New member with tough problem!!

[John in CT]

I guess this isn't the usual way to introduce oneself, but I need help fast!
I've had a Porsche for years that I've used a number of interior and exterior detailing products with good success. I'm pretty careful about brands/product/techniques I use. I'm not an expert, but I have been detailing my own car for 20 years, and am pretty happy with the results.

However I'm now visiting for a week my mother in Florida who has a 2000 VW Bug. She told me that when she gets into the car, she often gets black smudges on her clothes. When I took a look at the interior components, I found that the components on the dash that seem to be "soft" (I'm guessing a urethane blend?) are all disintegrating. This would be parts of the dash, the cross piece near the glove box, the pieces around the door opener handle, and the piece that wraps under the steering wheel that encloses the ignition switch. It now has a very tacky feel, and upon touching it, your fingers get smudges of black. If your knee bumps under the steering wheel, your pants get a black mark on them (and its not grease.) The hard plastic pieces are fine.

Prior to my arrival, my mother had the VW dealer replace the small pieces around the door opener handle - they are now fine. But I know from last year that these pieces seemed to be almost melting, like they were being chemically attacked.

I do know that a couple of years ago my mom had the car cleaned but I suspect that
someone tried to clean the interior with a product that attacks this type of polymer. As if they went to grab Lexol and accidentally got a petroleum based tar remover, or the like. I don't know who this person is or what they might have used. I'm not even sure this is a reasonable scenario - I'm just guessing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Has anyone ever heard of this sort of situation? And if so, is there anything that can be done to reverse the process? If I could at least get the material to a hard state again, I think I could use emery cloth to bring some kind of acceptable finish back. I'm just trying to avoid buying all these components and replacing them.

Thanks.

[TOGWT]

It sounds like a combination of UVR radiation and a solvent compromising the polymers in the material. I don't think this can be reversed, you are probably facing replacement.

In future use a vinyl dressing that contains UVR absorbents and use bi-weekly (303 Aerospace Protectant- Autogeek.net)

[killrwheels@autogeek]

I too think replacement is emminent based upon the situation.