Dash button issues

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gnarlynick2072

gnarlynick2072

10 Year
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Threads
151
Messages
1,127
Location
Calgary, AB
Hi all,

I got myself a 98' FZJ100 in Saudi Arabia and it has a few issues with the dash buttons. I understand this is a common issue but not clear on solutions.

We pulled the dash and inspected the buttons.

All the plunger style buttons on the board pictured below do not work very well.

image.webp


It's very hit or miss. We tested the function without the actual plastic buttons (just pushed the plunger) and tried to function the A/C, rear desfrost and rear A/C with the same results. Only the clock buttons and antenna buttons work reliably!!

Is this a case of the plungers being worn out? I find it curious that it is ALL of the external function buttons aren't working, especially since the rear defrost is also not working and I bet it has never been used here in the Middle East.

Cheers,

Nick
 
Can you get your hands on some DeOxit F5. Not D5. F5 is for plastic parts. D5 will eat the plastic stuff up. It's expensive but it doesn't take much to clean contacts.
 
Mike6158 said:
Can you get your hands on some DeOxit F5. Not D5. F5 is for plastic parts. D5 will eat the plastic stuff up. It's expensive but it doesn't take much to clean contacts.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply!

Unfortunately it's even difficult to get Brake Fluid easily out here... so no good chances in easily finding plastic cleaner.

Which contacts would you be referring to? Inside the plungers?
 
Yessir, inside the plungers. I use DeOxit D5 on old tube radios and F5 on newer guitar amps when I repair them. It takes very little to break down the oxidation that forms on contacts over time
 
I doubt it is the actual buttons, more a fuse or other power failure since they all are failing
Has it been working?
Is it intermittent or permanent error?
Does the control light for the button I.e the A/C come on and off?
 
He said "it's very hit or miss".
 
bjarnep said:
Sorry – English is not my mother language and I never seen that phrase before. How to translate?
Click to expand...

Sorry about that. I'm sure that your English is better than my attempt at your language.

hit or miss would be the same as intermittent. Does that make sense?
 
I got this one you can have FOC - I can see the number printed on the circuit board is different, but you can give it a try, or use the plungers as they are easy to replace. If interested send me your address and I will send it to you.
center control.webp
 
Thanks for all the input!

We were able to come up with a "homemade" contact cleaner which seemed to do the trick. I was absolutely shocked that it worked! Seems to be some kind of film that builds up over the years which is none conductive. Didn't take much swabbing to get rid of it and the plunger back working. I made the mistake of removing the plunger completely and boy it took a while to get them back on!!

bjarnep said:
I got this one you can have FOC - I can see the number printed on the circuit board is different, but you can give it a try, or use the plungers as they are easy to replace. If interested send me your address and I will send it to you. View attachment 1185866
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the offer but I believe it is working now... If not I'll send you a PM. :)
 
I just improved mine greatly by adding some epoxy to the button side actuator. In my case they worked but did not travel far enough to make good contact so I would have to punch the buttons hard from different angles to get switch action.

I use Deoxit for lots of things but my plungers (blue rubber things above) seemed to be sealed to the board so that didn't seem like an option.

Just adding some thickness to the white plastic so the plungers deflect about another 0.03" or so seems to have fixed mine 100%.
 
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