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daisymay

New Member

• Apr 12, 2017

• #1

This is a minor problem, I know, but I'm curious about the reason. The three knobs on the heater control panel have gone 'sticky'. I don't mean they're sticking, rather that they're sticky to the touch. They haven't been in contact with anything unusual, but it's an old car. The knobs are a sort of soft plastic - rubbery. Anyone know what's happened to them? And anyone know if I can buy just the knobs, not the whole control panel?

 

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dog-man

Active Member

• Apr 12, 2017

• #2

Damp cloth and some detergent / degreaser. It's just fat / dirt from your fingers.

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Apr 12, 2017

• #3

Mine are sticky too. It's a common problem with these "soft feel" controls. Interestingly, the wife's BMW cabrio has the same sticky problem on most plastics in that. The soft feel coating ages in the sunshine. It's probably best to remove the soft coating altogether. If you can identify a suitable solvent for it.
The earlier Freelander had hard plastic heater knobs iirc

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #4

Pull them off, use strong degreaser/solvent and scrub hard. It is a common issue with anything covered with the rubbery stuff they came with. I've seen the same issue with Microsoft mice and various tools and elbow grease is the answer.

 

davidsmith1307

Well-Known Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #5

Mine were revolting. They stuck to you to the point where you could pick them up by touching them with one finger.
Soaked them in hot soapy water to soften them up then attacked them with Cillit Bang and a brush. Bang and The Gunge Was Gone.

 

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Dab90

Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #6

I have same problem on my FL sounds like a good project to do over long weekend.

 

baptista

Active Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #7

It will clean up nice with baby wipes.

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #8

I'm with Baptista - I'd rather clean my knob with a baby wipe rather than a strong degreaser/solvent or hot water

Sorry, someone had to say it!

I'll go sit in the corner of the room and shut up.

 

davidsmith1307

Well-Known Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #9

Perhaps if you kept your fingers off your knob it wouldn't be so sticky.

 

Alibro

Well-Known Member

• Apr 13, 2017

• #10

Is Grumpy playing with his knob again?
Oi Grumpy! Behave yourself! You'll go blind again.

 

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4Bee4Bee

Well-Known Member

• Apr 14, 2017

• #11

You can buy them new from LR still, but I seem to recall they were a silly price.

It is possible to get an aerosol spray that such as Plastidip that retextures surfaces like this. I don't know how hardwearing it is though.

Like others, I just cleaned the rubber off, and have gone with the plastic. Don't notice it now, and certainly better than that horrible tacky feel.