How to repair gummy window buttons

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 21 Oct 2011, 13:58

After yet another passenger said "Ick, there's something sticky on this window button!" I decided to fix this annoying Volvo problem once and for all. They look great now and after a month there is still no stickiness at all.

I put a thin coat of polyurethane on them. To clean the buttons I used methanol on a rag (you can buy HEET at your auto store, and it is almost pure methanol). This easily dissolves the gunk, but be careful because it also removes the grey coating on the buttons if you rub too hard, and the buttons are white underneath the grey. Once the buttons were clean I coated them with satin polyurethane for wood floors. I used a small artist's brush. It was very easy and the polyurethane is thin enough that it flattened itself out to form a smooth coating on the buttons. I had to buy a quart of polyurethane so I have enough for about 10,000 more Volvo buttons, lol.

The buttons are now a little shinier than the originals, but that is a small price to pay to get rid of the gunk. The buttons are clean, hard, and have a nice feel.

Post by **JRL** » 21 Oct 2011, 15:11

Well, that's a new one

Post by **Juan62** » 21 Oct 2011, 15:54

Instarx;
Got any pictures of your of window switches?

Post by **Fish stick88** » 21 Oct 2011, 16:51

AND TO THINK I WAS STUCK BUYING NEW ONES! :p

FCPEURO · Post by **FCPEURO** » 21 Oct 2011, 17:20

That was a great way to solve an annoying problem. IPA rubbing alcohol works well for cleaning them too.

instarx · Post by **instarx** » 21 Oct 2011, 17:21

I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 21 Oct 2011, 17:46

Thank you, thank you!! What a great solution to the sticky problem. I am going to email the guy that bought my 1998R and let him read your post.

nicopag · Post by **nicopag** » 02 Nov 2011, 09:47

Does anybody know if you can buy this buttons?

Post by **cn90** » 02 Nov 2011, 10:02

Nice "invention"!

I'd like to add some thoughts:
- after cleaning the button, lightly sand the button using very fine sand paper.
- then use "matte" finish polyurethane (typically there are 3 types: matte, semi-gloss, and gloss) to prevent the glossy look that the O.P. has.