it air dry this time and wash it with the soap and water again, hose it off and let it air dry again.


Time for the final prep stag, spray the SEM Plastic/Leather Prep on and wipe it off with a clean rag, change rags often. I did this twice.


Now it's time to put on the coat of SEM Sand Free, the instructions say to apply a medium coat of the Sand Free.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1029.jpg[/img]

Now while the Sand Free is still wet, apply a light/dust coat of the Color Coat you choose.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1030.jpg[/img]

I let it dry 10 minutes between coats, here's the 2nd.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1031.jpg[/img]

3rd coat.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1033.jpg[/img]

The 5th and final coat.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1034.jpg[/img]

A comparison picture with the passenger side panel.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1037.jpg[/img]

Here's the panel out in the sun light.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1041.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/G2Rac/96%20Talon%20TSI%20AWD/Black%20Interior/IMGP1042.jpg[/img]

Overall, I'm very happy with the results. I'll let the panel dry for a few more days then I'll paint the inside of it. I've also got a few other panels here that I will paint. When I go out to my parents again (this weekend), I'll bring the rest of the interior home.
I'll update this as I continue to paint/dye everything.

Hey man nice job!

Now do mine!

Sure, pay shipping both ways.

How does it hold up to scrapes and scuffs?

From what I've read, no but time will tell.

Awesome! I've been planning to do this with the grey pieces in my car. I have a 99 but the lower part of the dash as well as those side panels are still grey. Where did you buy the stuff?

Why paint the inside of it? Seems like a waste of time and effort to me. You're never going to see it unless you take the panels off.

If my last Dye job dose not hold up I will have to try SEM out.

Finish Line on Topsail road in Mount Pearl.



Not sure, I just want it to be complete even though I'll never see it lol.

I did my entire interior on my 2001 Celica.

Held up great.

I had this done on my talon. My car is Red/Black exterior so I thought it would be cool to have black interior instead of the Grey. Boy was I wrong. My car for some reason started to look like a Toy or a rice car. That same week I gave it all away for grey interior. IMO I like the grey interior more than ever now

Grant, good to hear.

Deep, maybe it's just because of the Red exterior?! I love a black interior in a black car.

Yeah that's exactly what I was thinking. But even on a full red 2g I think it would have looked good. But since my car is 2 toned with black it didn't look good. But Im sure yours will come out nice

I painted the air bag cover and the passenger side center console cover today, here are the results.

Air bag cover after 5 coats and maybe an hour dry time.


Air bag cover and console cover. The console panel has the 5th coat on minutes before this photo.


All 3 pieces.


Can't wait to start dying even more parts!

May I recommend a hair dryer to speed up the curing process? Really helps embed the dye into the material as well.

I'll give it a shot Grant. My car is just sitting till next spring so no rush in having the dash finished.

Got more parts dyed tonight.



I'm away for the weekend but I hope to get the door panels done on Monday night. Hopefully I will have most of the interior done by the end of the week.

Here's all the parts I've dyed now, passenger door panel is being worked on right now.


I put the air bag panel back in the dash to see the contrast between the factory gray and the new black. I have to say it looks like an OEM finish. First picture has no flash, second one does.

Wow, really nice. I'm going to have to give this a whirl in my trunk and the rest of my interior. I'm one of the lucky folk who has a '99 with the black interior so I'm 60% to complete black as it is

Two shots of my interior. I have to say it isn't the toughest paint around. I might end up pulling everything out again, scotch brite it, throw two coats down, and three coats of clear coat over top. I'm not sure if it will cure harder, but just with manouvering my MDF trunk board into place, I managed to scratch through to the grey somewhat easily. For the mean time I'll scotch brite a patch and spray some of it into a cup and apply with a brush just so I don't have to take everything out again.

