Spots on Instrument Panel / Combination Meter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dougblake, Jan 3, 2006.

  1. dougblake

    dougblake New Member

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    I recently purchased a 2005 Prius with ~11000 miles on it (dealer demo / rental) and noticed what looked like water spots on the speedo display. I carefully cleaned the clear plastic with a damp rag, but spots remained. I shined a penlight down through the windshield (from the outside) and saw the spots were on the combination meter 'window' in the dash. I have tried cleaning that with water and windex, but the spots remain. It looks like the spots may actually be on the inside of the glass, which I assume is sealed at manufacture.

    Has anyone experienced something like this? I was planning on having the dealer address it, but would gladly fix it myself if there is a simple solution. I checked on the TIS, but there was no relevant service bulletins or instructions that I could find.
     
    #1 dougblake, Jan 3, 2006
  2. mouztrpd

    mouztrpd Junior Member

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    I've got the same spots on mine and have no idea what to do about it.
    I also think they are on the underside of the glass ..looks like protective film with bubbles in it.
     
    #2 mouztrpd, Jan 4, 2006
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I've never noticed anything like that with Priapus.
    But I think that if I did I would take him into the dealer and have them take a look at it.

    The only problem is that I don't like the prospect of someone taking the dashboard apart and putting it back together. I'm always concerned that they will scrape it or dirty it or that when they get it back together there will be a new rattle. If you aren't worried about that, you should take it up with the dealer.
     
    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Jan 4, 2006
  4. jeromep

    jeromep Member

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    It might be possible that the spots you are seeing are the electrical contact points that are on the LCD display circuit board. Those are the points that electrical power connects to to energize a display element so that it lights up. Consider that the actual display sits in the dash pointing upward to a mirror. We are actually looking at the mirror when driving. So if you are cleaning the mirror you can't get rid of the spots if they are actually foreign material and they are on the upward faceing display. If you are cleaning the display itself (be careful) and the spots don't go away it is probably not foreign material, but those contact points.
     
    #4 jeromep, Jan 5, 2006
  5. mouztrpd

    mouztrpd Junior Member

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    Mine arent contact points. I dont remember seeing them untill after I cleaned the dash one day, I'm afraid I may have pressed down too hard on the glass cover on the dash causing some sort of film to seperate from the underside (tinting?) When I started the car and the speedo illuminated the "bubbles" were there. Ive not taken it in because I dont really want the dash torn apart for fear of squeaks. When cleaning your car I'd be carefull......wish I had been.
     
    #5 mouztrpd, Jan 5, 2006
  6. dougblake

    dougblake New Member

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    I do not believe that the spots are electrical contacts. They are randomly scattered across the the display face in the dash. I can see them reflect as white spots (that look like water spots) when I shine a penlight through the windshield. It also appears from that view that they are under the surface of the glass, i.e. it looks like there are surface scratches on top of the white spots. I have made an appointment with the dealer for next week and have my fingers crossed. Hopefully I will have something good to report.

    Also, to your point about film separating from the inside, I am gueesing that there probably is either tinting or more likely polarizing film on the inside of that glass. I have treated that surface delicately, but I doubt the people at the dealer who cleaned the car between rentals were as kind.
     
    #6 dougblake, Jan 6, 2006
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