Gauge cluster help?

[JayTee]

Hey! I ran into a tricky situation today and i don't know how to resolve the problem. The gauge cluster looks like some kind of liquid was spilled on it over on one half only. I've tried Sonax Glass Cleaner and Meguiar's Quik Detailer but both of those options did not get rid of the problem.

It looks like someone spat out their drink on the gauge cluster and the liquid dripped down all the way and left a couple of streaks.

When trying both methods, the liquid looking stain is gone but once the plastic(?) gauge dries up is where the liquid stain comes back. It goes from dirty to squeaky clean then back to dirty. I've tried multiple times going back and forth with the cleaning solution but it's still not really helping.

What could be the problem, could it be fogged, could it be stained from the inside of the plastic somehow?

The car is my parents, they neglected it until i came in and tried to clean their car haha.

Thanks guys!

[AutowerxDetailing]

It's possible the stain is on the inside of the plastic where you aren't able to clean it. If it really is etched you could try polishing it with something like M205 or Plast-X by hand.

[GSKR]

It's possible the stain is on the inside of the plastic where you aren't able to clean it. If it really is etched you could try polishing it with something like M205 or Plast-X by hand.

ditto with the softest cloth or material you have.

[dcjredline]

Yep I've used polish many times in the past, or try some plastic lens polish

[JayTee]

It's possible the stain is on the inside of the plastic where you aren't able to clean it. If it really is etched you could try polishing it with something like M205 or Plast-X by hand.

Nice, my local Walmart has it surprisingly. I'll give it a try, it's only $11 @ 71c/fl oz. There's no way the stain could get inside like that right? I don't see any point of entry that let's a liquid get through. It's only the plastic cover that is stained, but the actual gauge still looks news.

ditto with the softest cloth or material you have.

I mainly have MF cloths, is that sufficient or do i need something else?

[oldmodman]

I was cleaning a girlfriend's truck and she had a terrible mess. A baby that was on her lap (while parked) barfed right into the instrument cluster.

I removed the cluster from the dash, disassembled the front plastic lens and washed it in warm water with dishsoap and a MF cloth. The inside of the dash I was able to clean with the same wet MF.

Then I polished the plastic lens with the two stage Meguiar's cleaning compounds for plastic. It ended up looking like new again.

[VISITOR]

if you're going to polish by hand, try using a mild polish. i wouldn't use plast-x on sensitive soft plastics, IME it leaves some marring...

[oldmodman]

I didn't.

I use Meguiars #17 & #10 plastic polish and cleaner. They removed every trace of surface scratching left by people wiping the plastic with Kleenex or a paper towel.

http://www.autogeek.net/meg1710botpr.html