Centuri,
I just installed a VF as well. I can't find a factory reset. But here is the constrast setting sequence from the manual, and I just tested it.
Press the "Menu" button.
Press the "down arrow"
Press the "down arrow"
Press the "down arrow"
(this should take you to the time/contrast menu, which you cannot see, since I guess your contrast is set too low)
Press "Select"
Press "down arrow" to select contrast.
Press "Select"
Press "down arrow" about 5 times to get contrast reading of 4.
Press "Enter" to save the setting.
Hope this works. Page 22 of the VF manual describes this, and seems to indicate that contrast setting of "0" is for bright sun. So, I'm guessing you set it to "9", and need to go down about 5 times to get something readable.
Hope this works for you. Let me know either way by posting.
Jeff