I'll also note that my interior was the 'all-black' interior stock from factory. I did the console sides, glove box, piece beside the glove box, piece under the dash and all pieces that go with it, and the two side trunk pieces. Didn't do center back as mine has a crack in it, so either going to fiberglass it or buy one used/new with a crack.

edit: I also dyed my carpet black... dying the carpet black was probably the best interior clean-up I could think of...just so freaking nice, pictures just really can't describe it.

edit: the SEM black I used for the panels was Satin Black, as opposed to Glossy Black...blends in somewhat nicely into the stock black, but it is different if you're anal about matching. In most lighting conditions, you can't tell.

edit2: I guess I'll also note I went through 3 cans doing just the pieces listed.

edit2: and for the love of god, if you are doing this...WEAR GLOVES! I've seen too many youtube video tutorials showing a nicely prepped vinyl piece, then they proceed to handle it with their bare hands to position it...I made the mistake of putting my 'clean' bare thumb after the plastic prep wipe down and sure enough, it flaked right off at that exact spot...every where else is golden.

How long did you let your pieces sit? Mine are stilled laid in my storage room lol.

I leave them on the drop cloth for 10 hours after the last coat before handling. I'm going to start doing more pieces this week since I've finally got a bit of time.

Color I used was Landau black it is the exact same as the OEM black.

I also wrapped some of my interior pieces to suit my taste and once I go out to my parents place next week, I'll get my mom to make me a new shift boot





I need to buy new door boxes for my door panels though.

I let it sit for two days before I put everything back in.

I took out my ashtray to bring in for a colour match and the Satin Black was closer than the Landau Black, maybe the colour swatches he had were a bit off.

I might have to get a can of Landau black and spray one of the strut tower covers again and see if it matches better. If it does, I'll take everything out again and lay down some clear coat too.

It matched my OEM radio bezel perfect (which was black).
I did however shoot the bezel with SEM to be 100% sure it would match.

Made a bit more progress. I've now burned through cans 5 and 6. Doing the bigger pieces takes up a lot more of the dye.



Close up of the dash.


The gauge cluster bezel is black from the factory and the Landau black matches perfectly.

Wow! Hands down! I wanna do it too

That looks phenomenal. Great job Anthony

If I may ask, would you recommend the SEM paint for upholstery? The carpet on my Eclipse is so nasty that even after giving it a professional shampoo it still looks dirty so I was thinking of using the SEM paint to freshen it up. My only concern is the texture when it dries. I don't want it to feel like sandpaper if you follow me. Another alternative is to replace the carper and the cost of that is about $240 US. Not cheap by any means.

Miguel, I didn't use SEM products on my carpet, but I used Duplicolor Vinyl & Fabric paint and it worked alright. Looks really damn good ( I have a picture I haven't uploaded yet with the carpet in place with the seats out ), but there is a patch that wore away with just dry rubbing it...it didn't really seem to penetrate the fibers as well as I was hoping. On the other hand, it cost me $40 to spray so I can't complain too much.

I used a brush to try to work it into the fibers but the brush I grabbed was synthetic and the spray paint just started gooping up. However, at the end, I would consider the carpet comfortable enough to sleep on. It's a lil crunchy, but nothing that would make working naked, lying upside down under the dash uncomfortable.

And to be honest, it's not like I roll around without floormats...so the places my carpet would see wear, are covered with mats.

Miguel, personally I'm not a fan of painting the carpet though it has worked for some people.

What I will most like do is the RIT dye method. Here's the pm convo I had with Eclipse GSX 61/Josh from JNZ over on Talk.



Thanks again for the help man, I found the dye at Micheal's.

Last thing I wanted to ask is, what did you do with the left over water in the bin?[/QUOTE]

I dumped it in the grass and hosed it down.[/QUOTE]

Rit Dye can be bought at Micheal's.

Been a while.
Dash is in.


Videos talking about the process and showing how to do it.
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vf6g2ltHkA
Part 2 (actual painting) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AnRhtGl7DY
Part 3 (focusing on door panels) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBPO8NIlMkY

Got my trunk panels done, going to try and get the rest of them done so I can put the rear interior back into the car but first I need to get more from the shop (if they can find any, they can't right now).


