Centre console switches.

[milleplod]

The 'sport' and 'snow' switches near the gearchange on our '09 C5 auto are 'sticky'....as in someone (who shall remain nameless, but she's 13...) has spilt some sort of liquid onto them, hastily wiped it up, and then not told me!

This morning, I pressed the sport button, it felt sticky....and the 'snow' button lit up on the dash! It took a few repeated presses to get things back to normal....normal, but still sticky!

Anyway, does anyone know how to get the switches out? I assume they'll have some sort of spring clips holding them in place, but don't want to go blundering in and break something. Alternatively, is there any sort of cleaner I could perhaps squirt in there that might help?

Pete

[Hell Razor5543]

If you use a cleaner make utterly certain it is a proper contact cleaner (and NOT WD40!), that will have the ability to get rid of sugary liquids (cola, for example), while not causing any short circuits (the good contact cleaners will also have a lubricant which will keep things moving smoothly without leaving residue on the contacts).

[Lenny]

I'm fairly certain that I've got one of those switch assemblies in the garage.
As I recall the snowflake symbol was a bit worn on it when I bought my C5 so I swapped it for a perfect one that came up on Ebay.
If it's any use to you then PM me your address and I'll bung it in the post for you.

I can't recall how I fitted the new one though but it can't have been too difficult or I'm sure I'd remember it in vivid detail.

Edit:
Yep, definitely still got one. I've got it in my hand now. It's held in by two plastic clips - one either side - but the only way you'll release them is from underneath the switch. They look quite sturdy though so they won't snap off too easily.
If the worn symbols bother you then it'll take about a minute to swap the top pieces of your switch onto this one. They just clip on.

[Lenny]

Easy.

[milleplod]

Thanks for that James, I'll pop into the local motor factors in the morning to see if they've got any.

Lenny - thanks too, I might take you up on the offer if the cleaner doesn't do it!

Pete

[milleplod]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2v9BMWKyx4

Easy.

Lovely, many thanks! I looked on youtube and couldn't find anything!

Pete

[Hell Razor5543]

You can usually get a good contact cleaner from somewhere like Maplins. It should have a high electrical resistance (so it can be used on live circuits without causing arcing). This is what I mean;

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/servisol-supe ... 00ml-jp17t

[myglaren]

Thanks for that James, I'll pop into the local motor factors in the morning to see if they've got any.

Lenny - thanks too, I might take you up on the offer if the cleaner doesn't do it!

Pete

Try an electronics place - get Servisol if you can, otherwise something predominantly isopropanol.

[milleplod]

Many thanks chaps - the Mrs is calling into Maplins for me later this morning.

Pete

[Paul-R]

There are two types of Servisol switch cleaner nowadays. One with lubricant and one without.

[milleplod]

All sorted chaps!

The worst bit was expecting something to break whilst levering out the 2 panels that hold the switches - I was expecting something to snap as the one around the gearstick was so tight a fit....not like in the video at all. But then I realised that the drinking chocolate (yes, I got a confession!!) that had been spilled was acting as some sort of brown, organic superglue where capillary action had taken it all around the plastic insert!

Anyway, switches removed, thoroughly dosed in contact cleaner, fettled with a small brush.....now back to a lovely crisp 'on/off' action!

Oh....putting my hand in there to push up the gearstick insert was a bit worrying in another respect.....cobwebs, lots of cobwebs....there are creatures down there, the stuff of nightmares, I hate the bloody things!!

A big thanks for the advice gents, much appreciated, as always.

Pete

[Hell Razor5543]

At least you found the spiders. The other things only come out at night.

[milleplod]

At least you found the spiders. The other things only come out at night.