Interior problem
1997 Subaru Legacy 4 cyl All Wheel Drive Automatic 103,00 miles

This is one of the older Subaru models with the cup holder above the Heating/AC buttons.
After 10 years of diet pepsi sloshing around, the buttons don't engage. This means I can't switch from heater to defrost!

Oh, no. Not a good situation on frosty mornings.

Is there a way to clean these buttons without disassembling the dash?

Thanks,
ADE

You might try a little window cleaner or even soapy water (maybe warm will help) and a brush. Squirt sparingly into the cracks between the buttons and use a toothbrush to try to get the gunk out. A small can of compressed air like they have to clean your computer keyboard can be blown in ther afterword to blow more stuff out and dry the area. Don't get it too wet, electrical circuits and water don't like eachother much.