Window Switch Re-assembly -_-
 

Is there a trick to this? Between the ball bearings and the metal hinges I'm pulling my hair out trying to get this to go back together after cleaning the contacts -_- :mad:

I'm also not sure where I should be spraying lubricant before it goes back together.

The trick? Don't take it apart....there are plenty of good used ones (and aftermarket new ones) on fleabay for like 12 bucks.

Here's a little tip for you, start looking at the members here who are posting parts for sale, you will find all sorts of little things like window, top, mirror and light switches, window, top and mirror motors, stuff like that...build yourself a little inventory of those type of items, then when one goes bad, you change it. Ask around, just about everyone who has owned one of these cars for any length of time has a stash of all sorts of parts (me, I have an extra a/c compressor, alternator, starter, lots of switches, some coolant hoses, gaskets, seals, o-rings, spare DME and KLR and the list goes on....even a complete spare turbo engine lol

An extra engine? O_o

I got it for a price I couldn't resist, complete long block with accessories. The engine had a blown head gasket, replaced the HG, did a valve job while the engine was on my stand, and then installed it, compression is at 145 across the board...good solid engine, took $400 of the guys bill.

Now I can rebuild my original engine at my leisure

Well, I did it. Using need nose pliers did the trick to re-assemble, and the switches are working better and after installation, low and behold my window works again. I'm pretty amazed right now. For future reference, I think I'll just buy those $12 switches next time.

Now you know how a switch works - DON'T TAKE THEM APART! You don't even have to pull the switch out of the door, just squirt the h*ll out of them as you work them back and forth (as if you were trying to drive the motor crazy) and the cleaner does all the work. They don't wear out, they just get gummed up from 25 years of use.

Don't feel bad, I did the same thing, and rebuilt the switch.

Stay away from the aftermarket switches... They do not fit properly. At least not the ones on ebay.

Not true, just installed all new switches that a client bought from fleabay, and they fit perfectly. Just make sure if you by aftermarket, the seller accepts returns, then if there is a problem, return it.

Maybe we got it from a different seller/manufacturer, or I just got a bad one? The one I received does fit, but does not fit properly (it was very difficult to plug in to the wiring harness). It also does not fit properly in the mounting place for the switch. It comes out rather easily if pressed a little too hard.

Don't get me wrong, the switch works great. It just doesn't look right (which is why I rebuilt the original switch), and comes out a little too easy for my liking. It is a lot cheaper than buying a new OEM switch too.

That may be the case, the ones I installed fit and work perfectly. But I tend to buy things like that from members of this board...I just look for ones with good graphics that work....guys here tend to be a bit more "honest" shall we say...No one here wants a bad rep.

Yeah, the guy I got it from on ebay had some bad feedback already, and had a low feedback score. That will remind me to double-check next time...

Cleaning switches is generally a good idea, but beware of the now brittle plastic housings, If you do decide to take them apart. I remember my dad used to regularly clean the switches from his 1987 Alfa Romeo 90, and this was in 1992! At least we are cleaning ours 25 years later.

I took my hatch release switch, and mirror joystick apart. They work well now. Just don't loose any of the pieces. Some pins are spring loaded, so if you head a pingggg.... it's treasure hunt time.

It was by God's grace I didn't lose the ball bearings for the first switch, hehe