Instrument/Gauge Lens Issue

[MEP]

I am on my third instrument/gauge lens replacement due to some kind of substance that starts to run down behind the lens and causes an etching effect, and it has now happened again. The substance is not water or condensation, and seems to be some sort of an oily-like chemical coating. The bike is washed with a garden hose and Meguiars Gold Class soap, and I am careful to avoid the dash area altogether.

My dealer has promptly replaced the lens each time and now that it has happened a fourth time the issue has become a "case" with BRP. I am told that BRP is waiting for another picture of the most recently affected lens before making any recommendations. I have researched and read about this issue, or a similar issue, occurring here and there in the past with other Spyder owners. What I haven't read or heard about, however, is someone else having the same problem repeatedly. If anyone can shed any further light on this I'd appreciate it.

 

[ARtraveler]

Please keep us updated as to what happens. Four lenses, the same thing happening, something is not right--but you knew that. :roflblack:

Your water?? The Maguires Gold?? Starting points??

 

[Bob Denman]

Do you have a picture of one of these affected lenses? :dontknow:

 

[MEP]

Do you have a picture of one of these affected lenses? :dontknow:

No, I don 't, and it's very difficult for me to get the whatever-it-is to show up in a picture taken with the lens in place on the bike. Maybe when the dealer takes their picture for BRP, if it can be seen there, I can get a copy.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Is this on the inside of the lens? On my 2010 I had what looked like a waterspot on the inside so I tried to clean it off and created more of a mess. It seemed like the inside had some kind of coating on it, maybe fog resistant goo, but when I tired to clean it I smeared it and it was not good.

 

[MEP]

Is this on the inside of the lens? On my 2010 I had what looked like a waterspot on the inside so I tried to clean it off and created more of a mess. It seemed like the inside had some kind of coating on it, maybe fog resistant goo, but when I tired to clean it I smeared it and it was not good.

Yes, it's been on the inside all four times. My dealer also tried cleaning it on two different occasions, neither time with any lasting success. I saw your old post about this issue when I was researching it, and I appreciate your response again now.

 

[NoJive]

Is this what you are talking about? Just noticed it on mine this morning, and it is on both sides.

 

[MEP]

Is this what you are talking about? Just noticed it on mine this morning, and it is on both sides.

Yes, sir. Mine looked/looks like that in varying degrees. Thanks for the picture.

 

[NoJive]

Let me know what you find out, and yes it is almost impossible to get a pic of it.

 

[NoJive]

I think on the GS I had, I removed the lens from the panel at one time, as there was a protective clear sheet over the LCD that started bubbling. I assume the lens can be removed from the RT panel as well?

 

[MEP]

Let me know what you find out, and yes it is almost impossible to get a pic of it.

I sure will. Although I have no complaints about the way that my dealer has handled this up to this point, having to replace the lens 4 times seems excessive to me, especially since there is some history of this same issue out there. I have contacted BRP myself and directed their attention to this and as many historical threads as I could find. Thanks again.

 

[MEP]

I think on the GS I had, I removed the lens from the panel at one time, as there was a protective clear sheet over the LCD that started bubbling. I assume the lens can be removed from the RT panel as well?

Yes it can be removed, but I have not done it myself. I can turn a $5 project into a $500 project with no problem, so I've learned to leave most of that stuff to my dealer.

 

[Bob Denman]

I think that Ann is right; that might just be an anti-fog coating for the lens.
But as to why it would do that: :dontknow:

 

[NoJive]

Well I decided to pull my cluster out and investigate this a bit more. The cluster comes out very easily, took all of 15 minutes to take it out, clean it, and out it back in. It does appear to be some sort of oily coating on the inside of the lens. Where it is coming from, I have no clue. I cleaned it with Windex, and then polished it with some Novus 2. Now it looks almost brand new, but if you look hard enough, you can still see something still on the inside. Almost like whatever it was distorted the plastic a bit.

I would've taken some pics of the removal process, but I was running out of daylight. Here is a pic of the Novus 2 for anyone that doesn't know. It works great to polish plastics, especially on helmet shields and pinball plastics! Pinball is my other expensive hobby!

 

[Buggy]

I had the exact same problem on the inside of my 2014 RTL cluster. The dealer removed the lens and cleaned it but was not satisfied so ordered me a new lens. The replacement lens has been ok for the last 4 months. It looked like water had run down the back and dryed leaving a watermark....but as already said it is not water.

 

[MEP]

Well I decided to pull my cluster out and investigate this a bit more. The cluster comes out very easily, took all of 15 minutes to take it out, clean it, and out it back in. It does appear to be some sort of oily coating on the inside of the lens. Where it is coming from, I have no clue. I cleaned it with Windex, and then polished it with some Novus 2. Now it looks almost brand new, but if you look hard enough, you can still see something still on the inside. Almost like whatever it was distorted the plastic a bit.

I would've taken some pics of the removal process, but I was running out of daylight. Here is a pic of the Novus 2 for anyone that doesn't know. It works great to polish plastics, especially on helmet shields and pinball plastics! Pinball is my other expensive hobby!

Thanks for the follow up. Your description is consistent with what my dealer told me after their second attempt to clean the affected lens. They replaced it again due to the etching that you also experienced.

 

[MEP]

I had the exact same problem on the inside of my 2014 RTL cluster. The dealer removed the lens and cleaned it but was not satisfied so ordered me a new lens. The replacement lens has been ok for the last 4 months. It looked like water had run down the back and dryed leaving a watermark....but as already said it is not water.

Thanks for the information.

 

[NoJive]

Very interesting, and I am very curious as to what the liquid is, and where it is coming from....especially since it seems to be etching the lens.

 

[Richardv]

I also do...

Is this what you are talking about? Just noticed it on mine this morning, and it is on both sides.

I do have the same run down on my 2013 ST.... :banghead:

Richard

 

[MEP]

I do have the same run down on my 2013 ST.... :banghead:

Richard

Thanks for the information. Between these responses and the historical threads concerning this issue, it looks like this problem has been hanging around for quite awhile. That's helpful to know moving forward.