Clearcoat fading on gauge cluster? How to remove?
 

Hello, so since the day I bought the car, the gauge cluster has always had this flaky looking smudges on the plastic and I left it on for so long I got use to it and forgot about it. When I lightly use my nail to scratch it off, it comes and looks clear where I scuffed it off but it would take too long to do the whole thing haha. I'm not sure if its the clear coat fading due to alcohol etc used to clean it? Or it's just crap left from some solution they used. How do I remove it? I changes the ISO of the camera in order to emphasize the flakes of it. Here's a picture. (Because the ISO was changed, camera had a hard time focusing on the light, so keep in mind it isnt as bad, just tried emphasize on it.)
Attachment 189344

I don't know how to tell you this, but your gauges look crystal clear. I think it's time for you to visit the eye doctor...



Ok, I was kidding. I have never seen that before. Hopefully, someone will have a response more useful than mine.

bump

Did someone use acetone to clean it or something? Either way, that polycarbonate is not supposed to come off like that...ever. I mean, I own vehicles from the 80's and early 90's that have flawless clusters. That's a very uniquely terrible situation, someone must have cleaned it with a again acetone, or something just as damaging.

So How can I remove the coat? Because when I scratch it off, it's clear. Just would take a real long time to do. Maybe it's residue from some chemical or solution?

You could try plastic X but you may just need to replace the cover.

Previous owner must have used some type of house hold cleaner on the gauge face. I've never seen this before! You could try Meguiar's Plastx, claims to remove haze & cloudiness. If the gauge face is damaged and won't polish out, replace it...Gary

Take the cluster out. Sand starting with 600 grit, then 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500. Then either use PlastX with a buffer/orbital and wax it OR do a couple passes of clearcoat and the sanding process following up with a buff.