Sticky car radio buttons, that stick in and have to be pried out.

[slackmax]

My old car radio has developed sticky buttons. Only the up and down frequency tuning buttons. You push it in and it sticks in sometimes, and you have to poke at it, or get a fingernail in the edge and get it back out. Such a pain when changing stations (yes, I know about setting preferred stations and all that). 

WD40 might just make it worse, right?  Get some isopropyl alcohol in the cracks somehow, with q tip?   

My guess is it is just grime, and oil from my fingers in there sticking the buttons down.


Any suggestions welcome (nope, not selling the car, ha ha).

[sonofsven]

Instead of WD 40 I would use Tri Flow, it smells nice, too.

[chemistk]

This wouldn't happen to be a GM vehicle, would it?

GM interiors are generally garbage because of the type of plastic they used for stuff like buttons, but also for steering wheels, dash components, etc. Basically the plastic suffers long-term UV damage and starts to disintegrate.

If the buttons are sticky because of spilled food or drink, 90% isopropyl alcohol should work nicely. But if they're sticky because of UV and/or thermal degradation (of the plastic or the adhesives), that's going to be a much more challenging task - you're going to have to take the buttons off and carefully remove the sticky layer.

[lthenderson]

Rather than use a petroleum product that attracts dirt, use a spray silicone for lubrication.

Don't know what is involved in replacing the button, but for small parts like that especially interior trim pieces, I hit up the local auto junkyard and get them for a pittance and replace them myself.

[slackmax]

Thanks for the help. It is not a GM. It's a nissan versa (great car in general). Not food or drink in there. Must be my body oil from fingers over the 13 years I have been pressing those tiny buttons.

I really don't want to try to take the buttons out. Sounds like an easy way to break stuff, ha ha.

Leaning towards spraying something on it.  Maybe first I will try some isopropyl on a qtip and try to soak some into the cracks.

Really wish I could take them out for a good cleaning.

[BudgetSlasher]

If the problem is, as is seems you think, too much stuff built up around the button causing sticking -or binding- rather that the stuff being sticky or tacky. I am not sure how much help or long term help a lubricant will be.

I would try and clean at least the perimeter of the button. If you can find something to get in around the button it might be worth picking at it. Something like a feeler gauge or sewing needle might be able to pick slip in there.

[dcheesi]

I have a similar problem with the arrow keys on my wireless computer keyboard. I've already tried cleaning them, including prying them up and cleaning underneath. That helped some, but they still stick occasionally, and I can sometimes feel extra resistance or hesitancy in the key press/release even when they're working. I can't see any obvious buildup or warpage that would explain it.

[chemistk]

I highly recommend getting a set of cheap phone repair tools if you don't have any - there are usually a number of little picks and spades that are great at cleaning out small spaces. Some rubbing alcohol, a pick, some cotton swabs, and a little compressed air and you should be moderately successful in your endeavor.

[Just Joe]

Side effect of Armor-All leading to sticking buttons?

Alcohol is my go to cleaner. Glass cleaner works well too. Q-tips is the tool.

You might need to pull the radio and remove the radio faces to access the buttons. Easier than it sounds if you have the DIY gene.

[slackmax]

Never used Armor All on it. Just damp cloth or dry cloth.

Today I had at it with Q tip and isopropyl alcohol, and sharp knife. Cleaned out all around the four sides of each button, Nothing came out except a thin layer of black slime on the knife edge. (The buttons are black). 

Still sticks sometimes, but not as often, and easier to pry out. Will keep an eye on it, and reapply the alcohol if they start to stick again.   

[Just Joe]

Good! Hope you can resolve it to your satisfaction.

[slackmax]

Three days into the q tip, knife,  and alcohol fix, and it is still working !

[NWGriot]

I'm a little late to the party, but there's an aerosol  electronic parts cleaner that might do a good job for this.  It's also good to clean noisy volume controls and balky switches.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403820631728

[Just Joe]

FWIW your friendly local auto parts store probably carries that spray. Mine does.

[slackmax]

Update. It's just over a month and the buttons are still working. Such a joy. The fix that worked was q tip, alcohol, and sharp thin knife blade to get in between button edges.