Styling Sticky dashboard pieces, is there any solution to this?

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Styling Sticky dashboard pieces, is there any solution to this?

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Hi,

I'm sure most of you guys are suffering from this as well. The lower part of the dash, especially near the knee area and / or glove compartment are very sticky. It doesn't seem like it is related to anything that was used on the dash for cleaning. The previous owner used a lot of silicone spray and made the car all candy, I tried cleaning it but to no result whatsoever. It was not this bad before, now it's absolutely terrible. I only use top products without silicone to clean the dash, and have been using the same product for over 1 year now, so I guess this is not related to that?

Things tried already:

1. window cleaner

2. oven cleaner with a rough cloth

I fixed the buttons by boiling them, I'm sure this is not a good idea for the major parts of the dash. :)

I would appreciate any advice on this as I am unaware on what I can put on the plastic parts and what not.

This only happened to one of the stilos, the other one is fine.

Thank you so much.

Vlad.
 
You can use Meglio - it's a degreaser or other brands, and you can clean these parts , with a lot of scrub and old cloth, and you will see a good black platic parts , which you will like it!!
 
Seems this affects those of us living in New Zealand (two of us) and Hungary (two of us) - rarely seem to hear of the problem in the UK :)

See http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-and-166/317035-166-how-to-fix-sticky-gooey-trim-bits.html
and my thread
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-and-166/112230-sticky-166-interior-plastics.html

Basically, methylated spirits is what works best for me. But the thread refuses to die - see the second-to-last post, which appears to be from the seller of an Italian 'miracle' cure available on eBay - exciting! I love the translated-from-Italian writing on that page! :) http://www.ebay.it/itm/STICKY-DASHB...651?pt=Ricambi_automobili&hash=item2a14790413

I find the problem most noticeable on the steering wheel buttons and window switches, and I expect some meths will clean them to smooth plastic without the rubbery coating. Last forever that way, though there won't be the same VW Golf rubbery feel... Golfs go sticky too, by the way.

-Alex
 
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mine is sticky too - the lower dashboard storage, the front of the fuse compartment and both side panels of the dashboard.
It seems only certain parts are affected, other parts are not sticky at all....
 
Thank you everyone for their replies. So I guess it's just up to some elbow grease and any house cleaner for kitchen appliances. :)

Yes indeed, only the lower parts are affected, everything else seems to be fine. I think FIAT used some sort of coating to make the plastic look less cheap but gave it an expiration date as well. :)

All the coating on the buttons have this problem too, and it gets worse and worse if you use any type of silicone spray on it.

I guess this is settled then, I will give it a try in the weekend to come and let you guys know.

Thank you so much for your help.

Great day to all. :)
 
i have this, and i started on my drivers side electrice window control, i used hot water and cif with a brillo pad, after that i then let the buttons dry and added some trim wax to give the buttons there gloss shine back, worked for me, but there was a time i thought i was gonna ruin the electric window buttons that i bought a spare
 
i just did my sticky panels using lots of hot water, CIF and an abrasive pad, a lot of black stuff came off but after spraying my cleaned panels with bumper spray they are as good as new !
 
Hi,

What exactly is bumper spray? :)

EDIT: found my answer. I'm going to be doing mine next week or so. I'm moving and I don't have a lot of time for myself now, the poor Stilo carried everything I own from one side to the other. :) I'm going to avoid any abrasive pads, as I don't want to paint anything just want the panel to stop making my jeans dirty all the time. :)

Thank you.
 
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Just for info, the wife's top of the range 407 with all the bells and whistles got the same problem on the buttons in the driver door. So it's not just Fiat's.
 
Hi,

What exactly is bumper spray? :)

EDIT: found my answer. I'm going to be doing mine next week or so. I'm moving and I don't have a lot of time for myself now, the poor Stilo carried everything I own from one side to the other. :) I'm going to avoid any abrasive pads, as I don't want to paint anything just want the panel to stop making my jeans dirty all the time. :)

Thank you.

I hope you will get it sorted without abrasive pads - at first ist seems nothing happens as the feel is still sticky during rubbing with the pad (sponge with green abrasive side) but as you rub more and more with lots of CIF you feel the surface is getting smoother.
I also feared to damage the surface structure but after rinsing with clean hot water and spraying the parts with bumper spray (silicone??) it looks and feels as new !
 
I had the same problem as vladof with the sticky panels. I did a search on the subject and found this thread to get an idea how to clean it.

I cleaned it like yellowstilo did but i used washing up liquid and warm water instead of CIF. It took a lot of scrubbing with a yellow sponge (green abrasive top). It's near enough all gone and feels a lot smoother. I used silicone spray at first thinking it might have helped but it didn't! I also cleaned the electric window buttons and they have come up well.

Phil
 
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ive got this all over the drivers side panels and probably the passenger side too. ill be trying meths as soon as i can get hold of it,

saved me posting about it so thanks all for the suggestions!
 
Hi guys

to clarify, my buttons as well have gone all yucky like theyre caked in dirt and u can scratch it off, it's like the 'laminate' of the buttons has just gone all horrible.

Am i right in thinking you guys have just completely removed this off the buttons, so that its just clean underneath? i really want to scrub my buttons but didnt want to damage them.

is that what we are talking about?
 
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