Cloudy/Blurry AC screen?

Got my new Prius a week ago. The AC display is sharp, but clearly the plastic cover of the display has some filter/layer for some purpose (sun reflection reduction?) that makes it look "blurry".
The display is very well readable though - so I am not even noticing it anymore.

 

Hi everyone,
I just am new on p/c but but not new to forums. I've been reading this forum for about 5 months now and benefit greatly from the helpful content. I bought my gen3 model II in July. I am getting condensation blurr in my radio display only when I have my a/c on. Forgive if i missed a fix for this, I did a search and did not find one. I am hesistant to have some Toyota tech pull it apart. Thanks in advance gotta go to work.

 

Blurry AC screen has cleared!

Same as most posters have shown, our Prius III also have the blurry AC screen when we purchased it on 8/8/09. But today on my drive to work, I noticed the AC screen appears clearer.

with flash:



without flash:


I cannot explain how it happened but could it be that the AC screen eventually clears up after driving for 2,500 miles or the weather change here in san diego (from higher temp in August to lower temp in October) had any affect to it? Are there any other members that have experienced this?

 

This is my first post and usually just read and not post anything, but just want to let everyone know I had the same issue with blurry screen that was driving me nuts. After reading the post, decided to give Novus a try which I bought on amazon for about 10 bucks. Bought the 2oz kit that comes with the 1,2,3 bottles. Just thought I would give it a shot since I probably have nothing to lose.
I did not use #3, just #2 and #1, followed the instructions, rubbed #2 scratch remover in circles until it dried and buffed it out, repeated 4 times and it was noticeably clearer, but not crisp like I wanted it.
Then I rubbed #2 polisher again, but this time a lot more. What I did was rubbed #2 for about 1-2 minutes until this dried, then without buffing, I repeated this about 4 times rubbing it for 1-2 minutes letting it dry, then buffed it out. I did this process 2 more tries, rubbing 1-2 minutes with Novus #2 until it dried, then putting several more drops of polish repeating 4 times, without buffing, then buffing with dry cloth and WOW it is crystal clear now. Finished it off with Novus #1. I did not use the cloth the kit it came with because I thought it might leave scratches since the cloth(a better paper towel). I used a cloth that came with my Samsung LCD TV, basically an LCD cleaning cloth. I wish I took before and after pics but didn't because I wasn't expecting any results.

For any of you skeptical this may work, I can say it does work.
Funny thing, now the a/c screen looks clearer than my CD player screen and I thought the CD player screen was very clear.

 

Just got a call from my dealer.
Toyota has made a fix for the blurry screen.
They have the new replacement ordered.
Will install when it gets here.

 

This is big news! Is there a TSB or some reference number associated with this so I can point it out to my dealer? I bet if I asked my dealer about it tomorrow they would know nothing about it. Please keep us posted as to the results of the replacement!
Thank so much.

 

The service manager said it was a TSB but i have no idea what number it is.
I'm sure glad i didnt polish mine and intead waited for a fix from Toyota.
I'd feel kinda strange going in to get it replaced and they said "what's wrong with this one."
I'll post on how it goes after the change.
Service guy did say it was a change out of the whole unit.
I'll also see if i can get the TSB number when i go in.

 

For anyone interested i got this TSB number from my service manager for the fuzzy screen.

0387-09

 

My only concern with replacing this part is they'll need to take apart some of the dash, which in my experience inevitably introduces squeaks. Pick your poison.

To me the bigger issue with the A/C display is not being able to read it in sunny conditions (and then you can't tell that it's blurry...).

 

I inadvertently FIXED my creaking by taking stuff apart. I was doing some exploration that involved taking panels off. Afterward, I noticed that one of my creaks went away.

 

UPDATE
Dealer called and new unit was in. Went in and had it installed at !.30 this afternoon. In and out with a car wash in 1 hr.
Oh ya it worked :cheer2: clear as can be. Thanks to Toyota and Rogers Motors.

BTW no rattles before or after the change out.

 

Thanks LR King II. I emailed my dealer yesterday and they were unaware of the TSB and they offered to have me bring the car in the next time the Toyota rep is in. I replied and provided the TSB you gave us and asked them to look it up and let me know the details of what it addresses and what it fixes. I want to see what they say about it. Glad to hear you got it done so quickly and hope you have no rattles! Thanks for keeping us updated!

 

Got a new Prius III (no Packages) on 25 Nov 09.
AC display is clear, no blur.
FYI.

 

I called my dealer as they did not reply to my email. They will not replace it just because there is a TSB. They said it needs to be looked at by a tech and then by the Toyota rep. Then they backtracked and said I could have the rep look at it and skip the tech. I went out and looked at mine again and it doesn't seem nearly as blurry now as it did when I took delivery in July. Maybe I'm just getting used to it or maybe the cooler temps have affected it. I will wait until my next oil change to decide if I want to pursue it or not. I'm weighing the risk of them screwing it up and/or ending up with rattles. I'll also see if the problem becomes worse next summer.

 

how much of the dash would they have to remove to get to it? there's a rattle on the left side in my prius that comes and goes, but i would want to get rid of it. if they need to remove the whole dash to get to the a/c unit (which it looks like they may need to do) i myself would take the risk so they can address that issue at the same time.

 

Actually, it wasn't backwards, it was not POLISHED to the correct dimensions.

 

So, let me give you an eye doctors perspective here...My display seems to be perfectly clear when I use my glasses properly.

A lot depends on the age of the OP and whether that person is supposed to be wearing near vision glasses or not, and whether they wear progressive lenses or not.

As we get older, our near vision blurs (presbyopia). The AC display is reasonably close to the face in the Prius, especially if you are short. While it is not practical to put on reading glasses to see the display, it may in fact be necessary. Many people who "only need reading glasses" fail to realize that they need them to see anything that is close...even if they are not "reading". I am in no way recommending that you wear reading glasses while driving.

Secondly, if you wear progressive glasses, and you just turn your eyes off to the right and down a bit to see the display, without turning your head, it will probably be a bit blurry, especially if you are a bit short and if the lower reading part of your progressive is on the strong side. For the display to be clear, the driver would have to turn their head to the right and down.

This poster takes no responsibility for anyone trying crazy things with their glasses while driving. Consult your eyecare professional.

 

I think the proof is in the before and after pictures above. There is clearly a difference. I will post mine to help others as well.

 

Thanks for your insight but there was definitely a film applied to some, probably not all initial Gen 3's, at manufacture. The Novus product removed it on mine, in stages following a prior poster's advice, and produced an immediate change to clear after about 4 cautious applications. Same glasses.

No need for a dealer correction now because it's clear in any situation.

 

My Novus has arrived. I will polish and post before and after pics tomorrow.