I have a 2003 50th Anniversary convertible that I bought new for my wife. It has always been kept inside, never sat outside for 1 night in it's life, and only has 13,000 miles. The problem is that the airbag cover on the steering wheel has become super sticky to the touch. I really don't know what to clean it with to remove the stickiness without removing the color of the rubber/plastic airbag cover. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Yes, I had the same problem.What worked very well for me was Goof off,but it require's lot of elbow grease.

 

Thanks, am I to assume any hardware store, big box store would carry "goof off"?

 

Here are a couple of files that may give you some help:

 

Thank you! That's really helpful. I'll try it tomorrow

 

lowes HD or walmart

 

Perfect, thank you.

 

with what's already been suggested: . However, be aware that the color will be removed along with the sticky film, leaving the airbag cover just black. I read that someone had good results applying one of those spray dyes for rubber/vinyl afterwards. Not sure if it was SEM, but it was a perfect match. Let us know how it goes

 

I was unaware that the color would be removed along with the stickiness. Now, I won't go "Oh Sh**" when it happens. The wife loves that car.

 

Another Goof Off user. It takes a little while but it worked.

 

You having a shale interior brings a whole new problem. I don’t think SEM makes your color.
Might want to clean it up which would remove the color, then take it to an auto restore shop, like the ones that drive around car dealerships restoring used cars interiors. They may be able to blend a dye for you.
You should be able to find them on google search.

I used tuff stuff on mine which turned the airbag whitish but no longer sticky, then taped up everything and sprayed it with black SEM black dye. Looks perfect.

 

That what mine looked like finished.

 

That looks great! Don't you find it strange that (at least in my case) the airbag cover was the only thing that became sticky? I'll look into a trim type shop for redying the cover after I strip off the gunky stuff.

 

That was my case too, only the airbag was sticky and shiny

 

Perhaps the information on this post could help you get the right dye for the Medium Dark Neutral color used on the airbag cover. I think a while ago I read someone was able to find the right dye, but I may be wrong and it could have been a custom made mix.

 

Want to say thank you guys for your posts and experience. Did mine today with the goof off and its back to new again.
Now I understand why someone wrote it takes about an hour. Multiple soaking and rubbing with micro.
Looks great and no more sticky feel!

 

Dupont no longer has this product as they sold to Axalta, ph: 855-627-2582 and they can give you the name of a store in your area that has this product. Jim

 

Also an email address here:
http://www.axaltacs.com/corporate/en...Locations.html

Their Global headquarters is just a few blocks away from me here in Philadelphia, I can stop by for you guys haha.

 

I just made this post on another thread about this topic but thought I'd put it here too so it can be seen,

There are numerous threads on here about this problem and many solutions have been offered to get the sticky off.
My 2000 A4 just developed this - it has been cold down here, car is always under the house out of the weather and sun, never used Armorall or anything on it, it just decided to get real sticky. It has to do with "outgassing" of the vinyl and is a natural part of the aging process of this material.
Suggestions to clean it off have included a degreaser, Goo Gone, Goof Off, lacquer thinner, saddle soap, scrub with a Scotchbrite pad, and others I have forgotten. I used what I had around the house -
I tried first with Pine Sol (degreaser), which worked somewhat but not entirely, alcohol (did nothing), mineral spirits (slightly effective), and because none of these harmed the surface, then went to a rmicrofiber towel with a little acetone on it, That did the trick and did not harm the surface at all, just cleaned it off to new, Sounds drastic, but it worked and did no harm, and was quick and easy.
Then, to protect it, I sprayed it and wiped it down with Silicone spray, and now it looks like new and feels great, smooth, clean, and not too shiny. It's been like that a few weeks now. - very happy with the result. I may spray it and wipe it down every few months, if I remember.
My end result looks just like gowenfast's pic up above.

 

Here is what I did.. I took a few bounty towels and sprayed them with Simple green. I made the towels wet but not dripping wet.. ( rung them out to the right wetness then I applied them to the airbag cover and the steering wheel ring.. I wrapped the towels in such a manner that they would stick to the wheel. I let them work the stickiness for an hour then removed them. Then I took a cloth towel with simple green and worked the area. I could tell right away that it was working. I went over the areas a few times and then wiped the whole wheel down a few times with alcohol. it did the trick and did not remove any black from my wheel. I applied a little Zaino Leather in a bottle to add back some oils to the leather and plastic.
Bill