Sticky Plastic

[jerkmoans]

Seems the more one tinkers with these things to get them just so, the more issues crop up to enrage one's inner OCD. So.

Having purchased the car with a cracked cover to the armrest NIT/CD player unit, known at Eurospares as a 'Silverbox', and to the cognoscenti as a 'shroud', I got a replacement used part from David Askew and very nicely it slotted in, too. However after giving it a rub to remove centuries of ingrained grime the thing now has an unpleasantly sticky texture to it (no quips, Parisien...).

I've seen that sticky buttons have been an issue, as here: http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...-Nobs-(and-switches)?highlight=sticky+plastic - but wondered whether any other techniques had been attempted to resolve decaying plastic surface issues before I set to with my sander and a can of varnish

(should add that I've trawled the net... All manner of solvent based solutions suggested, up to and including 100% alcohol - I could probably just breathe on the thing - but the one that grabbed my attention most was the baking soda thing, which seemed to make objective sense: http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-sticky-plastic/ )

 

[2b1ask1]

Well if it is plastic, avoid anything with solvents or petroleum in it (autogylms etc.), It may seem inconcequential but even a small amount will soften plastics or paints. I would go for a simple sponge with auto bathe (car washing shampoo) warm water. Once clean maybe some vinyl care.

 

[rossyl]

Seems the more one tinkers with these things to get them just so, the more issues crop up to enrage one's inner OCD. So.

Having purchased the car with a cracked cover to the armrest NIT/CD player unit, known at Eurospares as a 'Silverbox', and to the cognoscenti as a 'shroud', I got a replacement used part from David Askew and very nicely it slotted in, too. However after giving it a rub to remove centuries of ingrained grime the thing now has an unpleasantly sticky texture to it (no quips, Parisien...).

I've seen that sticky buttons have been an issue, as here: http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...-Nobs-(and-switches)?highlight=sticky+plastic - but wondered whether any other techniques had been attempted to resolve decaying plastic surface issues before I set to with my sander and a can of varnish

(should add that I've trawled the net... All manner of solvent based solutions suggested, up to and including 100% alcohol - I could probably just breathe on the thing - but the one that grabbed my attention most was the baking soda thing, which seemed to make objective sense: http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-sticky-plastic/ )

Go for the baking soda. In my old Merc a lot of the plastic was headed this way, no matter how much I cleaned it it was still sticky!

 

[CatmanV2]

It's a coating on the plastic, unfortunately.

C

 

[Felonious Crud]

If it's irrecoverably sticky could it be worth getting it re-coated with some fresh plastic? Could be quite a quick job for someone who knows what they're doing.

 

[jerkmoans]

Well I'm moving towards removing the thing and giving it a good overnight bath in baking soda solution.

Then tentatively sieving whatever solute remains from the gunge and maybe attacking with these interesting looking products, recommended by C-man:

http://www.frost.co.uk/plastikleen-interior-clean-250ml.html

http://www.frost.co.uk/interior-trim/liquid-plastic-interior-coat-aerosol.html

Then I shall finally end up buying a new one from Eurospares

 

[Phil the Brit]

Don't be defeated, there is a lot more pleasure and satisfaction in making a plan come together yourself

 

[CatmanV2]

They are not particularly easy to remove / fit either.

C

 

[jerkmoans]

They are not particularly easy to remove / fit either.

C

Unless in the hands of a skilled maestro.

 

[CatmanV2]

Heh. Flattery will get you everywhere. Remember those two screws we left off? Thinking about it, I suspect to get those in is a NIT out job. So we do everything we did on the centre console *and*:
Undo those two bolts in front of the seats on the tunnel
Free the handbrake gaiter
Under the two bolts at the back
Move the parrot blue box out of the way
Disconnect all the plugs from the NIT (The two that now connect the parrot, the aerial, the GPS and the connector to the screen)
Prop the tunnel up at an angle
Undo the bolts that hold the NIT in.
Remove the NIT
then I *think* you can get to those two shroud screws.

Re-assembly is the reverse etc etc....

C

 

[jerkmoans]

Heh. Flattery will get you everywhere. Remember those two screws we left off? Thinking about it, I suspect to get those in is a NIT out job. So we do everything we did on the centre console *and*:
Undo those two bolts in front of the seats on the tunnel
...
Re-assembly is the reverse etc etc....

C

That's Saturday sorted, then

 

[CatmanV2]

That's Saturday sorted, then

Heh. Yours, maybe. I'm on the west coast. I'll be half way through a 72 hour project transition.
At least I'm only expected to be awake for 24 hours...

C