1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Scratches in Shiny Black Plastic of Dashboard...

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lee Gedansky, Dec 15, 2017.

  1. Lee Gedansky

    Lee Gedansky Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2017
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I have seen old threads, and Youtube videos about "fixing" scratches in plastic Prius dashboards. But, they are all the textured vinyl dashes. I have the new, glossy, sparkly, black plastic with a perfect shine that needs to NEVER have even the slightest perceptible scratch. And, now I've scratched it. I need, must, absolutely WILL repair the scratch. Whether it's simply buffing it out, or custom air brush painting the area, I don't care.

    So... with "just live with it, LOL" off the table as an option, let's get down to real Q&A...

    1) Is the color and sparkle through and through the shiny dash plastic? If so, I'm guessing I can polish forever until the scratch is gone.

    2) If no, does anyone know how long can I realistically buff with an abrasive polish before I wear through to whatever color is underneath?

    3) If repainting is the answer, anyone know what color combo to use? I would only be spot treating and blending, NOT repainting the entire dash. But, I want it to look factory perfect.

    Thanks!
     
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Is this on your Prius c?
     
  3. Lee Gedansky

    Lee Gedansky Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2017
    21
    5
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Actually on my 2017 Prius Two. Just got it in June.
     
  4. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    More expensive, but I suspect less work, replace the dash panel.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,904
    16,213
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Smooth shiny plastic is the easiest thing in the world. Novus plastic polish.

    It's the matte or textured finishes that are hard (because simple polishing will make them smooth and shiny). When smooth and shiny is what you want to match, easy peasy.

    -Chap
     
    UltraJetRefill, RCO and kithmo like this.
  6. Vection

    Vection New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2018
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    Fremont, Oh
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I absolutely hate that shiny black bezel around the entertainment center. Way too often the sun will hit it just right and reflect right into my eyes, very distracting. I wish there was a way to make it into a uniform matt surface.
     
    RCO likes this.
  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Let the dust collect - that helps the reflections.

    I agree - I far prefer the white as, in almost 2 years, it hasn't shown dust at all - whereas the BLACK, all the time.
     
    kithmo and krmcg like this.
  8. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    No problem here in the UK, we don't have sunshine :(
     
    RCO, Mendel Leisk and alanclarkeau like this.
  9. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    I thought you used your feather duster to clean every day :LOL:
     
  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    Do you still have your Prius c? If not you may want to update your profile here.
    We are easily confused. ;)
     
  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My Mum did it twice a week when she was in my car - we'd visit Dad (nursing home) and go to Church. But in June, she fell, broke her pelvis and arm, and hasn't been home since, had 2 or 3 strokes since and is in palliative care So, sadly she doesn't dust my black shiny trim any more (and Dad died in August).
     
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    OK, sorry to resurrect the memories. Praying for you.
     
    RCO, Tande and alanclarkeau like this.
  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That's fine - Dad was struggling with dementia after at least 4 strokes, had been largely mute for 18 months and in his last weeks was in a semi-coma, it was a blessing for him to go to his home in Glory. It was a tremendous honour to play Pipe Organ for his funeral - Mum had insisted I play!! - that was the last time Mum left her hospital ward, and shortly after had her first stroke.

    I see Mum at least a couple of times a week - last week I was reading the Bible to her about a Mansion in Heaven awaiting her - she said she was ready for it!!
     
    RCO, Tande, Harters and 3 others like this.
  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    Thanks for sharing.
    My parents died 8 days apart (in different years!) a few years ago. So my Dad actually helped plan his own funeral since we had a double funeral. The service was a real blessing and celebration of their lives.
     
    RCO and alanclarkeau like this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,671
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good book if you can find it:

    The World, by Bill Gaston
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    alanclarkeau and Mendel Leisk like this.
  17. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I haven't read it - not in my library - but I'll check a few others - but I've heard about it. I think I might have listened to a PODCAST talking about it.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I play for funerals at 3 or 4 Churches (and others occasionally) - went to a double funeral last year at a neighbouring Church; played for a wife late last year, and the husband not many weeks after - that story happens often to couples in their old age.
     
    Prodigyplace and Mendel Leisk like this.
  19. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,184
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    So sad. Hope you can focus on the memories of the wonderful years when all was well.

    I read a quasi scientific report on the phenomenon which equated it to dying of a broken heart.
     
    alanclarkeau and Mendel Leisk like this.
  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    When my mother went in to a nursing home, my father's comment was, "It's so lonely living alone". I think he got married & moved directly from his parents' house to one with his wife. He has never lived alone in 80+ years.

    Their last Christmas he visited my mother and, according to my brother, they acted like a couple of young lovers, Unfortunately, she was contagious with an infection. We think that is what finally ended his life.
     
    alanclarkeau, RCO and Mendel Leisk like this.