thallium

I haven't had time to do a proper inspection yet but I found some kind of oil on the AFS button in the driver footwell and also some to the right. I took a picture and it looks like there was oil running out from the AFS button housing itself. Last May I had the steering wheel clock spring replaced and my first thought was that they might have put some oil on the steering column somewhere and it's dripped down into the switch. Does anyone know if this sounds likely or there is anything in there that would be oily?

I believe that work replaceing the clock spring had a one year warranty so I'm probably going to take it back to the dealer to see if it was something they did then.

chinee

AFS? Might be too early in the morning and the neurons might not be firing on full speed... what's AFS?

peasodos

iTrader: (1)

Adaptive Front-Lighting System. He is referring to the AFS off switch under the dash in the driver footwell.

peasodos

iTrader: (1)

The AFS switch is just a switch, doesn't have any oil in it, just plastic and electronics. If you have oil it's leaking from somewhere else or whoever worked on your car had some greasy hands.

Dangit2001

What color is the oil? I would check fluids to see if your low on anything.

thisguy_06

The probability of any engine fluid getting to that button is extremely low....i'd suspect it has something to do with your clock-spring replacement.

jgscott

iTrader: (1)

I say clock spring result too.

thallium

I too suspect the clock spring work. It is light colored oil. I inspected the picture I took again and the steering shaft travels just to the right of the AFS switch. My best guess is that as part of their work replacing the clock spring they also put a little oil on the steering shaft at some points and went a little overboard on it. It might have taken all of the past 10 months to work it's way down through whatever it dripped on, including the AFS switch. I guess my biggest concern is that it might affect the function of that switch or even the TPMS reset switch.

peasodos

iTrader: (1)

I doubt the little bit of oil will have any effect on the function of the AFS or TPMS switch. Just wipe it off.

Cwang

That's interesting, I have had a similar oil on my steering wheel buttons. The wheel hadn't come off as I later had the noisy clock spring changed.