VZ Radio Buttons

[88GreenVN]

I'm just about to have a go at fixing the broken radio button on the VZ steering wheel.

Is there anything I should look out for other than disconnecting the battery? Any hints - advice would be great.

[Phyco]

Pull out the SRS Fuse as you will need to disconnect the airbag.

[88GreenVN]

Cheers for that.

[Phyco]

Cheers for that.

No worries, had to do it myself not long ago

[VYMAD]

I'm just about to have a go at fixing the broken radio button on the VZ steering wheel.

Is there anything I should look out for other than disconnecting the battery? Any hints - advice would be great.

Have a look in "How-to's", Remove VY/VZ steering wheel.

[88GreenVN]

Have a look in "How-to's", Remove VY/VZ steering wheel.

Searching the how to's - I'm on it

[sincy]

88Green, can you please let us know how you stick the button back on.. mine fell off ages ago and it annoys the hell outta me and i really want it fixed..

thanks very much..

[88GreenVN]

All done. Thanks for the pointers - car is back together inside 20 mins - tools back in the shed.

I used a second hand set of buttons from the wreckers. I flipped the horn/airback up (not disconnected) and undid the 2 screws. The buttons just pop out if you push up on the centre tag. Slot the replacement buttons on and put it back together.

The buttons are not repairable on there own as such - you need to get replacements that are all together. The buttons flex on 1 side and snap all too easy.

[Torquative]

you need to get replacements that are all together. The buttons flex on 1 side and snap all too easy

spot on! Me and Phreddy tried to work on an easy fix solution of sort of plasti-fixing them, but they only survived a few more weeks before breaking off again.

To anyone who does do this repair, make sure your keys are out of the ignition as a reminder ...and that you plug the airbag back in properly before connecting the air bag. If not, you risk setting off the SRS alert which needs tech 2 to reset. Depending on how well you get along with your mechanic (or Holden) it could be costly to re-set, as they may want to charge you to diagnose the fault (even though it was you who caused it ...) to ensure the SRS system is 100% working before releasing the car.

[88GreenVN]

Here is my first attempt ar fixing the radio buttons. A bit of cloth on the inside and outside and some super glue.

I've been pressing the button all morning and still holding together - now to test it in the car.

[Torquative]

good luck with it, let us know how it goes with time. Hopefully it holds though, there needs to be something to fix rather then replace these damn things!

[f1tzy]

Took me a good hour to do mine on my old vz as i swear the airbag was welded into place, and then welded some more. went back easily tho

[88GreenVN]

Road test No 1. It's fitted to the car now.

[88GreenVN]

1 week down and the button is still in place and working as it should. Any one in Adelaide that has some broken buttons and wants to get them fixed PM me.

Next time I will use better cloth and not so much glue...

[Torquative]

sounds good! I'll keep it in mind, I think my 2nd replacement buttons are about to go

[88GreenVN]

sounds good! I'll keep it in mind, I think my 2nd replacement buttons are about to go

My temp repair is still working a treat. So 2 months of action on a daily basis - all good still.

[88GreenVN]

Quick update - button still going strong

[ozzypole]

I also had the same problem. Seems to be a common issue. I went another route. I rewelded the flex side using a soldering iron. Still going strong several months later.

[88GreenVN]

I also had the same problem. Seems to be a common issue. I went another route. I rewelded the flex side using a soldering iron. Still going strong several months later.

It's very thin plastic - but it crossed my mind at the time to melt it but chickened out.

[FnomnaVZ]

Here is my first attempt ar fixing the radio buttons. A bit of cloth on the inside and outside and some super glue.

I've been pressing the button all morning and still holding together - now to test it in the car.

I did similar to yours. Mine was just the volume + button. I could pull out just the button without taking off the airbag.
I used a bit of flexible plastic - like that used for packaging things you buy from the shops.

Then I used selleys plastics glue to stick the strip onto the button - in the same place you put your strips.
I then put a bit of glue on the strip before wiggling it through the gap and pushing it into position. Glue grabs in seconds and left it overnight.

Works fine this morning.

[88GreenVN]

I did similar to yours. Mine was just the volume + button. I could pull out just the button without taking off the airbag.
I used a bit of flexible plastic - like that used for packaging things you buy from the shops.

Then I used selleys plastics glue to stick the strip onto the button - in the same place you put your strips.
I then put a bit of glue on the strip before wiggling it through the gap and pushing it into position. Glue grabs in seconds and left it overnight.

Works fine this morning.

Good job on not removing the air bag

I can report back also the button is still working fine and gets used every day.

[CapriciousWL]

Even with thin plastics, a soldering iron and a staple can work wonders. Heat up one surface so the staple can slightly insert into the surface then do the same to the other piece. Give a drop or two of quality glue to strengthen the bond once cooled. Do this thing quite often with small camera components that become brittle and collapse or disintegrate. Lasts generally 1-2 years before total replacement needed.

[muneey]

my + button is loose and is held together using electrical tape, but was wondering how i would undo the same button from the car at the wreckers..can i pop them off with a flat blade screw driver or do i have to undo the air bag etc??
can someone tell me a nice and easy way of doing it? also once i have this "new" button, will it just pop right in to my steering wheel or do i need to take the wheel apart as described above?

[88GreenVN]

my + button is loose and is held together using electrical tape, but was wondering how i would undo the same button from the car at the wreckers..can i pop them off with a flat blade screw driver or do i have to undo the air bag etc??
can someone tell me a nice and easy way of doing it? also once i have this "new" button, will it just pop right in to my steering wheel or do i need to take the wheel apart as described above?

The sets of buttons are held in with 2 screws and the part that snaps just unclip from it. I just poped my horn pad (air bag) up and held it while I undid the 2 screws. Takes all of 5 mins to do if you have a set of buttons to replace the broken one with.

[88GreenVN]

Update - it's been well over a year now and button still going strong - and it gets hammered every day by a radio station hunter (my better half)

I can say that adding a small amount of cloth with super glue at each end works a treat. The cloth remains flexible in the middle - if you dont use too much glue and make it all solid