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DIY Sticky Button Cleaning

Discussion in 'California/Portofino/Roma' started by Bill Phillips, Feb 28, 2023.

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  1. Bill Phillips

    Bill Phillips Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2019
    480
    New Orleans
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    Bill
    #1 Bill Phillips, Feb 28, 2023
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2023
    I just realized recently how badly gummed up the overhead control panel in my ‘13 Cali had become. I mean you couldn’t touch it without getting your fingers coated in thick black goo. I had the a/c control panel refinished at StickyRx a year or so ago and was very happy with the result, but after watching a couple of YouTube videos I decided to try cleaning a few other items myself this time. Goo Gone automotive spray gel is the key - it takes multiple applications but it’s well worth the effort. And it doesn’t harm the leather which makes it easy to clean some things, like the outside mirror control, headlight knob and parking brake handle, without removing them. The overhead panel, however, was too complex and too hard to work on while it’s in place so I took it out and disassembled it. I was leery at first but it was easier than I thought, you just have to be careful not to drop any of the small screws and to document each step so you can put it back together ;-)

    Here are a few pictures. If anyone wants to try it, let me know and I’ll post step by step instructions.

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    For really gummed up panels like this one it took me four or five cycles of spraying, letting it soak for a few minutes, then hard rubbing - actually smearing the goo off. You need plenty of rags.

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  2. jsh458ft

    jsh458ft Formula Junior
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    #2 jsh458ft, Mar 1, 2023
    Is this a temporary fix AKA the stickiness will come back? Looks great!
     
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  3. Bill Phillips

    Bill Phillips Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2019
    480
    New Orleans
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    Bill
    #3 Bill Phillips, Mar 1, 2023
    I’m not sure how long they’ll stay like this, but the surfaces are perfectly smooth and hard now and the process I used didn’t affect the white lettering at all.

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  4. Mike Morrissey

    Mike Morrissey Formula 3
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    #4 Mike Morrissey, Mar 1, 2023
  5. vjd3

    vjd3 F1 Rookie
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    #5 vjd3, Mar 1, 2023
    The only button that's ever gone sticky on my 2015 is the reverse button and that was when I picked it up from servicing it -- which makes me think the technician had volatile body chemistry and caused it just by putting it in reverse to back the car out of the bay.

    But I cleaned it off with isopropyl alcohol and a Q-tip -- it just removes the soft touch coating so it's just the hard black plastic with the lettering, so I would say it will just remain that way permanently. It doesn't really match the finish on the other two buttons but who cares?
     
  6. Bill Phillips

    Bill Phillips Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2019
    480
    New Orleans
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    #6 Bill Phillips, Mar 1, 2023
    That’s correct. As Dave at StickyRx has pointed out, what I did was to remove the melted clear coat, and that will leave the black surfaces shiny instead of the factory semi-gloss finish. My overhead panel, however, still has the semi-gloss appearance. I’ll keep an eye on everything and let everybody know how it holds up over time.
     
  7. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 285ferrari, Mar 2, 2023
    You gonna leave the buttons really shiny like that? Or paint them to matte factory finish?
     
  8. Bill Phillips

    Bill Phillips Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2019
    480
    New Orleans
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    Bill
    #8 Bill Phillips, Mar 2, 2023
    The only one that is really noticeable is the headlight control knob, and it doesn’t bother me so I plan to leave it alone. If I change my mind I’ll spray it with a flat clear coat.
     
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  9. SVanDyck

    SVanDyck Formula Junior

    Oct 4, 2021
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    Joe Michaels
    #9 SVanDyck, Mar 4, 2023
    I thought my 2011 458 was a perfect specimen with pristine buttons. I always assumed it had been kept in a climate controlled storage or something. After I traded it in, the guys at the dealership started saying “You wouldn’t believe what a sticky mess those buttons were. Took us forever to refinish them before we sold it”.
     
  10. Mike Morrissey

    Mike Morrissey Formula 3
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    #10 Mike Morrissey, Aug 16, 2023
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  11. Bill Phillips

    Bill Phillips Formula Junior

    Nov 4, 2019
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    #11 Bill Phillips, Aug 16, 2023
    Good job Mike, looks as nice as the one I paid a bundle to have refinished!
     
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  12. thomastrain

    thomastrain Rookie

    Oct 30, 2019
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    Steve CI
    #12 thomastrain, Aug 17, 2023
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    This stuff also works great. Wipe down with isopropyl alcohol, let dry, use small paint brush for the sticky buttons. I applied 2 coats. No need to disassemble. Worked great on my cali T.


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  13. miamiron

    miamiron Karting

    Sep 3, 2016
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    #13 miamiron, Aug 17, 2023
    Do you have a couple photos after using this? Curious to see how it looks.
     
  14. GTS Bruce

    GTS Bruce Formula Junior

    Oct 10, 2012
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    Bruce Roche
    #14 GTS Bruce, Aug 18, 2023
    Sticky RX for a professional hard coating that looks original and cannot be scratched
     
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  15. Andrew Pour

    Andrew Pour Karting

    Oct 7, 2019
    63
    #15 Andrew Pour, Nov 13, 2023
    I am curious as well to see a picture. Hope this is a good fix.
     
  16. DiamondDog

    DiamondDog Formula 3
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    Aug 29, 2021
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    #16 DiamondDog, Aug 15, 2024
    How is everyone's sticky button fix holding up over time?
     
  17. Henk Westerduin

    Henk Westerduin Rookie

    Jul 30, 2020
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    #17 Henk Westerduin, Sep 19, 2024
    Where can I find instructions on removing the overhead control panel, as well as the hvac panel on a California? Thanks.
     

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