Tacky plastic coating?

A

agtjamesb007

New member
I know I am going to have a difficult time trying to describe this, so please bear with me. I have a 2002 Accord coupe. The center of the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel has come to feel "tacky". I am able to run my fingernail across it and scratch some off. It has become very soft. I know it is a sort of paint/coating they put on the plastic in the car, but I don`t know what it is in order to repair it.

This has happened before to the center console between the seats. I removed all the old paint/coating and re-sprayed it with trim black paint. It came out great, however it seems more plasticky now, and lacks the "rubbery thickness" that was originally on it.

I hope somebody knows the feel of this paint/coating that I am talking of, and even better knows what it is and how to get it.

As always, any help is appreciated!
 
Mike lambert said:
BMW does the same thing. Try 91 percent alcohol to remove it.
Click to expand...
Some interior bits of the A8 are like that too.

What Mike said.

I`ve also used GG Rubber Prep when some real cleaning power was needed, but I was awfully careful/gentle about it lest I find the (presumably limited) extent of the pigment on such surfaces. I just maintain with Cockpit Premium on a low-lint MF, which works OK as long as I`ve diminished the tackiness enough.
 
3D Total is an excellent and mild cleaner. I`ve used it on my leather steering wheel to remove grease left there by a careless mechanic. Took it right off, left no residue or tackiness. No damage to the leather.

I don`t think it`s still in production and I don`t know what 3D replaced it with,(or even if they did).
 
I would be very carefull to paint that part of the steering wheel. And would contact a verified mechanic that is working with air-bags. The texture in the plastic is meant to be perforerated so the air-bag can get through it if activated. So it could be that you need to change the whole center console in the steering wheel with the air-bag unit in it. It`s also important to not saturate the parts where you have air-bags units and other protections that is activated in a collision. There are alot of them in newer cars all around the doors and the seats and other places. It`s just to be safe that I would seek up a mechanic and see what they say is needed. There is alot of power when a air-bag is activated and there is explosives that is engage it. You never know when you need them to work properly. But it`s safest to look it up. Clean it up as good as you can with damp mf towel and a mild APC or interior cleaner. But don`t peel anything off is what I would do. And look it up and take it from there.

/Tony
 
Oneheadlite said:
Just to clarify - does the alcohol just remove the tacky feeling, or the soft touch finish itself?
Click to expand...

Explicit Statement: I am not trying to speak for Mike or to horn in on something directed towards him and I look forward to what *he* has to say in response to that Q.

That said, IME it does remove a little bit of the Soft Touch Finish and you need to be a bit careful to know when to say "when". It`s like using IPA to clean other rubber(ized) stuff, you`re trying to remove the compromised (often oxidized) material to get down to "good" material. The "tacky feeling" is the material once it`s deteriorated.

Or at least that`s how it seems to me with the Audis. I vaguely recall doing the same stuff on the M3s but they never needed it in a big way and it never made a big impression on me back then.
 
Alcohol removed in the spot I tried but took a long time. It smeared around for a while before it finally lifted. I will not try goof off as I am afraid it is too harsh, but I want to try Goo Gone. I know brake fluid will work also but It may be too messy.

I find it hard to believe that somebody doesn`t make a soft-feel, soft touch paint in a rattle can or something. I can only find services that will do it for you, or buy, mix and spray your own for hundreds of dollars...
 
It`s a sprayed on ~rubberish~ coating. It`s usually on the bits and or the interior console, inside the cupholder. It just breaks down over time...

Once it does, most just remove said piece, remove said coating, and just plasti-dip it to refresh the piece
 
It`s a sprayed on ~rubberish~ coating. It`s usually on the bits and or the interior console, inside the cupholder. It just breaks down over time...

Once it does, most just remove said piece, remove said coating, and just plasti-dip it to refresh the piece
Click to expand...

Plasti-dip....alright, I was thinking something along the lines of Dupli Color removable wrap, which is a similar product, but was afraid it might fill in the small grain details, and maybe peel or "roll" off in time, but Its worth a shot. Thanks!
 
Some people wrap it as well - really depends on the piece.

Hell, I`ve had this occur on year 2 of ownership on some cars. The dealer replacement // co-incidentally , did not have said coating on it. It really is a mixed bag.

Personally, I see for some items they use this coating to give it a bit more tactile feel....
But`s it pretty concensual this stuff does break down, looks like crap, and in some areas like a center console, breaking it down to replace with new or refurbish is such a PITA
 
Are you guys stripping it off, down to the underlying plastic?

Some other soft-touch areas have worn away on the A8 and V8, we just ignore it and consider it patina.
 
I`ve had mine replaced under warranty but for others out, like the OP, who probably has the mottled look.....I do think either removing to plastic and recovering with something so that the finish is consistent would be the way to go. So either remove and bring back to plastic (if the color will match), or the latter, wrap.

The funny thing is the manuf. choose to use this for whatever the reason is when it`s know to just rub off or get tacky due to breakdown
 
I was driving and thinking about this thread today.....saying, why would manuf. continue to use this sort of finish on plastic.

I suppose it give it textures, a bit of *softness*, that mimics vinyl, but it` for plastic pieces ?
I mean for knobs, controls, I get.
But anything larger than a 1" square.......why cover the plastic with this coating. I`ve had inside center consoles that look like hell with keys, coins, and all that good stuff that is usually in a center console..
 
mobiledynamics- My Inner Cynic thinks that maybe some, uhm...Consumer Clinics...found people like having the stuff uniformly used in the interior, and that how it ages/etc. is of zero concern because the Target Demographic will just get a new one when the lease expires anyhow.
 
I suppose to some degree. But it`s not like this stuff last 4 years...I`ve had my entire HVAC panel replaced all because of 1 worn button. Light control switches, the list goes on. Some replacement like the light switch, dont have the coating on them....

Uggh. That`s a different discusson I suppose re: difference on replacement having no coating.
I`m a 4 yearer....and I`m OCD. I`ll replace door sill trim , etc just because. And as crazy as this may sound, but I`m finding half the time the color is off. It`s the same color code....but I guess at the time there are making them, maybe a little more dye, less dye is use and the color is different.
 
mobiledynamics- Heh heh, I just had to laugh out loud (literally) at how much your "OCD" mirrors how *I* was about our vehicles for so long! Yes indeed, those minor color mismatches drove me nuts too! Flaws in glass, imperfect plating work, all sorts of stuff that you can drive yourself nuts over...until the day you wake up and somehow just DON`T CARE that much anymore.

And I bet that you`re the rare exception to the rule who *does* get such stuff replaced under warranty. IMO most people would never care enough no matter who`s paying for it. [REPEAT my usual about how nobody I know IRL cares at all, not even the Concours Guys. Nobody.]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top