Remove and replace your scratched up instrument cluster plexiglass

After seeing this thread the other day I contacted my dealer on a new one as well since mine looks like it’s been through hell and back.

$32 bucks later and I’m 46th in line to receive one. I’m told 40 ship at a time from Toyota. They have to be aware that this is a significant issue spanning 3rd gens or they really like making a few extra dollars.

 

This works very well on the bezel.

 

Any recommendations on how to properly clean instrument cluster plexiglass without scratching it?

 

do you wipe it down first with a wet cloth and then this?

 

Depending on lighting, it’s impossible to get it scratch free. In the garage it’s pretty good but once the sunlight hits it you can really tell how bad the plastic is.

 

Might be doing this soon. The person who washed my truck before leaving the dealership must have used the dirtiest rag to “clean” mine up

 

Crap. I just used one. But surprisingly does not look worse.

 

Not all microfiber clothes are the same. I have some that seem kind of course and are very thin and others that are thicker and much softer. As someone previously mentioned regardless what you use if the wiping cloth is dry your are dragging dust across the bezel which scratches. I try to use a very lightly damped cloth to gently clean off the dust. Then a super soft lens cloth like the ones used for cameras or eye glasses for the final drying of the left over moisture from the cleaning cloth.

 

I removed the gauge pod and wiped down the lens with PlastX to help polish out the scratches from the previous owner. It does not compare to new but looks much better then before.

 

In the sun it definitely still shows the scratches.

 

Try using a vacuum with a soft brush attachment on the end. Don't wipe with it, DAB with it. Lift the dust off with the suction. The brush I have came with a Kirby vacuum cleaner and has bristles almost 2 inches long. Really soft. There is bound to be others out there that are softer. Try to find one with boar's hair bristles, not plastic bristles.

 

Great thread - read it all the way through. Related question - Any ideas on how to prevent dust from getting through the hole in the Plexi? I am wondering if maybe finding a small rubber band or maybe even a piece of black Velcro cut just right could sit at the base of the little trip odometer thing to block the hole. Any thoughts?

 

Is there a small rubber washer that would slip over?

 

This weekends project has arrived. So looks like expel clear bra or ceramic coating seem to be the only true fix for longevity and cleaning purposes? I’m not
Trying to have to replace every year. Mine was cracked and badly scratched from the start. Before and afters coming soon.

 

This may be a ridiculous stretch, but in theory, could someone with the right fabrication equipment recreate this part with a stronger, more scratch-proof material? 3D printing or what not? I mean, you'd probably have a few thousand people willing to pay $50 for it.

 

Mothers Plastic Polish FTW. Works wonders on scratched clear coat, too.

 

That is how I scratched mine...apparently the softest vacuum head from Rigid isn't soft enough. Holy crap, mine looks bad.

 

AJ, let us know how the Expel adheres to the convex surface. I have the Expel here and anticipate doing this on one I would order in and clear coat with Expel as soon as it comes out of the shipping box.

Yeah, if it's plastic it has probably been cut across the bottom of the bristles. That's why I recommended a boar's hair brush. A little softer.

 

By the way, Meg's Ultimate compound will polish these out just fine. Now to get rid of the dirt behind the plastic.

 

3M self healing PPF. Adhered well. Once all of the humidity dried out it’s crystal clear. Practiced on my old lens first then did it on a new one. I’m done changing lenses out every 6 months.