surreal1221

Hey guys,

Picked up a used 05 TL today. AT/Navi/38k miles.

That said, I'm extremely happy so far - but I'm still in the honeymoon phase. Two recalls need to be taken care of, but otherwise - no complaints yet.

Except for . . .



My gauge cluster. Two of the three windows have an insane amount of something inside of them. I imagine if it was moisture, it would eventually evaporate over a period of time - especially if the lights were warm enough to evaporate it. So, I'm essentially left at thinking it's some sort of cleaner or some other fluid that has made it into the backside of the paneling.

Now, I've ran my finger across the windows with my nails and managed to make a few spots look better - which then makes me think it's perhaps on the outside.

Anyway - what do you guys think? Anyone else encounter this type of deal, any solutions?

If I don't figure it out before I take it to the dealership to have the recalls addressed, I'll have them take a look at it.

On that note, what's an OEM gauge cluster set up run for?

Thanks

sixsixfour

Id use a little bit of the spray detailer and a microfiber towel. It cleans those clusters for me quite well.

surreal1221

Any specific spray? I'll stop by a shop tomorrow and see what works.

sixsixfour

meguires. dont soak it. just a very light mist on the microfiber towel (not the gauge cluster) then wipe it against the cluster.

surreal1221

Thanks, check PM if you have a moment.

BG74

Almost looks like someone sprayed it with Armor All or some such thing. If that's the case, sixsixfour's advice should do the trick.

eluzion

Mine looked exactly the same except it was only the right side. I took it apart and tried to clean it but had no luck. It's like the plastic had been eaten away by some cleaning product the previous owner used. I ended up just ordering a new plastic piece which ran me about $79, if I remember correctly.

surreal1221

Well, at least I now know I'm not alone.

You remember where you purchased the pieces from? How much of a pain was it to get the pieces out and back in?

SouthernBoy

If this mess is on the inside, try using a hair dryer on a low heat setting to dry it out.

Jesstzn

I have seen a few of these and if it was sprayed with a dressing it can permiate the plastic and your scooped.

Too many people spray the dressing on the dash not the cloth .. and its everywhere.

If all else fails try rubbing alcohol/water mix. Go-Gone will attack some plastics.

surreal1221

I'll give that a shot as well, but since it's not necessarily a moisture I'm not too sure it'd work.

Well guys, i'll head out here in a little while and try to get it taken care of. If none of these solutions work, where could I pick up two of these parts?

csmeance

The lense is part of the cluster if memory serves me correctly. Try using some water-woolite solution (5 parts water, 1 part woolite) and try cleaning.

surreal1221

Well I'm afraid it is definitely on the backside. So, no matter what amount or type of application I use on the front side, it'll remain.

Seems I'll be replacing them *joy*, but it needs to be done. Now, just to find the parts.

Anyone know of any DIY cluster write-ups? I'll also go and pick up a Haynes manual later this afternoon.

surreal1221

Well, replacing is the wrong word. If I can get the plastic out of the gauge cluster, I'll obviously try to clean the backside and just put them back in. . . but if not, then. . .well. . .replace it is.

VQPower37

i had the same issue, ask the dealer that since u just bought the car if he would be willing to replace the whole cluster for u ... i got my cluster replaced under warranty, and everything is good as new ... good luck

surreal1221

^^ Tried it, except the car isn't under warranty anymore. Sucks. . .

Warranty expired March 31st of this year. (05 TL with 38k on it)

I may be purchasing an after market warranty service through my credit union - might see if I could claim it under that once it becomes active.

JERU

Mine did the same thing after a few months. Mine was a brand new '05. That stuff is on the inside and all you need is the plastic part. The dealer was warning me about rattles if they had to pull everything apart to replace the gauge cluster. When they replaced it, found it was just the plastic part that needed to be replaced and it was fairly easy. Don't sweat it...
By the way, that plastic piece is very easy to scratch if you don't use something soft...

surreal1221

What sucks is I'm out of warranty, but that's what I get for purchasing a used car.

Glad to hear it's only the plastic part. I imagine that I will have to remove the whole instrumentation panel to get to it. Ah hell, I should stop speculating and just head out to the shop and pick up the manual.

I do have to take the car into the dealership to have two recalls addressed, wondering if I should just wait and see if they can quote me a price to clean the inside those plastic pieces - but I'm fairly sure I'll get raped for something this small.

csmeance

here's the link to the pricing, its 60 dollars for the plastic portion:
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

to remove the panel isn't that hard, all you need to do is grip the two colums in the middle and pull (between RPM and speed and between MID and speed) then unclip the two harnesses, lower left and right, and then unclip the plastic.

Fireguy0826

Did you notice it when you were at the dealership?? They don't offer like a 3 month 3000mile or anything??

surreal1221

Sure did, nope, nothing. Even tried to get them to give me a free full tank of gas, most they did was 1/2 a tank.

A mechanic took a look at the cluster and told me that is most likely on the inside and that they won't replace it unless I paid for it. So, fine. I'll deal with it myself.

Thanks for the link, and the information to pull the panel off. Every autoparts store around here doesn't have any Haynes manuals.

I'll try it out this evening. Since I'm a novice TL owner, is this a risky maneuver? What are the odds I screw up the harnesses to the point that I can't reconnect the plastic molding that goes over the cluster?

csmeance

The harnesses are little clip ones, even a 4 year old won't be able to break them... What is better than the hayes manual is the helms one, its the one the factory writes for dealership tech's to use, we have a few scans of it in the 3G garage...

csmeance

here are a few pics from a V1 install:

csmeance

here are the service manual scans:

surreal1221

Appreciate it. Just finished trying to clean it up.

You were right, easy snap off. Then just a few clips for the plastic cluster.

Sad thing is, it's not coming off. So, with that said, I've decided I'll just not put it back into the car while I wait for the replacement to come in. The third circle (RPM) was on it's way to looking like the other two.

I can't think of any risks to operating the car with the plastic cover not over the actual gauges, so long as I don't go flicking the needles while driving.

Anyone have a newsletter discount code for AcuraOEMparts.com?