The disadvantage of purchasing a used vehicle is taking over someone else’s neglect. I went to use my A/C today and i noticed the button is stuck! Upon closer inspection, i can see that coffee or some sort of sticky beverage has spilled from the cup holder attached to the pillar beside the radio. Also, i can see there are a couple buttons on the radio that are a bit stiff to the touch!
Does anyone know the best way to clean the buttons without worrying about destroying anything behind them?

Thanks,
Paul

 

Generally I try to disassemble keypads that have suffered from spillages. I have had decent luck however cleaning intact keypads using a safe cleaner such as Endust For Electronics and absorbent paper towels or cloths and cotton swabs. Spray the affected keypads till they are evenly wet. Press them a few times so the cleaner gets between the panel and the button and begins dissolving the goo. Use the cottons swabs and/or the wipes to 'wick' the cleaner from around the buttons while tapping them. Repeat this a few times and you should get the most of the goo from the pads. It might take a couple sessions.

There is no need to completely soak the panel with the solvent, you dont want to have anything running inside the circuitry. Try one button at a time.

 

Get some electrical contact/component cleaner/lube. They sell it many places including Radio Shack. Worked for me.

 

i used some component cleaner when i spilled coffee in my first car's stereo. it cleaned up well, except the coffee short circuited everything

crystalized sugar is annoying, but you will want to clean it all off

in my first car, the buttons were hard plastic so i just pushed them in and out real fast to break away the residue...the soft plastic MINI ones are a diff story... good luck

 

Sounds good! Ill try it tonight.

Thanks!
Paul

 

So Paulo,

What did the trick? Does your button still stick? Or did cleaning it make it all better ?

 

Used a small amount of Windex on a MF rag to do this a few days ago. To clean one side of the long button, press down the other side so the side you're cleaning pops out a few mm.

I've been too sloppy with my coffee. Realized this when I went to turn down airflow and button stuck, taking airflow to zero. Now I slurp the Starbucks down to 2/3 before driving so it doesn't shoot out the little hole.

 

I spilled a little Starbucks coffee today...luckily, not on any of the switches or "buttons". I'm remembering to keep an MF rag in side pouch from now on to get 'em quickly dry.

 

if you ever get coffee on your cloth mats, i found that using some vinegar
50/50 with water works pretty darn well.

 

I generally use rubbing alcohol in as strong a concentration as you can find, simply because it evaporates fast. Use a very wet Q-tip and keep swabbing until all the gunk is dissolved, then mop up any excess fluid with a clean swab. If you like, a shot of canned air can be used as a last step. Wait about 5 minutes for everything to evaporate before turning on the car. It worked like a charm for me.

 

if you can reach it, alcahol and q tips.