Remove and replace your scratched up instrument cluster plexiglass

Just did this. Incredibly easy. Thanks again for the write up!

 

I finally tried the Meguiars Plastx with a soft cotton polishing cloth (Simoniz) on an already somewhat hazed cluster cover. You can still see that some of the scratching at the bottom edges but it's 90% better than what it was. Now that I know it works, I'll figure out a way to work on the extreme edges (q-tip under the soft cotton cloth likely).

 

Nice work.

The vent and instrument surround pops off pretty easily. Start working from the vent side. When installing be sure that the tabs for the instrument surround are in the holes or you'll get a small gap that will make you do it again.

 

Yes. Pull the gray trim straight out. Just with your fingers. Radio surround first then the cluster surround. You’ll have clear access to the full lens and it’ll be so much easier to polish.

 

So radio surround has to come off first, then cluster surround starting from left or right vent?

 

Yes. Sorry that I missed that step. The radio surround wraps around the right side of the gauge cluster surround.

They're both held just with clips.

 

Sub'd too. Will be replacing mine, all scratched up already.

 

Yes, you have to pull the radio trim first. The cluster trim is a little trickier because you have to manipulate it around the steering wheel. It'll fit, you just need to move blinkers, tilt wheel, etc. when needed. Just friction clips so grab and pull. It'll come out. There are a couple of small, clear rubber bumper pieces that'll stay in place on the bottom of your cluster lens so be careful not to knock those free. They'd be easy to lose. Really, pulling the trim will give you so much better access and it's so easy once you've done it once. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the detailed explanation ... we'll see how it goes (when I get some time), fingers crossed.

 

I'm gonna get one of these and apply a layer of some self healing paint protection film on it then a nice ceramic coat!

 

And once you're in that far, you might as well pull the for screws that hold the instrument cluster in and look behind it for the Taco Truck easter egg.

 

I was just wondering if ceramic coat would be a good idea...

 

Why not? It definitely would make it much more scratch resistant. I'm about to do my new galaxy s9 screen too.

 

i thought i was the only one who scratched their bezel within a week of purchase! lol Thanks for the post, i'll be trying the protective film in the future

 

Just curious how are these all getting scratched up in the first place to where you need to replace it?

 

These work very well, and they haven’t scratched yet. They are used to clean the expensive TeleVue eye glass pieces via CloudyNights. I thought I’d try it on the plastic panel and it worked very well to clean the dust and spots. 4”x4” ply.

 

Where do you get those?

 

I can’t find the thread on CloudyNights that leads to the kit. A pack of these 4x’s and 2 different liquids were recommended to clean the TeleVue glass eye pieces and the glass for the NexStar Evolution telescopes. I figured the ply was probably good enough for a soft plastic.

$16 Intrinsics Petite Silken Wipes (4 x 4")

https://www.amazon.com/Intrinsics-L..._rd_wg=w3xjV&refRID=CB1VC746ZSEKT9KYPSSN&th=1

 

This is funny. My truck is brand new and that plexiglass was already covered in scratches from the factory.

 

that's what i thought too. thanks for this thread!