Expert: William Forster - 7/3/2008

Question
Hi William,
I have been going to the same panel beater over the years and I have noticed both times that after my car gets sprayed the buttons on my deck(cd player) will feel less springy, last time one of the buttons actually ceased to click permanently, I took apart the front of the deck and the only logical conclusion I could come up with was that the fumes in the spray booth melted the plastic around the tiny button on the  circuit board of my deck. As the cabin of the car smelt like fumes for a while afterwards.
Also this time my car had an aftermarket stereo system and the speakers all of a sudden did not sound as crisp as they once did, so I gather there was diffuse damage to anything vulnerable in the whole interior.
Can you think of any explanation to this? I definitely wont be going back but I would like to know what went wrong.
Thanks.

Answer
No way the body shop did this. They bake cars at 140 degrees- it's common for car interiors to reach that temp in hot climates, and cars are meant to take that and more. Your CD player is just wearing out, as well as your speakers. You probably just have jammed them out, and now they need replaced. Everything wears out. Bill