Versa Note - removing & repairing gauge cluster lens

[karniverse]

Hey all! I recently got a 2016 Note 5MT and been loving the hell out of it. Only problem though is the speedometer lens is scratched up pretty bad. I wanted to remove it to try and drill polishing it clear again to see if I can repair it without buying a new cluster, but with my prior expereince on my last cars taking the gauge cluster out for some reason would trip the SRS light and reset the radio. Not sure why it happened on my last car (even with the negative terminal disconnected before removing it) but I wanted to know if anything like that happens on the Versa when removing the cluster? According to the repair manual, it said tampering with it could affect the SRS system. Not sure if that's just their way of scaring people into going into the dealer instead since that's what it says to do, but I feel pretty comfortable with the removal process. I just wanted to make sure it would not trip anything in the ECU by doing so.

Also, if anyone happens to know if Nissan uses an anti-reflective coating on their cluster lens let me know! It would be good to know before attempting to polish it

[VStar650CL]

You can pull the cluster with impunity as long as the ignition remains off. If you cycle the key with it removed, you'll get codes.

As far as I know, all Nissan cluster lenses are plain styrene. When I have occasion to refurbish one, I use Novus Plastic Polish #2. It's intended for motorcycle face shields but it's magic on all sorts of transparent plastic. You just rub it in with a soft cloth, swirls come out in a couple minutes with 3~4 applications and scratches with multiple applications in about 20 minutes.

[karniverse]

Awesome thanks for the info!

As far as I know, all Nissan cluster lenses are plain styrene. When I have occasion to refurbish one, I use Novus Plastic Polish #2. It's intended for motorcycle face shields but it's magic on all sorts of transparent plastic. You just rub it in with a soft cloth, swirls come out in a couple minutes with 3~4 applications and scratches with multiple applications in about 20 minutes.

Also curious did you polish it with just hand pressure? If I can try it without power tools I might be able to get it without removing the cluster!

[VStar650CL]

If it's just swirls you may be able to do it in situ, but #2 can get pretty messy around any corners or edges that the cloth can't reach. You'll probably be happier with the results if you yank it, and it isn't like a Versa cluster is hard to yank.