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Super simple DIY navigation visor

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Ovals49, Jun 5, 2013.

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  1. Ovals49

    Ovals49 Junior Member

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    Like many others, I was finding glare on the navigation screen disconcerting. While beginning to consider purchasing a commercial aftermarket visor, I improvised a temporary solution that works well enough that I may never replace it.
    IMG_0680.JPG

    It is made from a dense piece of mat board scrap that measures 3" x 10 3/4" x .048" (1.25 mm) thick. The corners are rounded and the back edge (which simply wedges in the crack above the audio/nav unit) is slightly eased with fine sandpaper for easer insertion. It only goes in about a quarter of an inch, but fits snug and secure in the seam.
    IMG_0681.JPG
    All controls remain accessible and the CD slot is functional, albeit a bit crowded. It does a decent job of keeping direct sunlight off the screen from all but the lowest angles, even without "wings". My scrap piece happened to be charcoal / maroon so I didn't even need to color it to blend in nicely with the dash materials.

    Hey, it's nothing fancy, but it does the job and you can't hardly beat the price!
     
    #1 Ovals49, Jun 5, 2013
    kenoarto, DoubleDAZ, xliderider and 2 others like this.
  2. came_to_party

    came_to_party Junior Member

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    This is awesome. I just got my Prius on Saturday and the glare has been driving me nuts, glad to know I'm not the only one.
     
    #2 came_to_party, Jun 5, 2013
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Hmm, I've got some aluminum flashing and copper sheet in my garage. Seems like a coat of matte black paint or PlastiDip will take care of the shiny metal surface. Also, thinking of bending it up at a very slight angle. :)
     
    #3 xliderider, Jun 5, 2013
  4. teamsc10190

    teamsc10190 Stereo Prii (2011 and 2006)

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    For me the first rule of car modifications is to do no harm. A sheared blunt edge of a piece of metal would not be a good thing in a crash scenario.

    Best to stick with the cardboard as OP suggested. Even if you decided to use plastic as alternative, you need to be sensitive as to the plastic you'd use. ABS for example shears with razor sharp edges which is why it's not used for interior plastic parts. PP or Nylon would be OK.
     
    #4 teamsc10190, Jun 5, 2013
    Mendel Leisk, came_to_party and Ovals49 like this.
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Good point. Soft plastic is better on second thought. ;)
     
    #5 xliderider, Jun 5, 2013
  6. Groverspal17

    Groverspal17 Junior Member

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    #6 Groverspal17, Aug 3, 2014
  7. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    I was going to stick something in the CD slot, but I like this a lot better. Nice!
     
    #7 DoubleDAZ, Aug 3, 2014
  8. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    I bought a new bathroom scale the other day and still had the box it came in. Just so happens that the cardboard was the right thickness and I made a visor just like the one shown above. I don't know how it's going to hold up over time, but I've got enough cardboard to make 6. If the cardboard doesn't hold up, I'll look for a piece of plastic at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. I noticed one of the commercial hoods has wings on the end folded down for a sidewall and extra rigidity. I prefer something soft because that would be less dangerous in an accident.
     
    #8 DoubleDAZ, Aug 4, 2014
  9. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    Just want to say Thanks for this suggestion. My cardboard visor is working great on our trip.
     
    #9 DoubleDAZ, Sep 13, 2014
  10. cheizy

    cheizy Member

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    Here's mine that I posted awhile back, this mod is really needed esp. if your in socal. Got it off amazon, velcro it to dash for easy removal.
    20140904_165804_zpsc64e790e.jpg
     
    #10 cheizy, Sep 14, 2014
    frodoz737 likes this.
  11. BreitrthnU

    BreitrthnU Can you smell the premix?

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    can you find the exact listing for that Cheizy
     
    #11 BreitrthnU, Sep 14, 2014
  12. BreitrthnU

    BreitrthnU Can you smell the premix?

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    can you post the exact listing
     
    #12 BreitrthnU, Sep 14, 2014
  13. cheizy

    cheizy Member

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    #13 cheizy, Sep 15, 2014
  14. cheizy

    cheizy Member

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    What I did was break off those tabs, then unscrew the 4 screws of the plate, and flip it so it is smooth against the surface of the dashboard.
     
    #14 cheizy, Sep 15, 2014
  15. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    I came expecting to see a sun-visor with an LCD navigation panel in it.

    I definitely understand the utility of this glare-prevention device, but I'd rather deal with the glare once in a while than look at something like this every time I drive the car. I wonder if tinting an area at the top of the windshield would solve the problem...
     
    #15 Squirt, Sep 15, 2014
  16. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    When we're not on a trip, I simply take out the cardboard replica I made of the panel in the OP and store it in the glove box.
     
    #16 DoubleDAZ, Sep 15, 2014
  17. cjs2000

    cjs2000 Junior Member

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    I noticed the glare on the screen, but once I turned brightness all the way up and contrast all the way down, it hasn't been so much of a problem that I needed a visor. This is on a 2014 Plug-in base model.
     
    #17 cjs2000, Sep 16, 2014
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Maybe any semi-stiff material is a no-no? Even matt board could be pretty nasty at high speed.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Sep 16, 2014
  19. Markee

    Markee Member

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    #19 Markee, Jun 14, 2015
  20. Nobody123

    Nobody123 Member

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    I have a really bad glare from the side window. I'm already at the legal limit so I can't go any darker. Even with at the highest brightness it's still washed out.

    Thanks for the suggestions.
     
    #20 Nobody123, Jun 14, 2015
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