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Blasted blinding boogie-button bezel

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by glenhead, Aug 21, 2006.

  1. glenhead

    glenhead New Member

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    Well, OK, it's actually the Start button, but I was going for alliteration here...

    I'm fixin' to take a Sharpie to the nice, shiny chrome bezel around the Start button. After driving all over the Hill Country this weekend, I discovered that it wasn't just my imagination that the danged thing reflects the sun right into the old eyeball from all sorts of angles. If I keep my right hand at 2 o'clock, it blocks the button, but I tend to change my hand positions pretty frequently to avoid fatigue. Anyone else have this problem, or am I just nuts? (How about that for a nice opening?) Does anyone have a different solution?
     
    #1 glenhead, Aug 21, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Is this a poll? I was going to vote "nuts"!

    I don't recall ever noticing this, but now that you had to go and point it out I'm sure it'll become the most annoying thing about my Prius and I'll notice it every time the sun shines in....darn you for planting this seed in my brain!

    Ok, that was fun. Personally I'd look for some sort of 'dulling' agent. You might even check photography stores (real ones, no Wal-green)...they used to sell some stuff you could spray on eye-glasses to prevent reflections/glare from the strobes. Alternately maybe you could just use some steel wool and dull the finish (though I don't know what's underneath, it could look ugly). I just wonder if the sharpie would just rub off with time and/or get on the dash/button and look ugly.
     
    #2 efusco, Aug 21, 2006
  3. Trevor

    Trevor Member

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    I haven't noticed this myself, but you're not the first to have this problem... seach for the thread "power button ring glare".
     
    #3 Trevor, Aug 21, 2006
  4. glenhead

    glenhead New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Trevor @ Aug 21 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]306710[/snapback]</div>
    Ok, fine - I searched on "bezel" and a couple of other tries - never tried "ring". Sigh. Thanks for the re-point! I guess I'll try one of the ideas on the other thread - mask and paint.
     
    #4 glenhead, Aug 21, 2006
  5. ramarren

    ramarren New Member

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    hmm. so far I haven't noticed any reflections off the button bezel bugging me.

    G
     
    #5 ramarren, Aug 21, 2006
  6. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    I've noticed it from time to time, but it doesn't really bother me.

    Where I work there's a copy maching that has a button and rim the same size as the Power button. That rim's different.....it's made of frosted plastic and has an LED behind it, so the rim changes color. IMHO, that's the way the Power button should be; have the rim light up instead of a light on the button itself. Frosted plastic won't be as glaring in the sunlight.
     
    #6 aaf709, Aug 21, 2006
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I normally drive with my eyes closed anyway. But now that you have mentioned it, I'm sure it'll be the only thing I look at the entire way home to night. THANKS for that!!

    :D

    BTW, I like your thread name. Very clever.
     
    #7 TonyPSchaefer, Aug 21, 2006
  8. Trevor

    Trevor Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenhead @ Aug 21 2006, 11:30 AM) [snapback]306714[/snapback]</div>
    Glad I could help. I honestly don't know how the brain works sometimes, but I just happened to remember the name of the other thread even though it wasn't an issue for me. The alliteration in your subject is far more fun. :D
     
    #8 Trevor, Aug 21, 2006
  9. glenhead

    glenhead New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 21 2006, 12:28 PM) [snapback]306772[/snapback]</div>
    Any time - and whatever you do, don't think about elephants...
     
    #9 glenhead, Aug 21, 2006
  10. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Bummer, bro. Banish the brightness with black!
     
    #10 hyo silver, Aug 21, 2006
  11. ekpolk

    ekpolk What could possibly...

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godfrey DiGiorgi @ Aug 21 2006, 11:41 AM) [snapback]306739[/snapback]</div>
    I hadn't either -- until I read this. It happened to be a bright sunny day down here, and by golly, the ring sure does reflect a fair amount of sun. Might just have to do the sharpie thing myself now. . . Gee thanks. :p ;)
     
    #11 ekpolk, Aug 21, 2006
  12. tracys

    tracys New Member

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    I posted the original "power button ring glare" topic. I live in Arizona, super bright sunlight is the norm and the glare off the dang thing is pretty significant. I followed the suggestion of taking a Sharpie to my power bezel/ring and the result is interesting. Yes it reduces the glare a bit, but a black Sharpie actually looks dark red once you color the bezel. I don't mind it, it's not very obvious, but there must be a better way. I'm waiting to see how long it takes to wear off. I think paint would probably peel off after a while. I just got a Dashmat for the car and that has some shading effect (by the way put your new Dashmats in the dryer on air fluff for about 30 minutes before installing as they have a boat load of dust embedded in them). I think the ideal solution would be for Toyota (or an after market company) to make a flat black bezel, but that will have to wait for the next upgrade. I think it doesn't bother people who live in cloudy climates as much as it does those of us who live in ultra sunny climes.
     
    #12 tracys, Aug 22, 2006
  13. withersea

    withersea DNF is better than DNS

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    I haven't noticed. I do not look out of or toward the windshield when driving. I only watch the MFD. Now if I could just get those screen savers and pictures that someone was asking about.....
     
    #13 withersea, Aug 22, 2006
  14. glenhead

    glenhead New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(withersea @ Aug 22 2006, 12:57 PM) [snapback]307645[/snapback]</div>
    :lol: :lol:

    Note to self - Avoid Kingsport, TN...
     
    #14 glenhead, Aug 22, 2006
  15. nerfer

    nerfer A young senior member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hyo silver @ Aug 21 2006, 01:05 PM) [snapback]306807[/snapback]</div>
    Yep. Those bothered by bezel blindness bring on bad behavior behind-the-wheel. Bystanders beware!
     
    #15 nerfer, Aug 22, 2006
  16. Tom_06

    Tom_06 Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ Aug 22 2006, 02:48 PM) [snapback]307681[/snapback]</div>
    The woodtrim kit from BD Trims includes a nice piece to cover the ring-thing. Maybe they'd sell you just that piece?? It is part#6 - Power Button Surround in the Prius kit part sheet. See: http://bdtrims.com/

    - Tom
     
    #16 Tom_06, Aug 22, 2006
  17. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    :rolleyes: That bezel has never glared at me.... BUT....

    Are you reasonably steady-handed? Drop by a model hobby store and buy a little bottle of black model laquer and paint that "son of a gun." - THAT'L SHOW IT..! :D
     
    #17 Charles Suitt, Aug 22, 2006
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