How do y'all clean the plastic cover to the factory gauges?...

[Dixie Dawg]

in my Tahoe, I sprayed water and used a sponge, but that got water underneath and scratched and really looked bad. How can I avoid this on the Ram? Use a damp sponge or cloth? Any help is appreciated, really a pet peave of mine. Thanks!

 

[Dennis Garrett]

On a 97 it's easy to just remove it & clean it up with soap & water, & put back in. Mine gets dust behind it. I first pull of the trim, It just snaps out, then take out the 6 or 8 phillips screws holding the lense in place. Over the years mine has some minor scratching from wiping the dust off, I polished it out with very light polishing compound, & put it back in.

 

[rrytter]

I let my daughter-in-law do it. Oo.

 

[Deezul1]

My old truck(96) had the plastic so fogged from wrong cleaner used on it that you couldnt see through it (I got it that way). The STEALER wanted $100. 00 for a new one. I used polishing compound for auto paint and it looked perfect when done. It comes out real easy.

 

[JGK]

Try Meguiars plastic cleaner. Works great on plexiglass and such. I use it on my bug deflector. Used to use it on my snomobile windscreen. Real popular with small aircraft owners for platic windshields. Will take out (or hide) minor scratches.



-Jay

 

[dresslered]

I use a computer monitor brush to wipe the dust off. Works great and it doesn't scratch it. Now if you've sneezed on the plastic cover. . :-laf . . that's another story.

 

[claymike]

Yuk David you dont get to ride in my truck.

 

[azcummins]

I'll second the Meguiar's cleaner. I just did mine this weekend. No scratches... looks great.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I use a feather duster - works ok as long as you don't spill beer in there, or toss your cookies on it.



Doc

 

[The patriot]

How do you take the clear plastic cover off on a 98?

Eric

 

[THerman]

Here is a hint from my flying past in AK... .



Try Pledge..... Buff with very soft paper towels (Bounty)



Also when polishing plastic like that, rub ONLY back and forth... NOT in circles! This will prevent crazing and glare.

 

[B KIRK]

Agree on the Meguiars. They make a #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner. Will remove most light scratches. Like THerman said, don't rub in circles. Use a all cotton towel, and rub opposite direction of marks. Then follow with #10 Clear Plastic Polish. I had pieces I thought couldn't be saved look new. Took a little elbow grease. Don't rub too hard, they will crack. I get a thick towel to lay it on instead of trying to hold it. Great on bugshields, ventvisors, head and tail lights, all plastics. (No, I do not work for Meguiars, just use there products ). Never tried the Pledge trick. Will have to try it sometime.



Brad

 

[gatoram]

If the little pile of dust bothers you that accumulates under the trip odometer reset, you can remove the dash trim, take out a handful of screws and remove the clear plastic cover. After you carefully clean around the guages and get that pesky pile of dust, reassemble everything. The finishing touch is finding the right sized o-ring to fit reset shaft. Slide it on and no mo' dust... ... ... ...

 

[THerman]

I also would have to agree with the quality of Meguiars polish... . Excellent...



I was skeptical of the pledge trick til I tried it... . I switched to it over Meguiars... It also sheds water very well...



Try it for boat windshields, snowmobiles etc!