How do you guys and gals tackle the cleaning of the lenses covering the gauges? With time there is a lot of dust build up or as of right now in my neck of the woods, with my windows down, pollen build up. My previous t4r, (also 4th gen) I noticed cleaning the lenses is a very delicate process as I found out after I found numerous surface scratches all over all three lenses. With my new 4Runner, I haven't attempted this yet but need to, with the dust and pollen build up.

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VQD
2005 Toyota 4Runner SR5
Titanium 3rd Row
(Dec 10, 2004 - Dec 1, 2005)
RIP almost made her first BDay

Current
2006 Toyota 4Runner SE
Shadow Mica
(Dec 28, 2005 - )

A wet/dry vac with a brush attachment is best. I try to never touch the soft plastic lenses. They do scratch very easily. A damp towel may work?

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2003 4x4 Sport 4runner V8, Scion HU w 4 upgraded speakers, Hella horns, MapLight Mod, de-badged 85 k + miles
1994 Jeep GC with 202,500 miles
1990 Corolla 168,000 miles
1994 Volvo 850 165,000 miles
2003 Camry 12,500 miles

Get a quality microfiber towel, as they won't scratch it. You can use some water or some Meguiar's interior detail spray, which is safe for use on clear plastics, audio displays, dash, and most everything but the upholstery.

I have had the dealer replace my gauge cluster cover twice under warranty. They claim it is a 3 year/80,000 km warranty item. I have tried to clean with poor results - very soft plastic. Maybe see you dealer for a warranty replacement?

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2005 Limited V8 Pacific Blue

how funny....I was logging on right now to hopefully search for an answer to the same issue I have. My runner is only 7 months old...and I have scratches all over the clear lens display...

Was hoping there was perhaps...a wax of some sort that can cover them up...

I would think a polish and and a sort of wax may work...however..unusure of how the results would be with the sun and glare.


hrm..that interior spray sound interesting.

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2006 v6 4x4 Sports Edition in Titanium Silver, loaded with everything except self dimming mirror and side curtan air bags.
Done: Front End Skid Plate, Exhaust Tip from Valor, True Flow Air Intake, PIAA Wipers
Need to do: 265/70/17 REVOS, Cornfed Lift, 4.0 V6 S/C...if it ever comes out.

A week after I got my 05, I was cleaning the cluster plastic, and sctrached the hell out of it. VERY BAD!! I keep the truck in perfect shape, and it bugged the crap out of me. I was determined to get the scratches out, and this is what I did.

1. Buy Novus 3 Plastic Scratch Remover
2. Remove the Dash and the plastic that is in front of the guages. Check this for details:
[url]http://www.castulucci.com/projects/carpc/oemnaviaccess/
(Do all of these steps, except take the radio out of course, and the just pull on the piece of plastic that has the turn signal lights and stuff on it. It pops right off.) You will then have full access to the big piece of plastic that covers the guages.
3. Use the Novus Fine Scratch Remover
4. Follow with the plastic polish that is included.
5. Put everything back together and be VERY VERY VERY careful when cleaning the guage cover.


its not that easy, but for me, it worked perfectly, and it was worth it.

I found that even after using Novus while it removed the scratches it leaves an undesirable haze in most lighting conditions. Any one have a part number for an 06 cluster lens

spray detailer on a quality microfiber cloth if anything is needed above just water.

meguiars plasticX to fix small/fine scratches in plastic if they appear.

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05 SE V8 4wd Natural White
Magnaflow Exhaust, Toyo Proxes S/T, Volant CAI, Stop Tech F/R SS Brake lines, Axxis Ultimate F/R Pads, Valvoline SynPower Dot4 Fluid, NGK Iridium IX Spark Plugs, Sylvania Silver Star Ultra lights (Lows, Highs, Fogs), Water Wetter, Front 4Runner Sill Protectors, Pioneer DEH-P80MP Deck, Alpine Type-S 6x9F & 6 1/2R, Infinity Bass Link II

I have a 4th gen and I have the same problem. First time I cleaned the guages.....scratches everywhere. I am going to try the Scratch X noted above. Has anyone had success with it yet??

I meant PlasticX....

california dash duster

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-J.A.
2007 4Runner Sport, 1999 4Runner Highlander
My Runners
4Runner Topsites
4Runner History Archives

micro fiber towels are manufactured using nylon / polyester. Cotton flannel is softer if you have it.

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Clarke
'05 4x2

I know this thread is quite old but this is how I have dealt with the problem for years-->

Buy a can of that compressed air used to clean out computer parts...just blow the dust off the cluster lense and redistribute it to another area where you can vacuum or wipe it up without fear of damage to the lense....

I have been doing this ever since I wrecked the lense on a cluster in one of my car years and years ago...never had another problem since in any of my vehicles...

Works like a charm...the stuff is relatively cheap and you don't need that much of it to get the job done...especially if you do it regularly each time you clean the vehicle...

I am far from picky about my vehicles in terms of cleaning but a dirty/scratched cluster for some reason drives me nuts...probably because I am looking at it all the time...LOL :-)

Cheers

I use a Dirt Devil detailing vac and the Swiffer duster wipes on my interior, including the gauge cluster.

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'06 SR5 4WD in Titanium Metallic with 3rd Row Seats Since 01/2008

Sirius Sportster Radio
Garmin c330 GPS

I use the swiffer refills to wipe up all of the dust that accumulates inside my truck, lenses included. It's like $4 for a pack of them.