Repair Tabs on Snowflake/Climate Control Switches
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 11:46 am
Over the years I have accumulated several climate control units. Many have broken switches. More correctly, the little integrated tabs that hold the button to the switch assembly have broken, making the button/cover come off.
Also, some of the defrost/footwell slider knobs have broken internal tabs, which means those knobs simply fall off.
Plast-aid
This product - "Plast-aid" - works freakin' great! The Manufacturer's Website. (I bought the small kit from Amazon at first, but immediately decided I needed more and bought the big kit direct from the Manufacturer instead.
It seems to be targeted toward hot tub repairs. It chemically bonds to many types of plastic, including PVC and acrylic and whatever these switch buttons are made from. It can be built up as much as you want in multiple applications. It can be colored with any acrylic paint (like from a craft supply store).
Broken Snowflake Switch Tabs, and other Climate Control Buttons
Building Up a Blob of Plast-aid repair
The kit includes a small plastic cup that does not chemically bond, making it ideal for mixing. I put some liquid component into the mixing cup, sprinkled in powdered component, and stirred. I added powdered component until i had the consistency I wanted. Then I colored with a couple toothpicks-full of black acrylic art paint.
You have about 15 minutes of total work time. The product starts out pretty fluid, but not runny. Then starts to become more paste-like, by design. It allows you to make more complicated shaping as the product starts to "kick".
It would be handy to use a small eye dropper or pipette (like from chemistry class) to handle the liquid component, as pouring it from the bottle will ultimately result in using too much or spilling it down the side of the bottle. Take care to not knock the tiny bottle over when working with it on your workbench. The powdered component is useless without it.
Use in a well-ventilated area. The liquid component has a powerful chemical smell that can't be good for prolonged exposure. Never mind flammability.
Shaping the Repair
Prior to applying the product, I used a small piece of cellophane tape on the inside of the button to make a flat inside surface.
After it hardened, I used small hand tools to gradually work the outside blob into shape.
Tools
With the exception of the tiny ball tool in the Dremel, I used only hand tools to shape the repair. I used the Dremel cutting disk by hand to make the slot.
Remember, power tools are great - they allow you to make mistakes faster.
Finished Repair
Even though I showed a different climate control button in "Shaping the Repair" section, the snowflake switch is shown below. The idea is the same regardless. I worked the repair until it fit properly inside the switch outer housing and latched onto the little nib where it engages with the moving portion of the switch mechanism.
This is fussy, tiny work. But it it do-able.
Other Applications...
Climate Control Slider Knobs
Temperature Sensor Tube Cover
Lives next to dash clock (my dash trim is blue). I used a short length of narrow zip tie and fused it in place with Plast-aid.
Turbo/S2 Fog Light Reflector Adjuster and Outer Housing
Tinted gray using acrylic art paint.
Also, some of the defrost/footwell slider knobs have broken internal tabs, which means those knobs simply fall off.
Plast-aid
This product - "Plast-aid" - works freakin' great! The Manufacturer's Website. (I bought the small kit from Amazon at first, but immediately decided I needed more and bought the big kit direct from the Manufacturer instead.
It seems to be targeted toward hot tub repairs. It chemically bonds to many types of plastic, including PVC and acrylic and whatever these switch buttons are made from. It can be built up as much as you want in multiple applications. It can be colored with any acrylic paint (like from a craft supply store).
- Plast-Aid
- PXL_20220810_220740962.jpg (286.5 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Broken Snowflake Switch Tabs, and other Climate Control Buttons
- Broken Snowflake Button Tabs
- 20221111_100044-COLLAGE.jpg (141.44 KiB) Viewed 803 times
- Broken Climate Control Button Tabs
- 20221111_105257-COLLAGE.jpg (102.56 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Building Up a Blob of Plast-aid repair
The kit includes a small plastic cup that does not chemically bond, making it ideal for mixing. I put some liquid component into the mixing cup, sprinkled in powdered component, and stirred. I added powdered component until i had the consistency I wanted. Then I colored with a couple toothpicks-full of black acrylic art paint.
You have about 15 minutes of total work time. The product starts out pretty fluid, but not runny. Then starts to become more paste-like, by design. It allows you to make more complicated shaping as the product starts to "kick".
It would be handy to use a small eye dropper or pipette (like from chemistry class) to handle the liquid component, as pouring it from the bottle will ultimately result in using too much or spilling it down the side of the bottle. Take care to not knock the tiny bottle over when working with it on your workbench. The powdered component is useless without it.
Use in a well-ventilated area. The liquid component has a powerful chemical smell that can't be good for prolonged exposure. Never mind flammability.
- Blob of Repair
- 20221111_105742-COLLAGE.jpg (95.73 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Shaping the Repair
Prior to applying the product, I used a small piece of cellophane tape on the inside of the button to make a flat inside surface.
After it hardened, I used small hand tools to gradually work the outside blob into shape.
- Shaping the Repair
- 20221111_110241-COLLAGE.jpg (139.78 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Tools
With the exception of the tiny ball tool in the Dremel, I used only hand tools to shape the repair. I used the Dremel cutting disk by hand to make the slot.
Remember, power tools are great - they allow you to make mistakes faster.
- Tools
- 20221111_110319-COLLAGE.jpg (130.61 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Finished Repair
Even though I showed a different climate control button in "Shaping the Repair" section, the snowflake switch is shown below. The idea is the same regardless. I worked the repair until it fit properly inside the switch outer housing and latched onto the little nib where it engages with the moving portion of the switch mechanism.
This is fussy, tiny work. But it it do-able.
- Finished Snowflake Switch
- PXL_20220814_211023790.jpg (148.22 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Other Applications...
Climate Control Slider Knobs
- Climate Control Slider Knobs
- 20221111_104844-COLLAGE.jpg (338.38 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Temperature Sensor Tube Cover
Lives next to dash clock (my dash trim is blue). I used a short length of narrow zip tie and fused it in place with Plast-aid.
- Temperature Sensor Opening Cover
- 20220803_004945-COLLAGE.jpg (340.25 KiB) Viewed 803 times
Turbo/S2 Fog Light Reflector Adjuster and Outer Housing
Tinted gray using acrylic art paint.
- Fog Light Repairs
- 20221111_133240-COLLAGE.jpg (186.87 KiB) Viewed 791 times
