Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
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Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Hi All,
I thought some of you might find this useful.
I have a 2009 4.0 V6 Hilux, who’s instrument gauge / cluster is scratched quite badly by car wash attendants who use a dirty rag and the previous drivers rings.
Here is a pic of the scratches at the base of the speedometer, by the reset stalk
SCRATCHES (1) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
And one of near the fuel and temp gauges.
SCRATCHES (3) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I wanted to try and minimize / polish out the scratches but in order to do a descent job thereof, I decided to remove the instrument cluster. The process is as follows.
Firstly, you need to remove the instrument outer binnacle. This is quite easy once you figure out that the thing you think is a screw is not a screw but a grommet of sorts that looks like this.
DASH SCREW (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
This grommet is at the 12 o’clock position on the underside of the binnacle as seen below when I thought I could unscrew it. I eventually used a small screwdriver to lever the grommet out. It popped out quite easily.
DONT BE FOOLED (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once the grommet has been removed, gently pull the outer binnacle toward you. It is just clipped in place. To make it easier, I used small plastic tyre levers from my mountain bike to carefully leaver the outer away, without leaving marks.
Outer binnacle removed.
OUTER (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once that has been accomplished, the instrument cluster is held in place by 3 screws.
INSTRUMENTS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Undo there screws and then gently rotate downwards the instrument cluster. This will allow you to access the multiplugs, of which there is a large one and a small one and a small ball and socket type connector holding the harness.
MULTIPLUGS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
With the miltiplugs and connector removed, the instrument cluster can be removed from the vehicle.
Now I suppose I could have stopped disassembling at this point, but since there was a bit of dust on the face of the instrument cluster, I decided to strip it down further. The various bits of the cluster are only held together with clips that I gently separated using my fingers.
Top clips
INSTRUMENT CLIPS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Bottom Clips
INSTRUMENT CLIPS (1) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once everything was undone, it looked like this
ALL APART (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
A close up shows the extent of the scratches
SCRATCHES BEFORE (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
SCRATCHES BEFORE 2 (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I used plastix by Meguiar’s to try and minimize and polish out the scratches, It is a plastic polish.
PLASTIX (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
After testing that the polish won’t do something untoward to the plastic by applying a small amount on a corner, I followed the instructions and polished the surface of the cluster.
The product worked pretty well, and removed 90 % of the scratches.
SCRATCHES AFTER (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Compared to the first pic, there is a huge improvement. The pic below still has some polish residue on it.
Afterwards, I washed the cover with warm soapy water to remove any further residue. Once I had dried it, reassembly was the reverse of the above.
Result, far fewer visible scratches.
AFTER IN DASH (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I hope you find this of benefit.
I thought some of you might find this useful.
I have a 2009 4.0 V6 Hilux, who’s instrument gauge / cluster is scratched quite badly by car wash attendants who use a dirty rag and the previous drivers rings.
Here is a pic of the scratches at the base of the speedometer, by the reset stalk
SCRATCHES (1) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
And one of near the fuel and temp gauges.
SCRATCHES (3) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I wanted to try and minimize / polish out the scratches but in order to do a descent job thereof, I decided to remove the instrument cluster. The process is as follows.
Firstly, you need to remove the instrument outer binnacle. This is quite easy once you figure out that the thing you think is a screw is not a screw but a grommet of sorts that looks like this.
DASH SCREW (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
This grommet is at the 12 o’clock position on the underside of the binnacle as seen below when I thought I could unscrew it. I eventually used a small screwdriver to lever the grommet out. It popped out quite easily.
DONT BE FOOLED (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once the grommet has been removed, gently pull the outer binnacle toward you. It is just clipped in place. To make it easier, I used small plastic tyre levers from my mountain bike to carefully leaver the outer away, without leaving marks.
Outer binnacle removed.
OUTER (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once that has been accomplished, the instrument cluster is held in place by 3 screws.
INSTRUMENTS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Undo there screws and then gently rotate downwards the instrument cluster. This will allow you to access the multiplugs, of which there is a large one and a small one and a small ball and socket type connector holding the harness.
