Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

[Boomyal]

This is for a 2006 Ford Explorer

All the other buttons on the steering wheel press very easily and smoothly. You really have to bury your thumb into the CC 'ON' button to depress it.

Has anyone ever tried to apply aerosol electrical contact cleaner around the perimeter of one of these buttons? There is no obvious evidence of anything being spilled on it but there still could be some goo build up around and behind the button.

I already tried blowing it out with a compressed air can, but that didn't work. The button still does work so my concern is that the electrical contact spray will do some harm, rather than possible good.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

I'd pull them out and clean them. Decent picture here of what they look like and shows you what it'll cost if you screw them up

For Ford Explorer Truck Steering Wheel Mounted Cruise Control Switch Motorcraft | eBay

Edit - maybe not - looks like those are 2005 and older

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

I just picked one up off ebay and replaced it, I think it cost me about $10 with free shipping.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

How do you remove them from the steering wheel? This is probably similar to most late model Fords. It is a set that has the CC ON, OFF buttons with the big round split rocker buttons for + and - speed and the resume half. Then below it there is the +/- Fan Button. This is all on one plate, on the spoke, between the horn/air bag button and the rim of the wheel.

Is the setup you got an OEM or Aftermarket one?

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

Which model of Explorer do you have, they seem to offer several different variants on that particular year.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

Which model of Explorer do you have, they seem to offer several different variants on that particular year.

MT, it is a 2006 4.6 LTD (w/climate control). It also seems to fit later trucks. I went to ebay and looked. There are only 2 used ones that I could find and one of them looked like it had been in a flood. They were $40 and $35, shipped. I'd hate to see how much they cost new. If I could find one for cheap, like you did AND if I knew how to remove and install it, I would probably try the contact spray first, then if that ruined it, buy the new one.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

You might try the U-pull lot out on 78th street, I had to pick some parts up out there back in January when I was there and they were really reasonable on parts, I was surprised.

I noticed there are several different models as well as price points on ebay for your year model. There is a couple of bolts on the back side of the steering wheel that you have to take out to remove the center panel for access to the buttons, you might want to take a look at this thread over at the Explorer Forums, make sure and book mark that website, the wealth of info there is amazing.

Cruise control steering wheel switch replacement - Ford Explorer and Ranger Forums "Serious Explorations"?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

Wow, that is a large topic, 5 pages! It is for a Gen 3 Exp but may be similar to the Gen 4. I saved it and will read it later.

I posted this same question over in the Gen 4 forum but did not get any answers yet. It'd be fun to have an old switch in hand so you could see what might be making it sticky.

I'll check out the pick and pull over on 78th St. I have a small list of items I would like to get but a google of salvage yard inventories (for pick and pulls) did not show in Gen 4's in stock. And non pick and pulls are not good places to pick off nickle/dime trim parts and other small doo dads.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

When I was back in Jan, I was able to get new wipers, grill, bug shield and grill for my Aerostar for less than $50, which even on ebay would have run me about $250, also remember, many of the Expedition and Excursion parts will fit on the Explorer, as well as the F150, 250 trucks.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

When I was back in Jan, I was able to get new wipers, grill, bug shield and grill for my Aerostar for less than $50, which even on ebay would have run me about $250, also remember, many of the Expedition and Excursion parts will fit on the Explorer, as well as the F150, 250 trucks.

I stopped by B&R Auto Salvage today, down on Columbia and Vancouver Way, in N Portland. They had no 4th Gen Explorers. They said they just scrapped two of them.

 

[generator12]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

If the problem is "sticking", I wouldn't use contact cleaner as that may leach something from the vinyl around the button and make things worse. You can use silicon spray on electrical devices with no ill effects on their function. That's what I would do to loosen it up.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

If the problem is "sticking", I wouldn't use contact cleaner as that may leach something from the vinyl around the button and make things worse. You can use silicon spray on electrical devices with no ill effects on their function. That's what I would do to loosen it up.

Yeah, I like the sound of that. I'll try it. Thanks!

 

[Gyrene]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

If the problem is "sticking", I wouldn't use contact cleaner as that may leach something from the vinyl around the button and make things worse. You can use silicon spray on electrical devices with no ill effects on their function. That's what I would do to loosen it up.

Agree.
And after the silicone dries, it leaves no oily residue like WD40, etc.
Keep window or door open, it smells for a while.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Very Sticky Steering Wheel Cruise Control Button?

Bingo! The silicone worked. I applied it last night and the button loosened right up. I went out and checked it this morning and it still works like soft butter. I purposefully did not try to work the cruise control until the carrier dried off. I will confirm that it still works, later today. Keeping fingers crossed that it works as well as the button does. Thanks generator!