So, I was a bit over enthusiastic in my detailing and seemed to have gotten some liquid behind the speedometer gauge in my '07 TL-S. The question is, how big of a deal will it be to remove the assembly to delicately get rid of this eyesore!? Not something I'm looking forward to but this has to be fixed!
Thanks for any ideas...
adam

 

Not sure about the removal of the dash for the spedometer cluster, but I can imagine it being a pain in the ass. Check out the 3G Garage for directions removing it, you can probably find something there.

But, before you do that, you might wanna check out the Wash & Wax section here on AZ. There's some great tips over there and someone may be able to give you some ideas on how to get it out without removing everything!

Good luck, I see a tough task ahead for you!

 

Steve,

Thank you very much.... I found the schematic for the center console removal and it doesn't look too bad - just a few clips (I'm sure they're nice and brittle so they'll break of course . I think trying to take it off, as well as the driver door handle mod (covering the key lock hole with the passenger rear cover plate) will be my projects for the weekend.

I also didn't realize the service manual was so detailed. I'll be spending the $80-100 for sure to pick a copy of that up!

Adam

 

if you find out, please let me know, i think i might have the same problem, but i never put any liquid there so i dont know how it got there, plz let me know if u find out what to do

 

I'm going to tackle it this weekend (if not sooner). I promise to report back on my progress....hopefully it won't be too bad.

 

Adam - not a problem, glad you were able to find it. Let us know how it works out for you once you do it.

Oh, and I haven't heard of that one before (the door handle / key lock) mod. That's kind of different and would look nice and flush. Although, I must say I never thought I'd use the feature, but on the occasion I tilt the sunroof open I forget about it and get out of the car, so I use the feature where you put the key in and hold it to the left to roll up the windows / sunroof.

 

thanks man, i know how irritating it can be to keep seeing that, i was thinking about taking it to the dealer to fix it, but they mess up other stuff when they try to fix one thing, so if i could do it myself and only break like two clips that i can buy for about 10 bucks or something, im so up for doing this myself

 

I'd take it to the dealer and shrug and say why is there moisture behind there? Say it happened recently...........

 

^^ but it did juss happen recently to me, i dont know y, but the only thing is im afraid that if i ask them to fix that, they will damage other parts in my car, and i will have to keep going back until i can get everything fixed

 

^^^

Haha, you have that same fear? I'm very protective of the TL. I always think, damn I should take it in for this or that (all very minor), or even when thinking about an oil change (lets not get into changing your own oil, I just plan to take it in for the first one) - I worry they're gonna mess something up, haha.

 

the thing is with my dealership is that they fix something and they fix it right, but the damage trim pieces all the time ... its not that they dont replace it for me later, its just such a hassle going back, and yes i am very protective of all my cars, especially my tl

 

Oh, no I agree. I don't doubt they would replace anything they accidentally damage, but exactly like you said it's a pain in the ass to go back to get it fixed.

 

yo atman21 ... did u by ne chance find out how to fix this, or atleast what was wrong??

 

Unfortunately not.....I was about to try and pop the dash cover off (which does not look difficult) but realized that doing so would not expose inside the instrument panel gauges' plastic covers - where the problem is. Makes me wonder how the liquid got in there in the first place. When I get my oil changed this month I am going to ask the dealer - at least for their advice - because maybe I can finagle it out of them for free...
I'll keep you posted.

 

i asked my dealer, they said they will do it, but they also said they might damage some parts, so yea just let me know what ur dealer says to you ... thanks man

 

^^^

I would think they would fix the parts they damage, under warranty or not. Unless it's one of those things that they warn you ahead of time (if out of warranty) and if it does break you pay. Similar to when i needed to replace rotors on the CL, every place said there was a 50/50 chance they would bust the wheel bearings (if not a greater chance) and I'd need to pay for new ones

 

I took mine in for A1 service and showed them the problem. I thought they were full of bs when they said the condensation/stain wasn't behind the plastic, but they couldn't get it off. However, when I got home I got some Novus plastic scratch remover #2 (purchased at a Harley Davidson dealer), worked some magic for about 10 minutes, and - yes - the strange marks were gone.

So, I have no idea what the hell my stain was from but it was definately not inside the dash. Just a reminder to double check yours if they haven't fixed it already....good luck.

The other lesson I learned yesterday is not to go to the dealer for A1 or other minor services. $80 for an oil change/tire rotation? I've never even rotated tires at 5,000 miles - maybe 10,000. anyway, that's off topic......

 

I was just about to post this suggestion, and question whether it was actually behind the gauge cluster. In my case, I used plexus to get it out, but any scratch remover (i.e. rubbing compound like scratchX) will work. I believe this 'condensation' can come from using certain cleaning/protectant products - possibly in combination. e.g. if 303 gets on a surface cleaned with an alcohol based glass cleaner.

 

ok atman21 ... i'll give that a shot tommorow ... plz pray for me that it works, its such an eyesoar i have turned down the brightness of my gauges so that way i cant c it

 

Hmm, interesting idea.....I DO use 303 (and love it) - no alcohol glass cleaner, but Krystal Vision, yes. I'd be surprised if that combo caused the reaction, but I guess anything is possible. Just grateful that the Novus was able to take it off with _a lot_ of elbow grease!
happy thanksgiving all...

 

There was another thread about this awhile back, somebody thought the 303 caused this, 303 told them, 303 itself doesnt cause this, but certain products mixed with 303 might.

 

atman, take to the dealer, if you mess things up, you could have warantee probs.

 

umm, you're not reading the thread. the substance is on the outside of the gauges, probably caused by some cleaning products he used, and some scratchx will take it right off

this has nothing to do with the warranty. It would be like bringing it in cause there's birdshit on your car.

 

WAIT - I had that problem the other day also....but fixed it myself. Is birdshit a warranty issue? Damn, I could have saved some time and money by going to the dealer. Lets see, that's probably a BS-1 service code (birdshit-1).

 

hehe you know they'd wash it out with a dirty towel and wind up leaving more scratches too