CCU Button DIY

[Honcho]

After searching high and low, it seems there is no way for me to replace my CCU "Off" button without buying an entire new assembly. Since i have a wedding to pay for in June, parting with ~ $1000 just to get a good-looking button is not going to happen.

So, I have devised a DIY experiment to try and fix the problem. Basically, the paint has flaked off of the front of the button, leaving a jagged blob of white/transparent material where "OFF" used to be. It looks bad. The plan is to repaint the button with a matching font for the "OFF" text.

First, I'm going to remove all of the paint on the front of the button so that I have a uniform surface. After figuring out the correct font and size (by comparing the "AUTO" button letters), I am going to print out "OFF" on a mailing label sticker. Using an exacto knife, I'm going to very carefully cut out each letter and stick them to the correct place on the button. Shoot with paint, peel back the stickers and hopefully I will have a OEM-looking button, or at least something better looking then the mess I have now.

I'll post pics as I go, but I have a few initial questions:

#1 - Do the knob/button assemblies come off? If so, how? I don't want to break anything (see ~ $1000 note above).

#2 - What is the matching paint color for the button? It looks like a flat black, but has some slight texture to it. Is the Duplicolor Honda Instrument a match? Actually, there appear to be two layers of paint. The first looks like a foil material (probably to block light) and then the black is on top of it.

 

[UnhuZ]

after you peel back the stickers, i think that if you apply one or more layers of clear coat, the look will last longer... the button have a matte finish so i think that it would look better if you use a matte clear coat.

 

[angus]

You could purchase a new front display panel with the knobs for $583 (this is for the '02-up part), this is what I plan to do , maybe you would like to buy my front panel?

 

[Honcho]

UnhuZ-

Good point about the clear. I just want the finish to match the OEM as best as possible. Matte would definitely seem the way to go. But more critical I think is the black color. I've heard the Duplicolor is a good match for the center console, but I'm afraid it will be too gray for the CCU.

angus-

Normally I would say yes, but my main issue is paying $500 for a plastic button. :wink: Even $50 seems ridiculous for such a little piece. I'm sure you can find someone who needs an entire front panel and get a lot more money. What I was hoping for was someone with a busted CCU (not repairable) laying around that would part out the buttons for a few bucks. I posted in the parts wanted, but got no response. From what BrianK told me, there just aren't that many of these things out there.

 

[UnhuZ]

UnhuZ-

Good point about the clear. I just want the finish to match the OEM as best as possible. Matte would definitely seem the way to go. But more critical I think is the black color. I've heard the Duplicolor is a good match for the center console, but I'm afraid it will be too gray for the CCU.

you can always also clear coat the other button....then, both would look equal... ab out the black...i think you can paint flat black, and when you apply the matte clear coat, it will look a lot like OEM...

 

[Honcho]

I like that idea. But first, how do I take them off?

 

[UnhuZ]

I like that idea. But first, how do I take them off?

thats easy... 2 methods:

- pull them with your fingers arround them, but you got to do a perpendicular force, or you could damage the button and/or the stick where they attach.

- use a very thin flat screw driver and insert the tip on the base of the button and with small ammounts of force, use it as a lever to raise the tip and lift the button... protect the display plate with a paper or something so you don't chip the paint, or you will have more things to paint :tongue: