C63s centre console juice spill

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Apr 11, 2022 | 08:47 PM
  #1  
Hey I drive a 2017 Mercedes’ Benz c63s and unfortunately my sister spilt juice on the centre console and ever since then the screen would start glitching and turn off completely… also the centre console buttons do not work as well.

I have no control off the media interface/buttons such as the exhaust valve button, on/off auto start, touch pad etc.

I posted a video for reference.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
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Apr 11, 2022 | 09:00 PM
  #2  
Quote: Hey I drive a 2017 Mercedes’ Benz c63s and unfortunately my sister spilt juice on the centre console and ever since then the screen would start glitching and turn off completely… also the centre console buttons do not work as well.

I have no control off the media interface/buttons such as the exhaust valve button, on/off auto start, touch pad etc.

I posted a video for reference.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
*****You might need to pull apart the center console and clean everything out well including the connectors, etc.. and hope you didn't burn the thing out outright which is NOT cheap. Sometimes, juice or whatever gets into the connectors and pulling it all apart and cleaning it well with electronic cleaner can restore everything if it wasn't drenched in fluid.. It's kind of good that the screen "glitches" versus not coming on at all, if that helps. Pulling apart the console is not that difficult and I had to do it to add Apple Car Play to my car using an aftermarket system I purchased online. Cleaning everything just requires pulling apart connectors doing the cleaning, and re assembly. It will take some time, but probably better and a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing a command unit.

Hope your sister apologized and now drinks only console friendly liquids like dehydrated water or something!



Reply 2
Apr 12, 2022 | 01:57 PM
  #3  
I had a console switch that was sticky due to a liquid spill. Over multiple days -- and with the ignition turned off -- I used a low-volume eye-dropper to drip a bit of 99% isopropyl alcohol into the switch then repeatedly operated the switch then used compressed air to dry the switch (or just let it evaporate for a few hours). Repeating this a number of times cleared up the issue without having to remove the console cover. You might try this first ... but my spill was pretty minimal so YMMV.

In "the old days" (circa 1970s), one used to be able to get pressurized/spray cans of electronics cleaner that worked well ... but they contained freon and I've not seen anything like that, lately.
Quote: Hope your sister apologized and now drinks only console friendly liquids like dehydrated water or something!
Dehydrated water ... the drink that's "light as air!" #;-)
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Apr 12, 2022 | 04:12 PM
  #4  
Quote: I had a console switch that was sticky due to a liquid spill. Over multiple days -- and with the ignition turned off -- I used a low-volume eye-dropper to drip a bit of 99% isopropyl alcohol into the switch then repeatedly operated the switch then used compressed air to dry the switch (or just let it evaporate for a few hours). Repeating this a number of times cleared up the issue without having to remove the console cover. You might try this first ... but my spill was pretty minimal so YMMV.

In "the old days" (circa 1970s), one used to be able to get pressurized/spray cans of electronics cleaner that worked well ... but they contained freon and I've not seen anything like that, lately.
*****The above is great advice and can work just fine. However, in my opinion, given that there was a juice spill it might still be worthwhile to go through the hassle of opening up the console and cleaning out the residue from the juice that has perhaps made a mess under the console depending upon the volume that spilled. Fruit juice is fairly caustic stuff and thermal cycling from heat/cold can somewhat re-activate the low level caustic effects of the acids and other substances in the juice medium. The residue when exposed to heat can essentially aerosolize into other switches and eventually cause more problems down the road on a vehicle with critical electronic componentry in that region of the console. It is really not that much work, having done it, to open that console area up to get to the wiring and switching to clean everything out more thoroughly. A common basic trim tool and I believe a #2 either Phillips head screwdriver or similar sized torq screw bit will allow the storage compartment baseplate to be removed and it is quite simple to separate the console from its base once this is done. Care must be taken to not scratch the monitor above the vents by wrapping it in a microfiber towel as you have to tilt the console up and out a bit to release the holding tabs which are just pressure tabs. The switches themselves will require a smaller flathead screwdriver or strongish fingers to release their little tabs, but once off it is very easy to clean everything up down there as well as insure all of the residue and stickiness is removed with some good quality iso alcohol or electronic cleaner, etc...

The C63s is a really nice car and it would be a shame to have sticky and grungy feeling switches given the ease everything comes apart,

Good luck whatever the OP decides to do.

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Apr 12, 2022 | 04:42 PM
  #5  
Whoever did that in my car would be banned for life . Sugary drinks, juices etc. stay out of my car. Water and at most tea is what is allowed inside, but I have to admit on occasion I had coffee in the car. I stopped doing that after spilling some into the cupholders. It served as a warning shot. Rancid milk does not enhance the interior of a car. As said above, you gonna have to take the console apart and meticulously clean everything or throw it out and replace it. Just a matter of how much you value your own time vs spending money to replace the part or hire somebody to clean it. Frankly, I would probably hire a professional detailer and hand the bill to my sister to pay up.
Reply 3
Apr 12, 2022 | 06:52 PM
  #6  
Thank you everyone for giving your inputs, I really appreciate it! And yes my sister is banned from sitting inside my car !

update: the screen and all the buttons on the centre console started working again. But just as a precaution I will be taking it apart and cleaning it! I seen a couple videos on YouTube where they take it apart so will be referring to that.

Once again, thank you gentlemen!
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