I also took about my door panels completely, this will allow me to work on them better and prep/paint each material differently.
The plastic piece on the bottom of the door panel has little posts that pass through the vinyl part of the door panel and then they are melted to make the panel one piece.


I drilled the head off (melted part) and then I was able to take apart the plastic piece. I will screw it back together with some small screws and washers. (I've got enough pictures taken to do a how to on this so when I get them dyed and reassembled I'll post up).


I'm working on stripping all the SEM off the door panels because as you can see in the above picture I screwed up. I was lax on the prep work the the SEM started to peel while the panels where just sitting in my work shop!!! SEM soap, Vinyl prep and plastic prep are needed to prep correctly. Here's a video I did talking about prepping the door panels. I'm still stripping the old stuff off so I haven't redone them yet. I'm sorry about the crappy light I was filming with my Galaxy S2 because my camera was dead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBPO8NIlMkY

Next up it's time to dye my carpet. I'm using the RIT dye method.
According to the bottle of RIT dye, you need to use 1 bottle for each pound of fabric. Knowing that I weighed myself with and with out the carpet in my arms and came up with 10lbs, not super accurate but it works. I bought 10 bottles of the liquid RIT dye and 1 kilogram box of salt (Salt will help the dye get into the carpet.

Step 1 Optional, remove the sound deadening fluff from the back of the carpet.



Step 2 Use a carpet cleaning product (or steam cleaner) and a brush to clean the carpet. Power wash it also, if this means you need to bring it to a coin wash then do it. After that hang it to dry, I tossed it on the clothes line. Make sure you get ALL of the cleaning product/soap out.


Step 3 Grab all your dye and some rocks, you'll use these to weigh the carpet down and keep it under the water. I put them in zip lock bags to keep dirt out of the dye.



Step 4 Grab a big Rubbermaid bin (mine is big not sure on the exact size) and a bucket and start filling said bin with HOT water. I used water from my tap since it comes out pretty damned hot! Also make sure you have the bin where ever you want it to live while doing this because you won't be moving it when it's full of water!


Step 5 Once the bin is full start adding dye.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13155020.jpg[/img]

Once you get 5 bottles in give it a good stir then put the final 5 in and stir again.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13155703.jpg[/img]

Step 6 Pour your salt in and stir.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13155740.jpg[/img]

Keep stirring it!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13160001.jpg[/img]

Step 7 Put your carpet in and put the rocks on top to keep it under the water.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13160656.jpg[/img]

After this I drug it under my deck and added some rocks on top to keep the lid on. I plan to leave it there till Thursday afternoon then I'll take it out, hose it off till the water runs clear and then let it dry.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...WD/Black%20Interior/2011-09-13174947.jpg[/img]

Very impressive!! I can't wait till I can see the final result!

Guess I should post my findings back here.

I gave Landau black a try and it still isn't a match.

There is not much difference between the Satin Black and the Landau Black. There is a Shadow Black that looks to be a bit closer to my black dash that I'm going to have to try out.

Nevertheless, all the painting is holding up great with a few exceptions of where I scarred it fairly deep.

And yes, can't wait til you are all done Anthony

That sucks Andrew, let me know if you find a perfect match for the OEM black though.

I'm going to have the rear interior and hatch stuff in this weekend. I need to drop the headliner so I can do something about it too.

Hey Anthony, when can we see the final result on this!?

Nope, cause I'm not done lol. Still have more to do with it.

This talon is going to be better than it was when it came off the show room floor!

Hahaha, thanks Brandon!

I will say one thing; PREP WORK! Don't skimp or it will bite you in the ass. I've got to redo my door panels and my rear interior panels because I was lazy. Also with some of the plastic panels using Adhesion promoter is a VERY good idea.