Sticky radio knobs

[WhipE350]

Kewl! thank you. I have a 987 and the Temp and Fan knobs are a mess. Just what I was looking for.

[Mark_T]

There have been a few solutions to this problem posted over the years. I went with the Plastidip method.

[Porsche9]

Glad to hear this work for you. Common issue with these. Ars.

Maybe you can put in a word for me. I emailed them a few weeks back in hopes that they could help with redoing the backrest seat adjustment cover. Thanks.

[heliguy]

Originally Posted by WhipE350

Kewl! thank you. I have a 987 and the Temp and Fan knobs are a mess. Just what I was looking for.

Robbie will fix you right up.

[Dave80GTSi]

... which I have just completed. You certainly do not need to pay anyone else to do this simple job for you.

These knobs are made of a white plastic, with a rubber base coating, and then with a secondary rubberized outer coating. It is this second outer coating which turns gummy, presumably due to an unforeseen plasticizer incompatibility with the base rubber coating (the often cited "sun tan lotion" theory does not hold up for me).

If you remove this defective outer gummy coating, you are left with the base rubber covering over the plastic knob, which is perfectly suitable.

To remove this outer coating:

Remove both knobs from the radio and place them in a small glass jar with a screw lid - an old baby food jar is perfect.

Go to your local drug store and buy a small bottle of isopropyl alcohol, which should cost you less than a dollar.

Pour the alcohol into the jar, covering both knobs, and let the jar sit overnight.

The next day the outer sticky coating should be able to be wiped away with a soft cloth.

If you do not accomplish the total removal on the first day, simply pour out the old alcohol (since it is so cheap) and replace with fresh, and then let another 24 hours pass. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

The alcohol has no effect on the base rubber coating, and so once this base covering is exposed, you have a permanent, non-sticky solution for this common problem.

Hope this helps - DM

[WhipE350]

Thanks Dave!