430 Removing ‘sticky’ coating from switches

I did it without removing the switches. But it’s hard to get all of it as there are little crannies and my big bulgy fingers couldn’t navigate those areas.

Also I got a lot of black stuff on my leather and had to clean that out as a phase 2.

It took about 1.5 hours.

 

OH BOY!
Here we go AGAIN!
Just get some 99% alcohol and some white rags and DIY.
LOL

 

Yeah, actually, this is all you need to do. I use 91% as that is what was available, and works well. Use lots of clean rags and work them around with brushes as needed in the nooks and crannies. Q-tips work well too. A search will reveal countless threads on this. Just be aware some graphics are durable, and some are removed along with the sticky. The word "lock" on the door levers may come off, and on my 360 the center AC vent arrows were removed. You can also send out to have those replaced but few people care.

 

They use it for the tactile feel that nothing else seemed to give at the time, and it's not exclusive to cars. In recent years and even the other day I had to clean the same stickies off many other items from security cameras to digital tire pressure gauges. Who knew a security camera needed a special grippy coating??? (yeah it did not, but gave it a techy look I guess) I think it's all about the sale, and these coatings give a mysteriously luxurious finish that other coatings could not. At least there is a simple fix in most cases.

 

This is what I found to be the best alcohol to use. Makes great cocktails as well. (NOT!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DNQX3C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_bia_widget_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I used denatured alcohol-as suggested in numerous posts here. Between using a clean wash cloth and some Qtips.

Not sure why people complain about process - as I found process to be quick and very easy.

Stickiness has not returned and I have been extremely happy with results.

 

If you're in the UK, methylated spirits does a fine job. Cleaned my car up beautifully. I highly recommend removing all switches and buttons as you go otherwise you will have a black mess all over your leather. And those stains do not come out easily.

 

Is there a long term fix for this? As in does someone make a set of knobs that use a better material that will last?

 

The "long term fix" is to simply use the alcohol as suggested. The sticky does not come back.

 

Agree. I used denatured alcohol and problem has not come back. Parts look and feel perfect

 

As stated, it is the coating that goes sticky, not the parts themselves. Once you remove this aged coating, there is nothing else there to become sticky. Your parts are now bare base material and will stay perfect forever, unless of course a nuclear blast comes along ;-)

 

If someone made these bits in a nice, durable oem looking material with no sticky stuff I’d pay for that instead of going through the hassle. I like tinkering but cant say this project sounds like a fun one to me.

 

This project is not for everyone. It takes a diploma in rocket science. Wipe on alcohol, wait 3 seconds, wipe off. Really complicated. And messy. If you get sticky on your finger, you will have to either use alcohol to clean it off, or send them out like folks do with the sticky parts, and have someone else clean your fingers. Pretty expensive, but hey, it's only money.

 

You will remove some but not all of the decals with alcohol. I believe the “lock” labels on the doors will come off. Be careful around any of the lettering, numbers or arrows just to be safe. Understand that this is a very inexpensive fix and you get what you pay for. StickyRx is the best route if you want perfection. I did clean the switches on one of my cars with a product called “Greased Lightning.” The results were acceptable but since then been using StickyRx for better than new permanent refinishing.

 

Apologies if this concern has been addressed in another thread. The previous owner corrected most of the sticky bits except the vent rings and the vent at the base of the windshield. The rings will go to StickyRX, but I have been cautioned to leave the defroster vents alone since their removal and replacement is dicey. Will the alcohol damage the leather? My dash is perfect and I do not want to jeopardize it.

 

The alcohol will not always damage the leather but it can if soaked or rubbed hard, so best not to contact the leather. That said, the defroster vents are not something that gets touched, so not usually a candidate for a fix. You can use q-tips and foam brushes to get to them without removal, with care. The vents can be removed, and there are some strings here on FC if you search.

 

Dean, thanks. My defroster vents get almost liquid in the summer. If my dog shakes her head, hair gets stuck on the vents and I can’t get my fingers in there easily to remove them. A very minor problem.

 

I cleaned mine with isopropyl alcohol. Logos were unaffected.

 

In addition, exercise care because the black, tarry stuff, once dissolved by the alcohol onto a towel or Q-tip, will stain the leather.

I’ve been wanting to clean my vents, not that I touch them, but because they are turning shiny as well as sticky. You can’t easily remove them for cleaning because they’re fastened from under the dash.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Actually, all my vents just pulled out pretty easily and then you can pop off the ring to clean if you wanted