What products/methods do people use to clean/maintain instrument cluster plastics without scratching the hell out of them?
Not sure about using something like Meguiar's PlastX for just cleaning it since that's a polish.
It'd probably make more sense on my citi since that needs a boat load of scratch removal, but not sure if it's a product to use from wash to wash.
Folks on Autopia, etc, recommend a product called "Plexus", but as far as I can tell it's not available here. It does put down a layer of wax it seems.
Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
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- Major
- Posts: 3364
- Registered for: 21 years 2 months
- Car Make: VW
- Car Model: 2017 Cross Polo 1.2 TSI
- Membership No: missing
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
2017 VW Cross Polo 1.2TSI
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
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- Lieutenant
- Posts: 1440
- Registered for: 8 years
- Location: Pretoria
Re: Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
Plexiglass does scratch easily.
For regular maintenance, I wipe my cluster shield down with a moist chammy and the least possible finger pressure, turning the cloth over regularly.
I've actually polished a badly scratched cluster shield. There wasn't much to lose... IIRC, I used brasso for the bulk of the cutting. Afterwards, I polished with turtle wax.
Plexiglass does cloud over from some solvents. But the Brasso didn't appear to have this effect.
For regular maintenance, I wipe my cluster shield down with a moist chammy and the least possible finger pressure, turning the cloth over regularly.
I've actually polished a badly scratched cluster shield. There wasn't much to lose... IIRC, I used brasso for the bulk of the cutting. Afterwards, I polished with turtle wax.
Plexiglass does cloud over from some solvents. But the Brasso didn't appear to have this effect.
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
-
- Major
- Posts: 3364
- Registered for: 21 years 2 months
- Car Make: VW
- Car Model: 2017 Cross Polo 1.2 TSI
- Membership No: missing
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
Thank you.
These scratches have been bugging me for too long. Got the car like that. Probably a dealership detail that does that.
Time for a new bottle of brasso. My one is rotten old now. I've used that product for too many things.
I managed to find a product called VuPlex and will try and get the small bottle to see what it's like. I like the fact of indicates anti-static properties. If I get it I'll test it on the citi golf first. If it can clean that up then it's a winner.
These scratches have been bugging me for too long. Got the car like that. Probably a dealership detail that does that.
Time for a new bottle of brasso. My one is rotten old now. I've used that product for too many things.
I managed to find a product called VuPlex and will try and get the small bottle to see what it's like. I like the fact of indicates anti-static properties. If I get it I'll test it on the citi golf first. If it can clean that up then it's a winner.
2017 VW Cross Polo 1.2TSI
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
-
- Lieutenant
- Posts: 1440
- Registered for: 8 years
- Location: Pretoria
Re: Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
If you do use Brasso and/or a drying wax like Turtle Wax, be careful of the fine powder that is created in the process. You don't want this to go inside the cluster, settle on the dials, etc. The one area specifically to watch out for, is the button(s) for odo reset and clock adjustment.
Mark R.
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
2004 VW Golf TDI, type 1J, AHF, 317k (2016-current) --- daily
1990 VW Fox, type 16, HM, 304k (2005-current) --- spare runaround
Previous:
1992 Audi 500 SE, type C4, AAR (2001-2020) --- nice while it lasted
1983 VW Golf GTS, type 17, FR (1992-2005) --- most fun car I've ever had
1978 Audi 100 GLS 5E, type 43, WC (1991-92) --- died in the side of a Rekord who cut me off
- - - - - - - - - -
-
- Major
- Posts: 3364
- Registered for: 21 years 2 months
- Car Make: VW
- Car Model: 2017 Cross Polo 1.2 TSI
- Membership No: missing
- Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Re: Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
That's my next issue with the cluster. I can already see dust inside.
It's also why I wasn't too keen on PlastX as that seems to turn dusty.
It's also why I wasn't too keen on PlastX as that seems to turn dusty.
2017 VW Cross Polo 1.2TSI
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
2006 VW Citi 1.4 carb
1995 VW Chico 1.3 4-speed
1989 Audi 500 turbo (the end. finally.)
-
- Cadet
- Posts: 547
- Registered for: 21 years 7 months
- Location: cape town
Re: Cleaninig instrument cluster polycarbonate/plastics
Best option might be to remove and dis-assemble the cluster and do a thorough clean.
Seems like a design failure as the dust on the 9N Polo always settles behind the reset stalk.