[Bad News] The Bizarre Phenomenon of S2000 AC Knobs Getting as Sticky as “Natto.” The Only Logic to Break This Negative Cycle.

Listen up, S2000 owners across the globe. We are the chosen VTEC drivers. We have engines that rev to 9,000 RPM, cornering that hugs the earth, and… “Sticky AC Knobs” that cling to your fingertips and won’t let go in the summer.

This is it. This is the 20-year-old “harassment”… no, the “homework” that Honda has given us.

Look at this photo.

“Is this a dried-up rice paddy?”

I found myself shouting. It’s hard to tell from the photo, but it’s no longer a dial—it’s the remains of a worn-out eraser. Or perhaps Hi-Chew candy left under the scorching midsummer sun. A cracked one, at that. This hydrolysis bastard acts all composed in the winter, but the moment the temperature rises, it shows its true colors. My logical thinking instantly hits “120% Discomfort Index” with just one look and that sticky touch.

“I can’t take it anymore!” So, I’m recording the actions I took here.

Solution 1: “Heart Transplant” from a Spare Unit

Fortunately, I had a spare AC unit I had stocked up earlier. I decided to “borrow” the dials from there and perform a transplant surgery. Basically, I just cheaped out. By the way, you just pull them out with brute force to exchange them.

Look at this shine. This is how it should be. It doesn’t say “sticky-nechaaa” when I touch it. Just that simple fact makes me so happy. Here I am, a man who pursues logic every day at a pharmaceutical company, rejoicing like a child over a used part.

But wait. If I stop here, it’s just a personal diary. That would shame the name of the Logical Drive Lab.

Solution 2: The Ultimate Answer is “Full Replacement with Brand New.”

“I don’t trust used parts! I want to refresh with brand new!” To you bold people, I don’t hate that spirit. In fact, I love it.

Think about it logically. Using used parts is like carrying “used dynamite that you don’t know when will explode.” In that case, ordering genuine Honda “New Dials” from MonotaRO or a dealer seems like the wisest decision.

Are the genuine dials (Part No: 79601-S2A-003ZA etc.) still available new? I don’t know. Check for yourself.

By the way, MonotaRO has them at a reasonable price. They are on Amazon too, but those are scalper prices, so don’t touch them.

The “clicky” feeling of the brand-new part, and that matte texture without a single smudge… That is a reproduction of the “new car smell” that you can never taste with used parts.

Instead of getting scammed by overpriced scalpers on Amazon, don’t hesitate to type the part number into the MonotaRO search bar. That is the shortest-route answer from someone who has been with this car for over 20 years.

Solution 3: The “Permanent Fix” of Metal Dials

Think calmly. Even if you go back to genuine parts, they will get sticky again in a few years. It’s fate. So, I researched the depths of Yahoo! Auctions and Amazon. And what do you know, there’s a solution that tickles a man’s heart: “Metal (Aluminum) Custom Dials.”

• Pros: Never gets sticky again. The texture improves, giving the interior a bit of a supercar feel.
• Cons: Your wallet gets thinner.

It’s the ultimate choice: “Never get sticky again” vs. “Make your wallet thinner.” But if it releases you from that unpleasant sensation, thinning your wallet might be worth it.

If your dials are currently showing a natto-like stickiness, I’ll tell you straight. Look for them on Yahoo! Auctions or click “buy” for the metal ones on Amazon. As of February 13, 2026, buying new on Yahoo! Auctions is a good choice.

I’ll post the Amazon link below just in case, but since it’s expensive, you should avoid it if possible. It’s for rich men with thick wallets.

Are you looking not just at the dried-up rice paddy of your AC dials, but also at the hole in your trunk?

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