MULTIPLUGS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
With the miltiplugs and connector removed, the instrument cluster can be removed from the vehicle.
Now I suppose I could have stopped disassembling at this point, but since there was a bit of dust on the face of the instrument cluster, I decided to strip it down further. The various bits of the cluster are only held together with clips that I gently separated using my fingers.
Top clips
INSTRUMENT CLIPS (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Bottom Clips
INSTRUMENT CLIPS (1) (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Once everything was undone, it looked like this
ALL APART (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
A close up shows the extent of the scratches
SCRATCHES BEFORE (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
SCRATCHES BEFORE 2 (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I used plastix by Meguiar’s to try and minimize and polish out the scratches, It is a plastic polish.
PLASTIX (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
After testing that the polish won’t do something untoward to the plastic by applying a small amount on a corner, I followed the instructions and polished the surface of the cluster.
The product worked pretty well, and removed 90 % of the scratches.
SCRATCHES AFTER (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
Compared to the first pic, there is a huge improvement. The pic below still has some polish residue on it.
Afterwards, I washed the cover with warm soapy water to remove any further residue. Once I had dried it, reassembly was the reverse of the above.
Result, far fewer visible scratches.
AFTER IN DASH (Small) by PD987789, on Flickr
I hope you find this of benefit.
09 4.0 V6 Auto 4x4.
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Thanks Paul, useful to know! I'll remember that product (Plastix)!
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Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Tx very helpfull
Mine also needs some attention
Mine also needs some attention
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Thanks,great tip
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Mooiman ....buurman het nou die dag meer as R500-00 betaal vir 'n nuwe plastiek lens by die agente.
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Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Will the polish take out white marks of the plastic, I have harks and scratches and it bugs the hell out of me.
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Thank you for sharing
Tumelo Maketekete
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Hi Wayne.waynza wrote:Will the polish take out white marks of the plastic, I have harks and scratches and it bugs the hell out of me.
I am no expert, but reading the instructions it seems the product is mostly designed to remove that cloudiness that some plastic develops. The scratch removal is a side benefit, so I think it should help remove those white marks.
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Good work Paul
I once had to remove scratches from some boat rev counters and used 2000 grit water sand paper and it also works well
I once had to remove scratches from some boat rev counters and used 2000 grit water sand paper and it also works well
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
useful thanks
John
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Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
I'm not too good with sandpaper, but I definitely going to give this a go. I will follow instructions
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Thanks Rookie! This will defo come in handy!
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Brasso metal polish also remove scratches from plastic.
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Excellent! Thanks a lot for this step by step. I have the same issue because of car wash guys and irritates the hell out of me.
Going to give this a go. :)
Going to give this a go. :)
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Just thought I might mention that toothpaste and a soft cloth also works like a charm. Polishet my Surfs rear lights with it and they look brand new.
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
great write-up!!
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Or Peanut Butter....
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Hi Paul
Good write-up! Where did you buy this product and what did it cost?
Good write-up! Where did you buy this product and what did it cost?
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GME Gx300 29meg & Vertex VX2200 VHF radio
Mikem load springs with greasable shackles and polybushes
Monroe Gas Magnum shocks
Kumho Road Venture AT - 30x9.5x15
National Luna Dual battery system
Frontrunner roofrack with s/steel table
Twin rear high lift jack points
Hilux4x4club sticker! ('nuf said!)
Echo3 4x4 offroad trailer with NL 74 Litre Fridge/Freezer
Dual loadbox slides
Wishlist:
Alu canopy
Warn Winch
Unlimited Fuel & Travel Budget!
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Re: Hilux: How to: remove scratches from instrument cluster:
Polar.
Apologies for the late reply. Been away setting budgets Ugh!
I bought it at my local MIDAS, and it cost me less than R100. Dont remember exactly, but it was about R89.00.
Take care.
Apologies for the late reply. Been away setting budgets Ugh!
I bought it at my local MIDAS, and it cost me less than R100. Dont remember exactly, but it was about R89.00.
Take care.
09 4.0 V6 Auto 4x4.