Had same problem on my 2003. Searched internet for solution. Apply "Goof Off" (Home Depot) with a micro fibre towel. Do small area at a time. This works, I have done it.

 

I'm wondering if it wasn't a buildup of glossing products like armor-all or 303? None of our interior is supposed to be shiny. It's all a flat finish and should be.

Never use rubbing alcohol on exposed plastics/vinyl and definitely don't let it drip onto your leather, it is a rapid evaporation agent and will dry out the surface of whatever you use it on.

Since it seems you are having good luck with the goo-gone, to get into the cracks and crevices I'd spray down a good amount of goo-gone, let it dwell for at least 5 mins and gently scrub with a soft short hair brush (a soft tooth brush will work in a pinch but do not use much pressure).

Then wash with a thin dawn solution (again, not too much because dawn tends to dry things out).

After this is done, dry the area, and top coat with something like Meguire's interior detailer. It does not make it shiny and should protect the surface while retaining its OEM flat finish.

 

I encountered this (among many other common problems with the C5) and I always turn here first. Lot's of good info in these threads. I will also try the Goo-Gone and post my results.

I would, however, caution anyone who is considering "covering" the airbag with new vinyl or leather as someone suggests further in this thread. The molded factory cover is designed to open upon deployment of the airbag. Any additional cover will either impede proper operation or prevent it all together. This could have severe consequences if you crash.

As a side note, it would be great to hear from someone at GM on these issues. I have cursed the design engineers on more than one occasion in recent months. $$$$$$$ Happy Motoring....

 

'PRO' done airbags are designed to open just like OEM.

 

Hi Guys,

I ran across this thread and had to opine:

My 06' GTO came down with this same problem. Turns out my air bag cover or horn pad was painted in charcoal black from the factory and the paint merely reacted quite unfavorably with the substrate over time and turned sticky like wet paint. The solution was wiping the pad down with enamel reducer and it melted off the gooey broken down black paint to reveal a perfect black part underneath all that sticky mess. A re-application of protectant was required to restore the satiny sheen. Without paint on it, it won't get sticky again like those 70's rubbery steering wheels did. My pad looks like it's urethane instead of vinyl, I think they paint them to fill in the pores that urethane always seems to have compared to vinyl.

Details: Car is a 19,000 mile one owner garage queen but still sees Florida heat when covered outside. I used armor all on this part as I did with every plastic or vinyl part inside this car and this is the only item that failed. It may be any type of protectant could cause this failure on that particular part but I seriously doubt it.

Anyway, thought you guys might want more input on what looks like a common problem that is not just with late model Corvettes.

Regards,

Bob from Florida.

 

Nice job and would like mine done.

 

I use Zylene on my model aircraft which removes oil and exhaust residue from the heat shrink fabric in which the model is covered in. Once I am done with the Zylene I use Sunlight dishwashing detergent and it comes out perfect everytime.
I would think that at one time someone used a cleaner on the wheel that they shouldn't have. If it is starting to completly break down it could be irreversable.

Bill

 

I wish it was that easy but I'm the only owner with 14,000 on the 2004 so it's something but not a cleaner of shiner and it's in a AC garage. I think GM made it of something but I need to fix it and I liked the real leather was why I asked. But thanks and I'll try anything before I replace it.

 

I would try GooGone liquid in the bottle vs the hand cleaner. It seems relatively safe reading the label and can be used on upholstery etc. It works great on the stickiest gooey labels and does get rid of the residue. You may need to do repeat applications.

