Faded Turn signal switch mystery!?!

[240-porkchop-sx]

Hey everyone, I'm really surprised that there isnt a archive on this or even a thread ( i couldn't find one anyway).
Well i dunno about anyone else but my turn signal control and headlight control levers turn white-ish from the sun. It seems the sun fades it, BUT i can scratch it with my nail and i see black!?!....So if this is common, what do you guys/girls use to clean it, so it's not prone to fading and stays nice and black? I've tried simple green, car wax, even windex, and it's still faded!

let me know what you think
cheers
Mike

[AKADriver]

It's just the nature of the plastic they used. I don't think there's anything you can really do about it.

You might try some stuff specifically designed as a plastic protectant. Not armor-all or any similar greasy products... there are products sold for marine and aircraft use for protecting plastic and rubber that do the job a thousand times better (they don't leave a shine but they actually save the plastic).

[shinhed]

Aren't there other compatible Nissan turn switches you can replace it with? Newer non-faded (junkyard) pieces?

[old_s13]

the paint starts to wear away eventually so buying a new one isnt a bad idea. new switches are not unrealistically priced and they look nice -- plus, the contacts in the switch itself also start to go bad which can lead to all types of resistance with your lighting circuits (parking and headlamps).

If you just want to cover up the white fadedness, there are special types of sprays that will do the job.. one of the off-the-counter ones is armor all black i beleive. either way, i ended up using a special spray we had at the detail shop until i ended up buying new one.

remember, its only temporary.. so might as well just buy a new one.

[240-porkchop-sx]

Thanks for the replys, I've checked the junk yard and there even worse then mine...i guess from sitting in the sun for who knows how long. someone said i should try some black shoe polish, i gues the idea is to die the plastic. I'll give it a try and see what happens, if not, maybe new is the way to go.
thanks again

[MakotoS13]

new levers are on my shopping list.

it's the little things.

[shinhed]

...some black shoe polish, i gues the idea is to die the plastic. I'll give it a try and see what happens....

I'll save you the time, don't even try it ;)

[DRO916]

my turn levers were just ashy. ashy enough to scrape with my nails , just lube it up with some armor all

[old_s13]

just lube it up with some armor all

regular armor all will not work -- you need a different type of lubricant, usually anything that is clear or silicon based i think

like i said, the paint ends up going bad.. so who cares? i mean seriously, if you WANT to restore it just have it painted black.. all you have to do is sand it, paint it, and its ready to go -- but then you wont have the painted white indicators. SO. its up to you.

[Rittmeister]

I used Mother's Back to Black. Small red bottle. I had to apply several coats over a few days, but the switchgear is now black again, and looking good.