General: Sticky buttons

[john493]

Guys - the drivers door electric window switches on my '98 V70 are quite sticky. (I mean they are sticky to touch)
Anyone got any proven ways of improving them ?

[monkeh]

So are mine, No cleaning products got the sticky off, but I started to scratch the lining off. Didnt look good, so dont do that! Also had the problem with my headlight switch and dash buttons. Dont use solvent either, itll destroy the button.

[hedgesi]

It's a common problem and worse in the summer when they get warm. In the end I had to bite the bullet and replace it.

[green van man]

Originally Posted by hedgesi

It's a common problem and worse in the summer when they get warm. In the end I had to bite the bullet and replace it.

Did you replace with new or second hand please, mine are going the same and wondered if searching breakers was a viable option. If it is age related then I would rather do the job once and re mortgage the house to buy new.

Paul.

[hedgesi]

Originally Posted by green van man

Did you replace with new or second hand please, mine are going the same and wondered if searching breakers was a viable option. If it is age related then I would rather do the job once and re mortgage the house to buy new.

Paul.

I looked around at second hand, but concluded that they were on their way to sticky and wouldn't last long enough.
In the end I bought new on Ebay. It was a ScanTech part not Volvo original, but about half the price at £65

[Thanatos]

the volvo switch pack genuine one last time i inquired was £105 from main steeler and needed to be ordered in

[john493]

Looked on the scantech site & can't see them listed - I've sent them an email.
Thanks for all the replies.

[christheancient]

Parts for Volvo (PFV) have a replacement at £71.47. Not OEM, but I have never had any problems with their stuff,

http://www.partsforvolvosonline.com/...oducts_id=5858

[frazz]

Never had a problem with mine!! could the problem be years & years of 'cockpit' cleaner/shines????? dunno,,,,

[christheancient]

Originally Posted by frazz

Never had a problem with mine!! could the problem be years & years of 'cockpit' cleaner/shines????? dunno,,,,

Reminds me of mine when I first got my car. The buttons were so sticky and manky that I felt that I should have had a health warning stuck on them!

The previous owner had been a smoker (as shown by a few cigarette burns in the driver's seat - now sorted). And judging by the state of the door cards, dash etc., he used bloomin' cockpit shine. Then, on the switch panel, years of sticky fingers beautifully blended in with all the cleaners and polishes!

(BTW... I found that bio-gel laundry liquid left to soak on appropriate areas was good and getting off all that 'stuff'... but not on the switch panels!)

However, I did manage to get the worst off everything - including the switch panel buttons.

It is possible to to ease out the switch panel (carefully) and unplug it. Then, again very carefully, the top 'cover' on the panel can be levered out. Still with care, the actual switch button tops can be levered out. The following should not be attempted with the buttons in situ to avoid getting liquids into the switch mechanisms.

Then the work started... Just time, patience and all purpose cleanser (Stardrops or similar - but I used Tesco's!) and a very old, soft and worn out toothbrush were all that I used. But be very gentle! The paint on the switch knobs can actually come off -as I found out (but not too dramatically).

Care is needed when reassembling the switch assemblies to make sure you don't bend or distort the LEDs that illuminate the legends on the switches.

And that lasted me for quite a long time (about 18 months) until the switch panel actually died a death when a contact welded itself to another one along with lots of burning plastic smell - and melted plastic.