Visor warning labels

just a couple weeks ago, actually

remove the 2 screws, there is a small wiring connector, real easy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Aug 21 2007, 09:53 PM) [snapback]500069[/snapback]</div>

It's a cake walk! Two screws and one plug. Takes about 35 seconds to take the visor off. The passenger visor looks really funny on the drivers side - for those of us that have destroyed our drivers side visors :lol: :lol: :lol: B)

The visor mirror is a simple switch; it completes the circuit allow the switched light to turn on. The pins in the connector seem to be the same pitch as all of the other wiring harnesses - i.e. you could use them for the EV mod.

So, here are the pictures. Apologies for the low quality - other camera is MIA.

Starting with a removed visor:


After an hour of fussing with the iron and a wet rag and then the steam wand from my Espresso machine:


Don't pull too hard:


Since I've basically destroyed the visor, let's see how it was constructed:
The mirror pops out. The glass cover has to be slid open and then there are two clips on the left of this picture. The mirror and the slide assembly remove as one after it's been removed from the clips and pulled up a bit.



Don't try to take the plastic housing apart. The hinge is pressed in place and removing it requires breaking two plastic clips:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(oly_57mpg @ Aug 21 2007, 11:58 PM) [snapback]500161[/snapback]</div>

Wow, sorry for the bad advice.
The process had worked well for me. And the fabric on our Tundra visors seemed similiar to what's on our Prius visors, so I tried it.
Apparently, Fortune shined on me that day.

Did you ever soak the visor fabric?
Or was it just the wet rag and steam?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phumpher @ Aug 22 2007, 09:37 AM) [snapback]500231[/snapback]</div>

Not your fault! It was a learning experience.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phumpher @ Aug 22 2007, 09:37 AM) [snapback]500231[/snapback]</div>

Rats! I was hoping that the Tundra had a different fabric/material. I guess not. Oh well!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phumpher @ Aug 22 2007, 09:37 AM) [snapback]500231[/snapback]</div>

No, I did not 'soak' the fabric. I heavily moistened 20mm around the edge of the sticker and on the sticker. I used a wet rag and steam. Then when that didn't work well, I used the steam wand from my espresso machine. The steam wand worked ok, but I think that it was too hot and caused the glue to set in deeper into the fabric.

After taking the visor apart, I understand why the visor needs to be heavily soaked - water needs to be _under_ the sticker. When the iron is heating, the water under the sticker steams the glue from the under side. Since I was unable to do it, doesn't mean that others (with more patients and cooler irons) can't do it!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Aug 22 2007, 01:57 PM) [snapback]500437[/snapback]</div>

I do not know, phumpher was able to do it. I think that I just didn't start the process properly. I didn't soak the visor with enough water and I had the iron set too hot.
Since I'm already in the hole for $60 - another $60 isn't going to matter much. I'll try again with my remaining visor to see if I can do it better. I'll have higher quality pics next time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Aug 22 2007, 06:30 PM) [snapback]500639[/snapback]</div>

Well, I can absolutely verify that heat will do nothing to loosen the glue. After some research and two different sets of trial and error, it is my opinion that heat does nothing to remove the label.

I investigated other forums (BMW, Mustand, GTO, etc...) most folks say that heat does nothing and risks warping or melting certain plastics.

What I found is that the labels on the Prius are vinyl. The fabric and plastic are made of something else. Vinyl is dissolvable with Acetone.

I ended up using Acetone to wipe/melt the sticker away. The only other plastic items on the visor that reacted to acetone was the latch clip cylinder.
It's starting to dissolve...

And gone!

With more wipes and some brushing...


Here's the pair together:



I'm sure with time and some more scrubbing, the area with the glue residue will subside.

 

The visors are not very usefull to me, so I never see the Warnings, and they don't bug me. I can see how if you are shorter and make use of the visors, they are unsightly.

These warnings are a result of the Per Capata Lawyer Ratio. If you can begin reducing the number of lawyers, you will see the Warning labels fade as the lawyer numbers go down.

Here is one of my favorite Warning Signs.

[attachmentid=10846]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Aug 23 2007, 08:43 AM) [snapback]500962[/snapback]</div>

Your link doesn't work.

I never see the visor warnings because I have CD holders on both visors. But that solution won't work for a car show.

I still think the stickers are your best bet. You'd have to be very good with a needle to make a visor cover that looks as good as the original.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 23 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]501122[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, but unless the judges are really keeping their eyes peeled, they will see the the obnoxious yellow header and think that it's the standard air bag warning. However, I do think the star chart was an excellent idea.

I scrubbed the visor some more and it's pretty damn hard to tell where the sticker was. You can faintly see the rectangle where the sticker was pressed into place. Plus, Acetone is a great test to see how safe you are - because the you get the change to risk: sterility, going blind, nervous system break down, and a high like no other.

If you plan to use Acetone, please use a ventilation system (if you have a vent hood to work under ++), eye protection (preferably goggles), and gloves.

 

Heat...found out when the car was closed up on a 100º day! Labels were off, try a hair dryer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dirtanpper @ Aug 23 2007, 09:25 PM) [snapback]501307[/snapback]</div>

Maybe. I tried a hair dryer with no good luck. It did the same thing that the steam did - gunked up and didn't peel off.

Perhaps the manufacturing of my 05 visors was different. Maybe a better glue... Acetone worked the best and the fastest. It took less than 10 min to wipe the label...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Sep 12 2007, 09:13 PM) [snapback]511684[/snapback]</div>

I'd say that's an excellent result. I think the stickers take attentions away from the faint remains of the original warnings.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Doc Willie @ Sep 12 2007, 09:13 PM) [snapback]511684[/snapback]</div>

I'd say that's an excellent result. I think the stickers take attentions away from the faint remains of the original warnings.