Sticky buttons

[sawood12]

I am new to Porsche ownership and have recently bought a 1987 220bhp 944 turbo. The car is basically standard and in great condition (apart from a minor oil leak) with 100k mls. One annoying problem it appears to have is that the windscreen heater/demister button, located just above the recirc button (mine has a/c), seems to stick on so you get red hot air blowing up to the windscreen and the only way I have been able to switch it off is by quickly toggling the two buttons - which can't be good for the buttons!

A work collegue of mine who has had a couple of 944's says that in his experiance this is common and doesn't necessarily mean that anything is broken. I struggle to believe this, espeecially from a company like Porsche, and think that there must be a fix.

Has anyone out there had or got the same problem and know's how to fix it?

Thanks.
By the way, i'm loving the car!

 

[Guest]

One route would be just to replace it with a non sticky second hand one either from e-bay or a parts company.
As I would say it is just down to wear and tear.
They are sprung loaded, so it could be that the springs are misligned/jammed and wear of the clip etc. You could take it apart to have a look and put it back together properly. But you have to be careful as there are also sprung loaded bellbar contacts either side, and if you prise up without knowing they will explode into the ether. See pic. This is an ordinary demist button.

 

[Diver944]

I haven't heard of this before so I don't think it's common.

The control unit itself slides out very easily if you want to take a closer look. Pull off the up and down arrow buttons then CAREFULLY prise up the trim around the panel (you can leave the fan and heat knobs on). With the trim off, the unit is held in by just 4 screws then slides out.

If it is just 'sticky' it might be worth a tiny bit of WD40 in there, but be very careful about drowning the thing. If all else fails an you cannot fix it like Flamingeye mentioned then 2nd hand units are under £100 from a breakers []

 

[Diver944]

By the way....

Great choice of car and welcome to the forum. If you're a club member get your details off to Nick Fearn and he'll log your car on the 944 Register

 

[Fen]

Just the switch itself is about £35 from an OPC (for the non-aircon one at least). No need to replace the whole unit, but maybe the aircon one is a dual switch so more expensive?

 

[sawood12]

Just confirmed that a replacement switch is available for about £30 to £40 so I will try to fix safe in the knowledge that if I can't it wont cost me much.

Thanks alot for all your input.