Spilled coffee on Nav and AC buttons

[bmwman3241]

Hi,

My wife spilled coffee all over the center electronics in our Denali a couple days ago. She wiped the coffee off the surface and din't tell me, but today when I was driving the truck the buttons are sticking badly and I'm guessing there is coffee behind or around all the buttons. This is for the Nav controls and front/rear ac control panels.

Is there a way to remove the buttons or to take the units out to clean them?
If not, does anyone have any solutions to clean the coffee or any spray that might work to dissolve it?

I appreciate the help!

 

[Goodinblack]

Look for a new wife

 

[drakon543]

All parts are removable and recommended if your going to try any solvent. However if you want to try a plan b and can plan a day to leave your battery unplugged I do have a suggestion. As stated you will want your battery unhooked and left unhooked for the majority of the day for this. Go to your local parts store and pick up a can of mass air flow cleaner. Before you start unhook your battery for at least an hr before you begin. When using the cleaner try to be cautious of spraying it too aggressively near the navigation screen. A better bet is to wet a paper towel with it and work it in the edges of the buttons. Continue cleaning till the buttons move freely. After the cleaning leave the doors open to ventilate to allow the cleaner to dry for several hrs before reconnecting your battery. Do not use any type of alcohol based cleaner.

 

[bmwman3241]

All parts are removable and recommended if your going to try any solvent. However if you want to try a plan b and can plan a day to leave your battery unplugged I do have a suggestion. As stated you will want your battery unhooked and left unhooked for the majority of the day for this. Go to your local parts store and pick up a can of mass air flow cleaner. Before you start unhook your battery for at least an hr before you begin. When using the cleaner try to be cautious of spraying it too aggressively near the navigation screen. A better bet is to wet a paper towel with it and work it in the edges of the buttons. Continue cleaning till the buttons move freely. After the cleaning leave the doors open to ventilate to allow the cleaner to dry for several hrs before reconnecting your battery. Do not use any type of alcohol based cleaner.

When you say all parts are removable, how exactly do you remove the buttons? Do they just pry out?

 

[Ponchonutty]

I wouldn't recommend any of the above. There's no need to use solvents. I would use a foaming type of glass cleaner. spray the affected buttons, then use Q-tips and paper towels to clean around the edges. You can use toothpicks with the edge of paper towels to clean around the buttons. I used to detail vehicles back in the day and this is how I would do this type of cleaning. The only time I would remove buttons is if the buttons would not work at all when being pressed. FYI, if there's any damage, a lot of times this is covered through your car insurance

 

[drakon543]

I always use and suggest that cleaner on in or around any type of electronics as it drys fast and does not leave any sort of even slightly conductive or water attracting or even a oily film that can trap dirt. Also on newer vehicles as the radio is also generally connected directly to the bcm I prefer to lean towards caution. Also maf cleaner isn't just for the maf sensor it's been designed to be sprayed directly into and onto electronic parts glass cleaner is not.

 

[Ponchonutty]

Yes normally I too use an electronics cleaner when I can but only if being used on items that won't be visible if it's plastic. Even MAF style cleaners can really eat into plastics and the coatings on them causing them more harm. Electronics solvent cleaners are just that, a cleaner for electronics, not plastic. One mishap of an accidental spray into or on to the NAV screen and it will be forever scared. A foaming style window cleaner works the best on something as described above because you won't need to remove anything nor will you "soak" electrical items because it won't infiltrate into the electronics. The electronics are so far inside you'd have to empty a few cans all at once without wiping anything up before a small possibility of damage could occur. The foaming action pulls the crud out from the cracks and crevices. The paper towel and Q-tips further pull this out. These buttons are designed to withstand a few coats of liquid with out damage. A little spray foam is very safe and much easier and faster than tearing things apart.

 

[indulf]

Deoxit D5 is the best electronics cleaner money can buy.

When I got my 04 Denali recently, the rear entertainment controls were corroded, non functional, and looked terrible. After a quick removal and cleanup with Deoxit they're good as new. I can't tell you how much seemingly irreparable electronic devices I've restored with this stuff. It has a constant presence in my shop and always will.

http://www.amazon.com/CAIG-DeOxit-C...UTF8&qid=1460121314&sr=8-2&keywords=deoxit+d5

 

[rattmobbins]

And this is why my wife and kids are forbidden from drinking or eating anything in my Escalade. Ugh.

Good luck with the cleanup OP!