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scratch marks on lower glove compartment

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Xiidaen, May 16, 2005.

  1. Xiidaen

    Xiidaen New Member

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    I've noticed scratch marks on my glove compartment -- one of my passengers was less than careful, it appears, probably cause by a bag or briefcase or something.

    Any suggestions on how to fix it? Creative but fitting penalties for the passenger also appreciated.
     
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    For the passenger: no more Prius rides.
    Or if Prius rides are mandatory: sit in the back seat where there are fewer things to scratch.
    You could make them wax your car....
    I have seriously threatened everyone who rides in mine that if they do any damage, including tracking mud into my car, they will be forever excluded from my Prius joy. They all like it so much that it's an effective threat. And hubby is only allowed to drive it if he swears to drive it nicely.
    As far as fixing the scratches goes- I haven't heard of anything that will remove the scratches. Maybe a good cleaning and shining will make it look better?
     
  3. tag

    tag Senior Member

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    Same problem here. For some reason, both my daughter and wife have this nasty habit of crossing their legs in the front seat forcing one of their shoes (covered with God knows what) to rub against the lower glove compartment.

    Good suggestion re the back seat except I have yet to take the steps necessary to accomplish that (step one would be to pre-pay my final expenses). I think they'd wax the car if I pressed them but am deathly afraid the end of humanity would follow shortly thereafter.
     
  4. bobc

    bobc New Member

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    I'm still looking for ultimate stuff to deal with scratches, too.

    I tried Megiuar's ScratchX but it is too abrasive for the interior trim.

    From another poster, I've used 303, which makes the interior look great and lasts a long time. Won't ever go back to armorall after this stuff! It only hides the scratches, tho. Doesn't deal with them. It didn't do much to hide the scratches on the soft plastic cup holder covers, tho...
     
  5. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    What about a really fine jeweler's rouge?

    As for protection....how about the same stuff used either on the display or a thin version of the 3M invisible bra?

    Either that....or take some fine 0000 steel wool and scuff up everything the same.
     
  6. nmrickie

    nmrickie Member

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    My son jumped in the car with his backpack and the zipper put a deep, three-inch scratch on the lower door. I don't see it coming out. He looked at me with panic in his eyes, but I just said "Oh, well -- we got the first scratch out of the way."
     
  7. Prius Noir

    Prius Noir New Member

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    I'm not sure if it'll work but have you tried the toothpaste method used for scratches in plastics?
     
  8. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nmrickie\";p=\"90022)</div>
    You are a good dad.
     
  9. heliotropehead

    heliotropehead New Member

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    I have a deep 1" scratch on my glove compartment. Apparently I got a little careless when throwing my purse onto the passenger floor one day. I've since changed purses.
     
  10. MiamiMurphy

    MiamiMurphy New Member

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    Hi all -
    Help - I noticed scratches on my glove compartment today - it almost appears as if someone tried to key it - I had my Prius at the hand car wash today but the car was really not out of my sight. I went to Tim Hardaway's hand car wash and believe me the other cars were all top of the line mercedes, bentley, jags, etc. - in other words they are really careful there. Therefore it may have happened at the grocery store parking lot as the passenger door would not open when I tried to get in - meaning maybe the doors did not lock properly after I had the car at the car wash.

    Bottom line, is it possible to purchase a new glove compartment unit to put into the car. I love my Prius and it really bothers me to see the scratches.

    Other than that, hope you are all having a good holiday.

    ML
     
  11. ScubaX

    ScubaX Member

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    I've decided to ignore the scratches. There is so much plastic trim that you will be chasing them forever. I think the best you can do is clean it with a good cleaner that temporarily hides them.
     
  12. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    considering that the glove compartment is removeable, i would have to say that it can be replaced at a cost. have you tried asking your dealer?

    as for me, i chipped a chunk of paint off the release button for the lower compartment. can it be repainted?

    i kinda toyed with the idea that if i cant match the paint (black for me) of stripping off the paint on both releases and painting them with another shade of black to match.
     
