Scratches Inside of guage
08-08-2017, 02:17 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Scratches Inside of guage
These are not on the exterior, or I'd have restored it with a plastic polish. They are in the 'inner side' of the gauge which to me a is a WTF scenario - I'm thinking alien techs are to blame. Any ideas as to the cause or the cure?
I've owned the car since 2006 (it's a 2003); the scratches showed up a few years ago.
I've owned the car since 2006 (it's a 2003); the scratches showed up a few years ago.
08-08-2017, 02:19 PM
#2
Last weekend I fully broke down a gauge cluster that was a throwaway from eBay. The LCD screens on the gauge clusters can get little gremlins inside them & produce some strange effects. I think you can replace the actual LCD screen back there with some careful disassembly, but I have no idea where to get new LCDs. Right now I have 2 sets that both have flaws, so I'm just living with mine.
08-08-2017, 02:36 PM
#3
Race Director
Did the scratches show up after some extreme hot/cold temperature cycles?
Either the LCD or the polarizing filter over it are crazed...I suspect living with it and spending money are your two options.
If you have a pair of polarized sunglasses, put them on and see if the "scratches" disappear when you change your viewing angle. If so, _maybe_ it could be resolved by disassembling the cluster and replacing the polarizing filter...
At least you don't have the "snowflake" issue - so the LCD still seems good. The sunglass test is free to perform and will immediately help you see whether the artifacts are from stress in the polarizing film.
Either the LCD or the polarizing filter over it are crazed...I suspect living with it and spending money are your two options.
If you have a pair of polarized sunglasses, put them on and see if the "scratches" disappear when you change your viewing angle. If so, _maybe_ it could be resolved by disassembling the cluster and replacing the polarizing filter...
At least you don't have the "snowflake" issue - so the LCD still seems good. The sunglass test is free to perform and will immediately help you see whether the artifacts are from stress in the polarizing film.
08-09-2017, 09:57 AM
#4
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for input. We only have insanely hot/freaking hot cycles down here. Cold isn't in a Floridian's vocabulary (unless you count 70 degrees as cold - we get all giddy about temps that Artic-ly low) I'll try the polarized sunglasses test - great suggestion.
I had worked myself up to images of a bored tech taking the cluster apart (at $150 per hour) and then reassembling it with the "oops" effect in place and gong all valet, "it was like that when you brought it in."
I had worked myself up to images of a bored tech taking the cluster apart (at $150 per hour) and then reassembling it with the "oops" effect in place and gong all valet, "it was like that when you brought it in."
08-09-2017, 11:47 AM
#5
Thanks for input. We only have insanely hot/freaking hot cycles down here. Cold isn't in a Floridian's vocabulary (unless you count 70 degrees as cold - we get all giddy about temps that Artic-ly low) I'll try the polarized sunglasses test - great suggestion.
I had worked myself up to images of a bored tech taking the cluster apart (at $150 per hour) and then reassembling it with the "oops" effect in place and gong all valet, "it was like that when you brought it in."
I had worked myself up to images of a bored tech taking the cluster apart (at $150 per hour) and then reassembling it with the "oops" effect in place and gong all valet, "it was like that when you brought it in."
08-09-2017, 01:10 PM
#6
Race Director
Well, the good news is that the cluster is easy to take apart. The bad news is that the LCD segments - at least those in the cluster in my '99 - are sealed up tighter than some old white guy euphemism about a bride-to-be.