 

Same thing happened to me. It was so sticky it was like fly paper. Really sucked. Like you, I was willing to try every and anything nothing seemed to work. Now get this, I had recently bought some duplicolor grease and wax remover that I was going to use on my exhausts before repainting them black, anyway after everything else I tried failed, I decided to try the degreaser, figuring what have I got to lose, if it makes it worse I'm going to have to replace it (would have had to replace it anyway 'cause it was annoying the crap out of me ) but if it works I saved a whole bunch of money. So I put a little bit onto a cloth and applied to a small area on the steering wheel, let it stand for a minute and used a SOFT tooth brush to scrub the tested area then wiped it again with some of the degreaser. It actually started to remove the crud. I gotta tell you though at first I thought I made it worse but I kept doing it over the entire steering wheel and the sticky stuff was gone. Did it dull the finish? Absolutely, but it really doesn't look bad at all and it's certainly nothing I can't live with. I did however have to replace the crossed flagged decal in the center since through my own carelessness I scratched it with the tooth brush. The decal cost me $15.00, a whole lot less then what a new center piece would have cost me. If you decide to try this be forewarned....when you first start doing it, it gets worse before it gets better but don't be discouraged.

Hope this helps.

 

Wow never knew how common this issue was, glad I did a search!! Going to use goo gone this weekend, the sticky steering wheel is driving me crazy!!

 

It happened to mine. I thought it was because I used Armor-all but now I see its common. I got rid of the goo with alcohol but the finish of the vinyl after that was less than fresh.

 

Have you thought about trying Shoe
Fred Goo?

 

Goo Gone did not work for me. Anybody know the vendors of the C5 steering wheel re-covering service?

 

A forum member posted a thread sometime back describing the same sticky situation with his steering wheel air bag cover. I think this is a common problem with the C5's. He seemed to have some success using a dryer towel. the ones used in a clothes dryer. My steering wheel cover is beginning to get a little sticky, so I will be trying a few things myself. Please post if you have any success in your attempts to correct this problem..

 

I had the sticky problem with my air bag cover also. This is on my 2001 C5. There has been some discussion about this on the CF in the past. After researching the problem I took a "Microfibre Towel" from Costco, and regular rubbing alcohol soaked into a spot on the towel, then slowly started rubbing. This stuff was scary the way it started coming off. I kept using a clean spot on the towel with more alcohol, rubbing in the same area and found it would finally come off clean. It was messy and scary (to me) until I discovered it was working. My cover came out great. It's a little dull since I have not put anything else on it. This sure worked for me.

 

Contrary to popular belief, plastics are not always "forever". I've had similar problems with other petroleum based articles, sometimes success, sometimes failure. Denatured alcohol is a great cleaner but I have seen in soften a surface. I wouldnt blame typical treatments, they are just not that strong. Seems like the article is breaking down. I'm glad your trial and error approach is paying off.

 

I used a wet dryer sheet (Downey). Mine was really bad and it came off after using 4 sheets.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/article/how-...oblog-details/

frank

 

I have good news. Using Goof Off, a microfiber mitt having a pattern of raised ridges, an old sponge, a new microfiber towel, and Mother's VLR, I was able to remove all of the awful sticky goo from my steering wheel's air bag cover.

Sorry, I forgot to take a "before" photo. But those of you experiencing this problem know what your steering wheel looks and feels like.

Here are several tips:

1) Start your Corvette engine, rotate the steering wheel 180 degrees, then turn off the engine. You will not be able to adequately clean the bottom of the steering wheel's air bag cover unless it is repositioned at the top so that you can see what you are doing.

2) Spray the Goof Off onto the microfiber mitt outside the car, pointed away from the car. If you spray it inside your car, then you just added another miserable task for yourself -- wiping off all the overspray from everywhere. Don't ask me how I know this.

3) Do not plan on removing 100% of the mess right away. Use the Goof Off and microfiber mitt to get some of the stickiness off, rotating the steering wheel as described above. Then use a clean microfiber towel and VLR to remove the Goof Off. Do this entire procedure twice, then call it a day. Walk away for a few days or so, then repeat the process. You won't go crazy if you spread out this tedious project over several sessions.

4) Lastly, any residual sticky goo that persisted within the concavities of the steering wheel's air bag cover can be easily cleaned using the rough side (resembling a ScotchBrite pad but less abrasive) of a week-old dish sponge. I did not want to risk scratching the vinyl (or adjacent leather) which may have occurred if I had used a new sponge.