  13. popoff

    popoff New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MiamiMurphy\";p=\"93744)</div>
    I'm sure the part is available from any Toyota dealer.

    Removal and replacement is very easy. I did it in order to install my EV mod and the instructions provided by Coastal Dave were very easy to follow. It only takes a few minutes and requires no particular mechanical skills.
     
  14. bshef

    bshef Active Member

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    yeh....rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright!
    I think all that means is..... most peeps that own very expensive rigs don't wash their own cars! :wink:

    Time is money......the more cars immigrant worker can slop through there.......the more money they make.........

    Seriously.....If you truly value your car....wash it yourself....! You have no idea what kinds of chemical is being used...what kind of towels they use....if they accidentally drop a rag on the ground while drying and then simply pick it back up and keep on using it....how about they use the same rag on your rims and then keep using it on your paint......Do you actually sit and watch them?.........There's .a million things that in the long run will damage the finish of your car.

    I would only use a place like that maybe because it was the dead of winter and Iliving in Canada......or I didn't own a home where I could easily wash my own car.......or I was disabled!



    [​IMG]
     
  15. MiamiMurphy

    MiamiMurphy New Member

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    thanks for the replies. I will let you know about the replacement part - the parts department will not be open until Tuesday. Just love my Prius so much that I panicked. Maybe my briefcase did it or purse and I did not notice until today.

    As to washing cars - I specifically went to a place where handwashing cars is carefully supervised and was opened by a successful African American to offer employment to others in the community - it is in Coconut Grove (part of Miami) - and though your point re cleaners, dropping rags, etc. is well taken, I must defend the employees as they appeared to all be hardworking, young men, very supervised - and who by the way, among all of the really expensive cars - made a really big deal about the Prius and the energy it saved and how cool it was. BTW - yes, along with the owner of one of those very large tall Mercedes SUVs, I sat and watched them wash the Prius.

    IMHO, it is good patronize places that employ American workers if one is not going to do the work as I choose not to. Yes, I could wash my Prius in the driveway but I live 1 mile from Coconut Grove and really hate the bugs and humidity of Miami.

    I am from LA and live in Miami and trust me, I know when a place is full of undocumented workers. This place was full of young African American workers who are being given a chance. Plus they are Democrats and do not like Bush, et al - another reason to talk to the people who are doing a job you do not want to do yourself - you learn from each other.

    Again, happy holiday and fight the right.

    ML
     
  16. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    [font=Comic Sans MS:d0bf1dfad7]Right on, MiamiMurphy![/font:d0bf1dfad7]
     
  17. jsorger

    jsorger New Member

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    If you are going to replace the glove box anyway...

    Try getting some fine steel wool 0000 or something like that (Home Depot). Worked wonders for my wife's Forester when the glove box was scratched last month. But the Prius glove box is much smoother than the Forester's. Buy a couple of different roughnesses and give it a go.

    Let us know how it turns out if you try it.

    Good luck.
     
  18. MiamiMurphy

    MiamiMurphy New Member

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    Hi -
    I called Kendall Toyota - the glove compartment is $170.00 - they said quite a few people have ordered replacements due to scratching.

    Am going to wait until next month as the service dept has to install it and my Prius goes in for its first check up in July anyway.

    BTW - figured out how I scratched it - on Friday night I stopped at the dry cleaners and for some reason put my drycleaning on the front passenger seat in a hurry - will be more careful but I wish there was some way to protect the glove compartment.

    Thank you for all of the suggestions.
     
  19. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    oh, the dealer doesn't have to install it! they just want your money. it seriously takes 2 minutes. you're better off (and cheaper off) doing it yourself.

    they better not charge you for it, if you have them do it. especially if the thing costs that much in the first place!
     
  20. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    170?... i would definitely try a re-paint first...maybe an iridescent pink so it would be easier to see by passengers and may reduce the incidences of damage