Sticky Console Buttons

[Fiste]

Well - figured this would happen eventually.

Somehow (no one if the family is fessin' up!) a drink got spilled on the console of the car where the big dial and all the buttons for the tech package are.

Why would they put those right next to the cup holders...?

Buttons still work - but they're certainly 'sticky'... Worse on cold days...

Anyone have any ideas on how I could clean them up? I assume I might need to take the console apart to some degree - not even sure where to start.

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

 

[ctrcbob]

This is why I have a small towel (wash cloth size folded double) over the dial whenever I have coffee or drink in the car. (matter of fact, I keep that cloth there all the time).
I always have a Cafe Mocha with me or so it seems, so I protect that dial. Have not spilled anything yet (I'm now knocking on wood) but there is always a first time.

 

[ShoNuff]

Fiste, I've had an unfortunate experience with a Diet Coke and splattered the DIS knob/buttons pretty thoroughly. I forget what the exact product was, but I used one of those wipes designed for cleaning lenses (Baush & Lomb maybe?). It got the sticky stuff off and didn't leave any streaky stuff behind. Good luck.

 

[fuzzynuke]

I spilled too last year, the buttons were sticky for about 1 month, then they became ok.

 

[flyboy2]

Get rid of the kids (or wife) before it happens again--

 

[Matt Z]

Sounds like a good cost saving long term solution!

 

[nearwater]

Not sure what the procedure is to remove the button assembly, but I know for a fact that they sell those button/dial assemblies as a whole.
I don't think it'll be easy to disassemble the assembly itself, which might be necessary to get rid of all the sticky goo.

I would first try to use some thin papers, etc. with cleaning solution to remove as much as possible and see how it behaves after a while.

Sorry to hear about the mess...
Good luck,

Dan

 

[mikec]

Napkins, folded up paper towels, etc. and plain alcohol probably would clean reasonably well. To clean the guts of the switches though one would have to remove the assembly from the car:
* remove shift knob. From the service manuals, it appears it just pulls straight up... that sounds strange to me; most unscrew but I've seen several sketches in the manuals that imply "yank straight up."

* unsnap the center console bezel. Unplug a few connectors on it.

* Remove DIS button assembly.

mike c.

 

[armanit]

Well - figured this would happen eventually.

Somehow (no one if the family is fessin' up!) a drink got spilled on the console of the car where the big dial and all the buttons for the tech package are.

Why would they put those right next to the cup holders...?

Buttons still work - but they're certainly 'sticky'... Worse on cold days...

Anyone have any ideas on how I could clean them up? I assume I might need to take the console apart to some degree - not even sure where to start.

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated!

Make sure the car is off and the start button has not been press in Accessor mode. Get a can of "WD40 electrical contact cleaner" and spray on the corners of the button immediately wipe off any excess on other parts of the console as not to fade those areas. Make sure you spray in pulses and in several phases and so just soak the button. "DO NOT" press the affected button immediately after spraying wait 2 to 3 mins then test press the buttons that you sprayed. Best of luck! ECSI Tire and Automotive Houston, TX

 

[Civil Eye Guy]

Make sure the car is off and the start button has not been press in Accessor mode. Get a can of "WD40 electrical contact cleaner" and spray on the corners of the button immediately wipe off any excess on other parts of the console as not to fade those areas. Make sure you spray in pulses and in several phases and so just soak the button. "DO NOT" press the affected button immediately after spraying wait 2 to 3 mins then test press the buttons that you sprayed. Best of luck! ECSI Tire and Automotive Houston, TX

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