Cluster bubbles?

[trippvail]

Hey everyone. Trying to tackle a few things on the EJ which I get my finances in order.

I have a 96 sedan and my cluster is difficult to read when light hits it and/or at night.

I have cleaned it multiple times and I know it is not dirt. So how can I get rid of it? Will a simple buff work if I take it apart, similar to hazed headlights?

Thanks for your knowledge.

 

[RonJ]

Are those marks on the inside? Have you cleaned there also?

 

[trippvail]

I have yet to take it apart and try cleaning it. But i doubt it because I can physically feel them...

I don't know what causes them but its very annoying at night lol.

 

[RonJ]

If the spots are the outside, then my guess would be they were caused by splatter from some type of organic solvent that dissolved the lens plastic. You might scout the Marketplace for a cheap 96-00 CX or DX cluster that has a good quality lens and then swap the better lens into your cluster. I have such a cluster, but the lens is not pristine, though it's better than yours.

 

[trippvail]

Sounds like a good idea. So no buffing and/or cleaning will remove something like this from the plastic?

 

[RonJ]

Sounds like a good idea. So no buffing and/or cleaning will remove something like this from the plastic?

Sanding/buffing might work, though I haven't seen it done for a cluster lens.

 

[lethal6]

The same kit used for fixing hazy headlights works for the cluster. I just did it on my GLi. However, if you can actually feel the spots as in they catch your nail if you dig at them, then it is into the plastic deep enough that it is going to take a good amount of sanding. You would have to sand down below to where the bubbles stop in the plastic and then buff it out from there. You are essentially shaving plastic until the bubbles are gone then bringing the shine back out of the plastic. Would be less work to find a used cluster and source the plastic off of it.

 

[trippvail]

Thanks lethal, glad to find someone that did what I was thinking of doing. Might just source a new lens. Now to find a DIY for gauge removal lol.

Thanks again!

 

[lethal6]

You're welcome.

It isn't hard, just tediously time consuming.

Check around on youtube, there might be a video walking you through how to take the cluster out. They usually aren't hard at all. That is where I found out how to get mine out.

 

[trippvail]

Cool. Now to fix my fuel issue, replace all my mounts and bushings, cv joints, front fenders and bumper, windshield, and a bunch of other stuff. Love this site! So much helpful info.

 

[RonJ]

Click the site 1 manuals link in my signature to get the 96-00 Civic service manual. There you'll find information like this: