Sticky wheel
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Sticky wheel
I have a 2001 Convertible the steering wheel where the air bag is, is sticky I have use nothing on it and I have not idea what has caused this. It feels like glue. Has anyone else experienced this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rn-button.html
Isopropyl alcohol is one of the solutions mentioned in that thread.
Isopropyl alcohol is one of the solutions mentioned in that thread.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 107
Likes: 42
From: Louisville, KY
Saw a YouTube vid guy used industrial strength degreaser from harbor freight cut half with water. Used a green sos pad to scrub it all off. Left it clean with no stickiness but came out a lighter shade than rest of wheel.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 1,437
Likes: 1,101
Yup, they all seem to have this happen if they are ever parked outside and baked in the sun.
I cleaned and cleaned mine when I did my steering wheel swap.
As mentioned above, it came out a slightly lighter shade, but all the stickiness was gone.
I started with rubbing alcohol, but that wasn't getting it all, ended up using Purple Power, diluted though, and a scotch brite pad.
And, actually, the slightly lighter color looks closer to the leather hand grip wrap color on the new steering wheel, so I am fine with that.
I cleaned and cleaned mine when I did my steering wheel swap.
As mentioned above, it came out a slightly lighter shade, but all the stickiness was gone.
I started with rubbing alcohol, but that wasn't getting it all, ended up using Purple Power, diluted though, and a scotch brite pad.
And, actually, the slightly lighter color looks closer to the leather hand grip wrap color on the new steering wheel, so I am fine with that.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 18
From: MO.
I think it's just cheap plastic , most likely made from Chinesium. My 01 Z06 has never sat outside in the sun, its a garage queen with 11,000 on it. Sits underneath a cover. I moved it up to my attached daughters garage for about two years and it sat covered on a tender. Went to bring it back and the wheel was gooey. I didn't know anything about it at the time so it was a WTF moment? My 97 Towncar has sticky buttons and some sticky parts on dash also .It also gets covered up most of the time. My parents garage queen 03 Towncar with 15,000 miles on it has sticking steering wheel buttons also. None of the daily drivers do and come to think of it , everyone gets covered that has the sticky buttons. IMO, I think being sealed up and maybe not breathing does it, however, My Visio sound bar remote control buttons turned sticky so it kind blows my theory out of the water also.
Last edited by xelerator; Aug 29, 2025 at 06:33 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 64
From: Virginia
I think it's just cheap plastic , most likely made from Chinesium. My 01 Z06 has never sat outside in the sun, its a garage queen with 11,000 on it. Sits underneath a cover. I moved it up to my attached daughters garage for about two years and it sat covered on a tender. Went to bring it back and the wheel was gooey. I didn't know anything about it at the time so it was a WTF moment? My 97 Towncar has sticky buttons and some sticky parts on dash also .It also gets covered up most of the time. My parents garage queen 03 Towncar with 15,000 miles on it has sticking steering wheel buttons also. None of the daily drivers do and come to think of it , everyone gets covered that has the sticky buttons. IMO, I think being sealed up and maybe not breathing does it, however, My Visio sound bar remote control buttons turned sticky so it kind blows my theory out of the water also.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 32
Likes: 7
I sort of echo what xelerator said. My car never sat outside and I got the sticky airbag. My father's C5 has been garage kept its whole life as well, had the same problem. I used a combo of rubbing alcohol, Simple Green, and just elbow grease with one of my crappy microfiber cloths. Took probably an hour of scrubbing and countless times of hitting the horn but it came off. My dad used a green pad and it worked a little quicker but it scratched up the surface slightly; still pretty unnoticeable. The microfiber didn't really mar the surface and I just leather treated afterwards, looks the same as before it was sticky.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 64
From: Virginia
I sort of echo what xelerator said. My car never sat outside and I got the sticky airbag. My father's C5 has been garage kept its whole life as well, had the same problem. I used a combo of rubbing alcohol, Simple Green, and just elbow grease with one of my crappy microfiber cloths. Took probably an hour of scrubbing and countless times of hitting the horn but it came off. My dad used a green pad and it worked a little quicker but it scratched up the surface slightly; still pretty unnoticeable. The microfiber didn't really mar the surface and I just leather treated afterwards, looks the same as before it was sticky.