Hi,

 

I just had my MK3 washed and valeted a few days ago. A boy who was cleaning my dash decided that it will be a good idea to soak my dash with some cleaning liquid. It looks like that cleaning liquid worked it’s way inside? or behind? the LED Strip and messed the illumination. I will attach some daytime photos that were taken just after the valeting and some nighttime photos that were taken 3 days after. I just want to know how could some general cleaning liquid mess up the LED Strip and what can I do to restore it to its original form.

 

Thanks for your help and tips in advance!

Looks cooked. I'd be taking it back there and demanding they fix it or pay for it. They should have insurance for this stuff. 

The pieces can be purchased at least as a whole kit and maybe individually. Here's an example... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003796134046.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.828a582c6RtrBS&algo_pvid=5b053f4c-f1ec-45fc-8deb-60cfcc753ebe&algo_exp_id=5b053f4c-f1ec-45fc-8deb-60cfcc753ebe-2&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"12000027192269781"}&pdp_npi=2%40dis!AUD!474.85!474.85!!!!!%402101e9d516600206495887793e9302!12000027192269781!sea&curPageLogUid=ibdu7yKbC1b9

Run the heater for ages. Probably just moisture behind the trim, I wouldn’t say it’s damaged though, just needs to dry out 

4 hours ago, ApertureS said:

Run the heater for ages. Probably just moisture behind the trim, I wouldn’t say it’s damaged though, just needs to dry out 

Either that or wait for the heatwave...

 

Edit, sorry I saw you're in Scotland! 😆

Edited 9 August, 20223 yr by Hdsn555
User in Scotland

Hi all, thank you very much for the replies.

 

I have done a few more photos today and I am not sure what I saw, but I just can assume that there is some mineral (or salt?) build up under the LED Strip. I am pretty sure that is the remains of the cleaning liquid…  I will attach some photos for you!

 

Please leave a message with you opinions on what could it be.

 

@Frankenfurterthanks for the reply, I did contact the car wash and we did take @ApertureS and @Hdsn555 advice to let the strip dry out for a few days.

9 minutes ago, Hastein said:

I have done a few more photos today and I am not sure what I saw, but I just can assume that there is some mineral (or salt?) build up under the LED Strip. I am pretty sure that is the remains of the cleaning liquid…  I will attach some photos for you!

It will most likely be left over cleaner or water hardness (limescale and other disolved minerals)

Pretty sure that's gonna be permanent 🤔

If it still hasnt gone, you can pop this piece of trim out (its a tight fit but no screws), you can then unplug the 2 plugs and then when its fully off the car you can just pop the acrylic pipe out the back and clean it off and dry it, then refit to the trim piece then back in the car. 

1 hour ago, ApertureS said:

If it still hasnt gone, you can pop this piece of trim out (its a tight fit but no screws), you can then unplug the 2 plugs and then when its fully off the car you can just pop the acrylic pipe out the back and clean it off and dry it, then refit to the trim piece then back in the car. 

Do I need some special tools to be able to remove the trim? Should I start from the driver or passenger side? It would help me a lot if you could send me a link to a video guide (I did search youtube with no success…)

 

Thanks.

in order to get to that trim piece -  u need to remove the entire door card trim.

u will need trim removal tools.

 

 

there is a detailed youtube video covering this - 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, Hastein said:

Do I need some special tools to be able to remove the trim? Should I start from the driver or passenger side? It would help me a lot if you could send me a link to a video guide (I did search youtube with no success…)

 

Thanks.

Hi Hastein,

 

You can find the workshop manual for interior repairs here:

https://cardiagn.com/skoda-superb-iii-general-body-repairs-interior/

This may help you on how to remove that piece. 

Discussion on treating water damaged electronics:

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/350302/does-water-actually-damage-or-only-temporarily-disable-electronics-until-drying 

If there is mineral residue dried on the LED strip internals it may be very difficult to remove it if the strip is sealed. If anything it needs to be cleaned with something like pure water or isopropyl alcohol etc and left to fully dry.

Edited 10 August, 20223 yr by Frankenfurter
Workshop manual image upload

FYI disassembly wedge 3409 from VW looks like this:
 Just a cheap set of plastic interior trim wedges from your local auto shop will do the trick.
 

Thank you guys for all the help, I really appreciate all your posts. Unfortunately the manager of the car wash is “sick” , so this means that for an indefinite period he will be unavailable. I have a feeling that he won’t be able to help me with the repairs, or costs of the repairs. The work that I would have to do to myself to remove the trims is a wee bit overwhelming… I will give it a few more days.

 

Thank you one more time.

24 minutes ago, Hastein said:

Thank you guys for all the help, I really appreciate all your posts. Unfortunately the manager of the car wash is “sick” , so this means that for an indefinite period he will be unavailable. I have a feeling that he won’t be able to help me with the repairs, or costs of the repairs. The work that I would have to do to myself to remove the trims is a wee bit overwhelming… I will give it a few more days.

 

Thank you one more time.

That ol’ chesnut

 

im wondering if you could stick one of these near it for a few days

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/pingi-reusable-car-dehumidifier-549771822

 

or a hair dryer at a distance but enough for it to get mild/warm but not hot and see if that helps

 

 

 

@Hastein I feel your pain.  Good luck getting it all sorted! 

7 hours ago, Hastein said:

Thank you guys for all the help, I really appreciate all your posts. Unfortunately the manager of the car wash is “sick” , so this means that for an indefinite period he will be unavailable. I have a feeling that he won’t be able to help me with the repairs, or costs of the repairs. The work that I would have to do to myself to remove the trims is a wee bit overwhelming… I will give it a few more days.

 

Thank you one more time.

If it feels a bit much you can always ask a good local independent mechanic to remove the trim for you. Would probably take them about 30 minutes tops and you could keep using the car with it removed while it dries out at home. At the same time you could fire off a few emails to Skoda wreckers out there in the UK and ask them how much the front lighting strips would cost. I can't imagine those dash parts are in high demand.

On 11/08/2022 at 18:03, Danoid said:

That ol’ chesnut

 

im wondering if you could stick one of these near it for a few days

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/pingi-reusable-car-dehumidifier-549771822

 

or a hair dryer at a distance but enough for it to get mild/warm but not hot and see if that helps

 

 

 

There was a heatwave where I live and most of the week the sun was shining on my dash. The LED strip looks way better, it’s almost like it should be, but I think it never will be like “new”.

On 12/08/2022 at 01:05, Frankenfurter said:

If it feels a bit much you can always ask a good local independent mechanic to remove the trim for you. Would probably take them about 30 minutes tops and you could keep using the car with it removed while it dries out at home. At the same time you could fire off a few emails to Skoda wreckers out there in the UK and ask them how much the front lighting strips would cost. I can't imagine those dash parts are in high demand.

I’m just afraid not to %#£& the dash and leave a permanent “scar” on it. At this time looks way better, almost like before the incident. If it will bother I will use your advice and source the trim from wreckers and visit a garage to replace the trim.

The hardest thing will be looking at it all the time, now you know it's there, your eyes will keep looking.

Hopefully you dodged a bullet so to speak and it's 99% as "new"