Distorted Hud

[Opifex]

Hi,

I’ve just had the windscreen replaced and I’m now having trouble with the HUD. As the HUD is moved up and down on the screen the image is distorted the same way that you get in a fairground hall of mirrors. Not the end of the world but it is irritating. Does anyone find their HUD performs like this?

The fitter remarked that the screens usually come from a third party and was a bit surprised that this was a genuine Toyota item.

I don’t remember any problem before the screen was replaced but before getting back to the fitter I would like to get some idea whether this is a one-off bad screen or something that is quite common. When the guy was replacing the screen he had to do a lot of heaving to get the old one out and I was worried that he might be damaging something in the process. Before contacting the fitter I would like some confidence that the replacement screen will be OK. It may be better to live with the problem rather than risk damage to something when the screen is replaced and then finding at the end of the day that it is as bad as the one I’ve got now.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Are you sure nothing (like broken glass fragments) has fallen into the HUD display box? It's about an inch or two deep just in front of the windscreen. It's where the display is reflected from. If the guy was clumsy fitting the screen he might have dropped something in it?

Hope this helps.

[Jan&tone]

Many years ago I had a Corolla which unfortunately got a crack when a lorry threw a brick up from between its double rear wheels.

The new screen was fitted very cleanly and quickly b Autoglass, unfortunately there was a flaw in it where if I ducked my head slightly I too got the fairground effect!

I complained and they replaced the screen FOC - the second one was fine.

[Opifex]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

GC - No, I'm sure the problem is in the screen. The image also changes shape as I move my head just as Tony describes.

When I made the booking they did call back and ask if the car has the HUD. Maybe they were then meant to make sure the screen was flat but the message got lost somewhere along the line.

This will be the third screen that has been delivered. The first guy came without a seal and the screen never got near the car. This job isn't going well!! :ffs:

[trapdoor]

Seems quite common for replacement screens to be optically poor. My Mrs scratched the inside of our Gen II with her ring when trying to clean it - so had to have a replacement screen. Not OEM (as the lease company wouldn't pay for an OEM screen) and had dreadful aberrations horizontally, right in my eyeline which gave the 'fairground' effect, particularly looking at road signs. But more worryingly was that whenever I drove the car, I got blinding headaches and what I assume was a sort of motion sickness.

Took ages to get Autoglass to agree that there was an issue as the fitter(s) just couldn't see it or understand the problem, but they did eventually agree to replace, this time with a Pilkington-made screen which was perfect.

Personally, I'd not agree to accept the screen unless it was as good as the factory fitted one that came with the car - so if you're not happy, keep rejecting them. Perhaps suggest that the fitter 'test fits' any new screen so you can check the optical quality/HUD clarity before they commit to glueing it in.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

And tell your insurers of the poor quality and poor service as ultimately they're paying for it!

[Opifex]

Update -

I phoned the fitters this morning and the first reaction was to book me in for an inspection visit on Thursday. When I asked he said that the fitter would not be carrying a replacement screen because they can't order another screen until they know it's needed. After a prolonged "meaningful discussion" the call centre guy agreed to talk to their control centre to see what could be done.

About half-hour later I got a call from the operations controller who recognised the problem, looked at their records to find out which supplier the screen had come from, and said he would order a screen from a different supplier ready for Thursday.

So, by Thursday the job should be fixed - I'll let you know.

[Jan&tone]

Update -

I phoned the fitters this morning and the first reaction was to book me in for an inspection visit on Thursday. When I asked he said that the fitter would not be carrying a replacement screen because they can't order another screen until they know it's needed. After a prolonged "meaningful discussion" the call centre guy agreed to talk to their control centre to see what could be done.

About half-hour later I got a call from the operations controller who recognised the problem, looked at their records to find out which supplier the screen had come from, and said he would order a screen from a different supplier ready for Thursday.

So, by Thursday the job should be fixed - I'll let you know.

Well done!

[Chris Dance]

That is a good result. Who are the windscreen company? From what you have said they are worth keeping a note of in case other Prius owners need replacement screens. Let us know if the new screen cures the problem.

[Opifex]

I'm afraid that my hopes for getting the HUD straight today were not fulfilled.

The fitter arrived with the new screen but remarked that it may be no better than the one I had. I said that I had been told it would be from a different supplier and he got on the phone to the office. Came back and told me that there is only one supplier for the Prius screen. He then had the idea of going to the local Toyota dealer and looking if there was distortion in the cars in their stock. When we tried a car it had glass from the same source as mine and very similar distortion - perhaps not quite as noticeable but definitely there. So, presented with the option of letting him replace the screen and then finding that it was no better, or maybe even worse, than what I have now, I decided not to pursue it and to stick with the current screen.

For the record, the insurance company is Acromas (part of Acromas Holdings), the brokers are Saga (part of Acromas Holdings) and the fitters are AA Windshields (part of, you've guessed it, Acromas Holdings)

[Jan&tone]

Agree it is probably better to leave the screen in rather than have the hassle of changing it to find the new one is no better!

What is worrying though is that there was similar distortion in the showroom car?

Silly question perhaps, but have you moved the HUD up and down? Maybe it's the position in relation to your view height that is giving the impression of distortion? I've not seen anyone else on here with this problem, and mine certainly is fine...

[Opifex]

Agree it is probably better to leave the screen in rather than have the hassle of changing it to find the new one is no better!

What is worrying though is that there was similar distortion in the showroom car?

Silly question perhaps, but have you moved the HUD up and down? Maybe it's the position in relation to your view height that is giving the impression of distortion? I've not seen anyone else on here with this problem, and mine certainly is fine...

This is one of those things where the screen needs to be absolutely flat and it is getting near the accuracy limit of the manufacturing process. Hence some screens are OK and some are not. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any way of sorting the good from the bad before they are put in the car.

The effect is most noticeable when the HSI is displayed. From my viewing height the image is just about OK if it is at the top of the display. If it is lowered slightly the bottom right corner of the HSI starts to fall away. As it is lowered further the whole of the HSI is stretched vertically. Carry on down and the image corrects itself.

[Jan&tone]

Agree it is probably better to leave the screen in rather than have the hassle of changing it to find the new one is no better!

What is worrying though is that there was similar distortion in the showroom car?

Silly question perhaps, but have you moved the HUD up and down? Maybe it's the position in relation to your view height that is giving the impression of distortion? I've not seen anyone else on here with this problem, and mine certainly is fine...

This is one of those things where the screen needs to be absolutely flat and it is getting near the accuracy limit of the manufacturing process. Hence some screens are OK and some are not. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any way of sorting the good from the bad before they are put in the car.

The effect is most noticeable when the HSI is displayed. From my viewing height the image is just about OK if it is at the top of the display. If it is lowered slightly the bottom right corner of the HSI starts to fall away. As it is lowered further the whole of the HSI is stretched vertically. Carry on down and the image corrects itself.

Wow, maybe you're just gonna have to put it where it' clearest and live with it... Shame though.