Would you put coating on the audio/climate remote control

Are you posting in the right forum? The Gen III Prius hatchback doesn't have any rubber coating on any of the controls.

SCH-I535

 

They sell Plastidip in clear.

SCH-I535

 

I also wonder how durable those are, they're the first steering wheel controls I've had.

 

Four years and 37k with no discernable wear on mine.

 

Good to know, Dan.

 

i'm more concerned with the buttons underneath, i use the volume control uncontrollably.

 

I've wondered as evidently many people have- about the long term durability of that rubber.

But it's been 4 model years, and I have yet to see a post where someone cited a failure of those pieces.

Eventually...you've got to think it would wear. But initially it seems surprisingly durable.

I'd be afraid to spray any chemical or additive or covering on it, thinking a reaction might actually hasten deterioration.

I think the best approach is being as careful as possible in using the buttons, and keeping the rubber as clean as possible.

While I avoid chemicals, I have treated the dash and those buttons using Aero Space 404...which is suppose to be an excellent rubber protector.

About 2 times a year... and carefully.

So far-Over 1 year-So good.

Assuming the possibility of a future failure...does anyone know if Toyota sells those parts individually?

 

I'd expect someone would have cited a problem by now.

I also expect they are somewhat easy to replace (probably are switch units that could be swapped out).

Applying anything to preserve something is hard to manage. Armor All was a big deal, but I heard it did more to ruin a surface than preserve it (although it did make it look good). Odds are having DIRTY HANDS does more to ruin control surfaces than anything else.

Let me tell you what will most likely fail in these switches. I believe they are using what I call a "bubble" switch. It's like a soft metal dome that gives under pressure to complete the circuit and then pops back into shape when released. I've hardly ever seen these fail, but repeated use does invoke the chance of eventual failure. I'd think you would see the contacts fail before the coating failed.

 

Get a hold of yourself! Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm! maybe I worded that badly!

 

that too.

 

No problems here after 28 months. We will see I guess!

 

no problems here after 5 years of use and 77k miles, I work in construction and have very dirty hands when I'm on my way home.