Original MB Stereo Popping? How I Fixed Mine
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Joined: Jul 2016
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From: Kentucky
1998 E-430
Original MB Stereo Popping? How I Fixed Mine
A week ago, I bought a 1998 MB E-430. It is all original. The Becker stereo was occasionally popping, increasing volume when turning the control to the left, and generally just sounding terrible. I considered just replacing the unit with a Bluetooth- and USB-ready Kenwood stereo. I didn't want to do that, because there is a 6-CD changer in the trunk and it works great, and forget about matching that CD player with a head unit.
Also, the volume control knob was all gooey and sticky, where the electrostatically-applied rubber coating had disintegrated. Yuck.
With the radio turned off, I gently pulled the knob off, and sprayed electronic component cleaner ($15 from Radio Shack) directly on the top part of the volume control, at the base, two light blasts. Then I stuck a piece of rolled up cardboard in there to grasp the shaft, and I twisted it left and right several times. I repeated this operation several times.
Then I stuck the button back on the shaft and turned on the radio. Radio was fine, WB was fine, CD was fine, didn't have a cassette tape. No thunder, no popping, volume control working beautifully. Excellent.
______________
As for the knob, I gingerly and carefully scraped the old desiccated black rubber off with a plastic putty knife. When I got it mostly clean, I wiped it with some alcohol swab pads until it was no longer sticky and was clean and flat white.
I cut a tiny piece of tape to cover the center clear dot, round, about 2mm in diameter. Then I put some masking tape on the bottom tube that connects to the volume control shaft, making a handle. I very lightly sprayed regular black spray paint on the knob, just enough to cover the white. Let it dry for a few hours, then when I picked it up, it was just the least bit tacky.
To keep it from sticking to my finger, I put a little talcum powder on my hands and rolled the knob in my hands to get rid of any tackiness. I removed the tiny dot covering the clear center of the knob with a pair of tweezers. Stuck it back on the volume control shaft. Done.
Also, the volume control knob was all gooey and sticky, where the electrostatically-applied rubber coating had disintegrated. Yuck.
With the radio turned off, I gently pulled the knob off, and sprayed electronic component cleaner ($15 from Radio Shack) directly on the top part of the volume control, at the base, two light blasts. Then I stuck a piece of rolled up cardboard in there to grasp the shaft, and I twisted it left and right several times. I repeated this operation several times.
Then I stuck the button back on the shaft and turned on the radio. Radio was fine, WB was fine, CD was fine, didn't have a cassette tape. No thunder, no popping, volume control working beautifully. Excellent.
______________
As for the knob, I gingerly and carefully scraped the old desiccated black rubber off with a plastic putty knife. When I got it mostly clean, I wiped it with some alcohol swab pads until it was no longer sticky and was clean and flat white.
I cut a tiny piece of tape to cover the center clear dot, round, about 2mm in diameter. Then I put some masking tape on the bottom tube that connects to the volume control shaft, making a handle. I very lightly sprayed regular black spray paint on the knob, just enough to cover the white. Let it dry for a few hours, then when I picked it up, it was just the least bit tacky.
To keep it from sticking to my finger, I put a little talcum powder on my hands and rolled the knob in my hands to get rid of any tackiness. I removed the tiny dot covering the clear center of the knob with a pair of tweezers. Stuck it back on the volume control shaft. Done.
