The radio Knob found already broke

[ParknVibe]

The radio Knob found already broke....

In otherwords, my second radio (replaced free due to the knob being crack) in 2009 of the 2009 Vibe, has been found to have a broken volume control knob again when I first touched it today.
Now that I have to remove the radio myself (out of warranty) to replace the knob.....should I do that and buy a new Navigation/rear camera Super DVD radio that I always wanted????


$10.00 vs a $1000.00 radio....or do both.

[canadave]

The radio Knob found already broke....

In otherwords, my second radio (replaced free due to the knob being crack) in 2009 of the 2009 Vibe, has been found to have a broken volume control knob again when I first touched it today.
Now that I have to remove the radio myself (out of warranty) to replace the knob.....should I do that and buy a new Navigation/rear camera Super DVD radio that I always wanted????


$10.00 vs a $1000.00 radio....or do both.

Go for the nav/rear camera/super DVD radio. Then tell me which one you got, so that I know which one I can install in my 04 Vibe I'm trying to select one of those on the cheap, and it's been tough!

[jake75]

The radio Knob found already broke....

In otherwords, my second radio (replaced free due to the knob being crack) in 2009 of the 2009 Vibe, has been found to have a broken volume control knob again when I first touched it today.
Now that I have to remove the radio myself (out of warranty) to replace the knob.....should I do that and buy a new Navigation/rear camera Super DVD radio that I always wanted????


$10.00 vs a $1000.00 radio....or do both.

I long ago decided that on my '09 Vibe if my radio knob ever broke I would get an aftermarket radio rather that replace a poorly designed audio unit with the same poorly designed unit. I would not pay $1,000 for navigation etc. but some added cost for a rear view camera might be acceptable. That radio issue and the recirculation door motor gear seem to be an ongoing issue. Assume the radio is a GM error; the recirc gear we can blame on Toyota. That same gear is in Corollas and perhaps other models. Oh well, the service dept. needs something to break to earn a little money.

[ParknVibe]

Question:

I have ordered the new knobs. When I remove the dash trim around the 2009 Vibe radio, I do not have to remove the HVAC control knobs, correct? It should slip off around them?

Bought four knobs from NewGMParts.com at $4.92 each plus 12.00 ship and handling.

[BaseWhiteVibe]

Just ordered one as well, it hasn't come in yet. Could anything be done to beef it up? I was thinking of filling in the area around where the shaft slides into the knob to make it rock solid, then again I haven't seen the back side of it yet. If I do end up trying something I will post it on here

[ParknVibe]

Just ordered one as well, it hasn't come in yet. Could anything be done to beef it up? I was thinking of filling in the area around where the shaft slides into the knob to make it rock solid, then again I haven't seen the back side of it yet. If I do end up trying something I will post it on here

Just received the new knobs today...You can see within how flimzy they are. The clear plastic shell is painted on the outside while leaving a light ring on the front. Some have suggest adding epoxy inside around the stem or to just repair. As I look at it, I thought about the idea of a plastic tube sleeve around the stem.
A shrink tube used for wire splicing. You slip on the tube and then apply heat to shrink it tight to the stem.

However I have not seen the broken knob yet to determine how it broke.
I keep an update soon, perhap by next weekend.

[Rayven01]

The only thing you lose if you epoxy the inside of the knob is the light coming through the translucent ring on the knob face. Clear epoxy might alleviate that but it would still probably be dimmer. The shrink-wrap idea is interesting. Hard to say whether it will strengthen the weak plastic core enough. That's definitely what fails; the center plastic core that holds it onto the stud just cracks and starts spinning freely. What it really should have is a metal band around the plastic center to prevent splits.

[BaseWhiteVibe]

Once I get the new knob in I will see if I can CAD something up and try to print it out on a 3D printer. I am thinking in particular a clear insert that would fill in the entire back side of the knob and distribute the load throughout. If I do end up coming up with some kind of solution like that I will let everyone know

[ParknVibe]

The only thing you lose if you epoxy the inside of the knob is the light coming through the translucent ring on the knob face. Clear epoxy might alleviate that but it would still probably be dimmer. The shrink-wrap idea is interesting. Hard to say whether it will strengthen the weak plastic core enough. That's definitely what fails; the center plastic core that holds it onto the stud just cracks and starts spinning freely. What it really should have is a metal band around the plastic center to prevent splits.

A second idea is to place an oversize diameter tube (a Straw pehaps) around the stem to create a form to fill it with the epoxy evenly and neatly around it and still maintain the space around that for the lightto pass. I just would need to know the maximum diameter that will clear the given space through the radio inner works. I would also use glue meant for plastic or perhaps silicone. Make sure to protect the inner hole with a patch so no glue gets in there.

[ParknVibe]

Once I get the new knob in I will see if I can CAD something up and try to print it out on a 3D printer. I am thinking in particular a clear insert that would fill in the entire back side of the knob and distribute the load throughout. If I do end up coming up with some kind of solution like that I will let everyone know

You have access to a 3D printer? I seen one on display at Staples. How would you scan in 3D? Is there a 3D scanner (cheap for a cheap 3D printer???? for home use that is. What plastic is "printed"..??

[BaseWhiteVibe]

Once I get the new knob in I will see if I can CAD something up and try to print it out on a 3D printer. I am thinking in particular a clear insert that would fill in the entire back side of the knob and distribute the load throughout. If I do end up coming up with some kind of solution like that I will let everyone know

You have access to a 3D printer? I seen one on display at Staples. How would you scan in 3D? Is there a 3D scanner (cheap for a cheap 3D printer???? for home use that is. What plastic is "printed"..??

One of the parts suppliers that I work with has a Stratasys (REF: http://www.dasisolutions.com/index.php/ ... rototyping" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). As for the scanning, what I would do is measure the opening up by hand on the underside of the knob and make an insert that would slide into it. You would then take the knob assembly and slide it on the shaft of the radio. Now the plastic comes in a rol that is fed through a head that does layer upon layer. My goal is to get a clear or translucent plastic to do the job. If sucessful I would offer up the knob inserts to fellow members that they would simply retrofit onto their knobs. If sucessful I could sign an NDA with a local plastic injection molding company and offer them for sale online.

As for 3D printers for personal use I would suggest that you look up RepRap Prusa (REF: http://reprap.org/wiki/Prusa_Mendel_(iteration_2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)), you could then CAD up things that you want and then print them out.