Sticky steering wheel

[92exp4x4]

So I was working on my van and I was reminded of something that bothers me... Has anyone else been pestered by the dreaded sticky steering wheel? If any of my 'non-leather steering wheel' equipped vehicles sit for a while, especially in the heat, the wheels and other vinyl worn interior parts will secrete a sticky film that one forgets about until that moment when you're ready to take off on your next motoring adventure... And there is never anything around to clean the hands.

How many people has had this happen? Has anyone fixed it, what did you do? I have used brake clean to remove it. It works for a couple days, then it's stick city all over again. I've thought about painting them with a high quality plastic paint or dye, but I'm betting this will bubble off as the slime comes out of the part.

 

[trozei123]

I have this same issue with my steering wheel. The heat always makes it ooze out. I just use an old sock to wipe away the slime. I have no idea how to fix it. I thought at first of using super glue to fill the holes. I noticed that the seam where it appears to be stitched together is missing the "thread", and tthat's where my wheel oozes from.

 

[92exp4x4]

Oh yeah that's something different that annoys me too. On my 91-92 leather wrap steering wheels, a black slime oozes from the stitches of the leather. Drives me nuts!. What I'm talking about is the plastic 'non- leather steering wheels. And the sticky coating that develops on them.

 

[FirstExplorer]

I have researched this problem since my steering wheel oozes black tar. The adhesive Ford used eventually breaks down over time and becomes thin and leaks. Some owners have actually removed the stitching on the leather and removed the glue from the steel wheel, then restitch the leather back on.

You can wipe it off, but more will leak, and it is hard to get off your hands and clothes.

I have searched and searched for a replacement OEM wheel, but they are very scarce and usually in poor condition.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

These steering wheels always had this problem. When my truck was new and under warranty, I fussed about this problem. Ford replaced the steering wheel. The new replacement steering wheel did the same thing. I just bought a steering wheel cover, and the problem was "resolved".

Good luck,

Mr. Alligator
1997 XLT, 435,000 miles

 

[jimmyznutz]

I had this problem on my old '97 Ranger. I removed the oem cover and plastidipped the "cushion" then put a new cover on and restitched it on. Looked better than stock and never had another problem.

 

[92exp4x4]

I had this problem on my old '97 Ranger. I removed the oem cover and plastidipped the "cushion" then put a new cover on and restitched it on. Looked better than stock and never had another problem.

Basically im seeing everyone is putting a cover on their wheel. That's probably what I will do for the ones that never had one from new. I may try plasti dip on one and see how it works.

I have noticed my 93-94s do not ooze the black stuff. I never thought of this being glue.

 

[Mr. Alligator]

I sort of thought the whole steering wheel was falling apart, or disintegrating. It also seemed like direct sunlight made it worse. The stock covers did not seem sound either. Not practical to keep truck out of direct sun! Aftermarket steering wheel cover was super simple solution. And looks good also.

Good luck either way,

Mr. Alligator

 

[natenkiki2004]

I gotta say, my 1991 steering wheel doesn't have this issue. It had what looked like an aftermarket cover on it when I got it and I promptly took it off. I like the thin wheel with finger ridges, not some thick soft foamy wheel. It was sticky underneath but I attributed that to the aftermarket cover. Some cleaning with rubbing alcohol and it's been fine going on 2 years now. My 1994 has a cover on the wheel, looks like factory but it's not sticky either.

 

[92exp4x4]

I gotta say, my 1991 steering wheel doesn't have this issue. It had what looked like an aftermarket cover on it when I got it and I promptly took it off. I like the thin wheel with finger ridges, not some thick soft foamy wheel. It was sticky underneath but I attributed that to the aftermarket cover. Some cleaning with rubbing alcohol and it's been fine going on 2 years now. My 1994 has a cover on the wheel, looks like factory but it's not sticky either.

Is your 91 leather wrapped? I don't like aftermarket covers either. They make the wheel to big to grab comfortably.

I have used alcohol and brake clean to remove the sticky. But it always return with in about a week. I think I gonna try painting one and see what happens. If it doesn't work, I will just cover them.

 

[Dex2000Ex]

So I was working on my van and I was reminded of something that bothers me... Has anyone else been pestered by the dreaded sticky steering wheel? If any of my 'non-leather steering wheel' equipped vehicles sit for a while, especially in the heat, the wheels and other vinyl worn interior parts will secrete a sticky film that one forgets about until that moment when you're ready to take off on your next motoring adventure... And there is never anything around to clean the hands.

How many people has had this happen? Has anyone fixed it, what did you do? I have used brake clean to remove it. It works for a couple days, then it's stick city all over again. I've thought about painting them with a high quality plastic paint or dye, but I'm betting this will bubble off as the slime comes out of the part.

Same problem here, but no solution yet...sticky black tarry stuff oozing from seams of my steering wheel. It happens when it's hot out, and I'm stuck driving with paper towels wrapped around the wheel so it's not all over my hands. Inconvenient and embarrassing, but necessary.

I've seen posts online where it happens with Fords and Jeeps. People seem to favor steering wheel covers, but it seems to me that's a band-aid for the problem and the creeping crud would just ooze through the new cover eventually.

Interesting that this just started last summer and my Ex is a 2000. Why did it take 15 years to start this crap?! Who knows...I just want it to STOP. Parking in the shade 100% of the time or driving only when it's cool out is not an option in Southern California. I'm hoping someone has a magic wand to solve this for us all.

 

[2stroke]

Between a 94 explorer, 00 explorer, 94 b4000, and now 93 explorer, I have no clue what you are talking about. None of them have ever oozed anything from the steering wheel. Infact, I can't think of a single vehicle that has. I do notice every single one with the problem live in the south, except me and nate which live in the north. Sorry I can't be of more help. I figured manufactures would have mastered the science of glue by 1991.

 

[malohnes]

You know, the steering wheel on my early 91 XL doesn't have this sticky residue either, but I have seen it on other trucks. I wonder if living in a colder climate with minimal hot days masks this issue...

 

[92exp4x4]

There are really two things going on here. The leather covered wheels ooze the black goo, and the non leather wrapped ones secrete a sticky substance straight from the vinyl surface and usually are very shiny looking when its there. I've noticed that the surfaces that are worn smooth, secrete more of the stick and those with the factory texture (not worn down), don't do it as much or not at all.

I have about 20 old trucks in my service fleet at work and most of them do it too. They are all work trucks, 99-08 E350s, F250s to F550s with vinyl steering wheels. Some of the soft parts of the driver door panels do this when they sit for a while. The newer ones are like a dense foam construction like a GM truck. They don't secrete anything, but just crumble to pieces.

I am just curious as to how many people have had this happen and if they have done anything about it. Sounds to me like there are quite a few with the black goo, but it makes sense as there there were a lot more trucks built with leather steering wheels than plastic. The black stuff I think is glue as mentioned before, and I have a theory that the sticky may just be the oils from people's hands touching those surfaces over the years. The oils and acids from the skin breaks down the material over time, and use wears the surface down. I noticed the shifter boot on one of my explorers is doing the same thing where one's index finger always touches and the surface texture is gone, worn polished smooth. The heat just brings it out for some reason.

 

[92exp4x4]

I figured manufactures would have mastered the science of glue by 1991.

And many other things!