Door switch wire fell into the dreaded black hole!!!

[jgurnari]

When I carefully took out the door light switch The wire was not there! Fell off in the hole! Any ideas how to retrieve it? What is the best access?
Help!
85 911

[proporsche]

yup..which side??
Make yourself a tinny wire and hook on the end and go fishing ..it works.It is easier on the right side.Then remove the footwell cover and use flashlight to locate the brown wire --use again the fishing method;-)

Ivan

[GeorgeK]

The wire comes from the side of the footwell behind the carpet. Look for it from that side.

[jgurnari]

Passenger side... do I need to take out blower?

[john walker's workshop]

Catch anything?

[jgurnari]

Ivan, are you saying use a hook and go down the hole in the door jam and bring it up through hole? or are you saying remove carpeted foot well cover and hook it from there? I remember the wire being a lot shorter on the pass side. It only stuck out of the hole 2-3 inches.

Originally Posted by proporsche

yup..which side??
Make yourself a tinny wire and hook on the end and go fishing ..it works.It is easier on the right side.Then remove the footwell cover and use flashlight to locate the brown wire --use again the fishing method;-)

Ivan

[proporsche]

pass side if i remember correctly yes , ..but again i would fish through the door switch hole;-)

Ivan

[proporsche]

trace the wire from under the dash and move it around..using flashlight you will eventually see it through the switch hole ==then fish....

[pmax]

This might work.
I assume your battery’s disconnected.

[jgurnari]

Through the switch hole?!! Really?!!!

[jgurnari]

Originally Posted by proporsche

trace the wire from under the dash and move it around..using flashlight you will eventually see it through the switch hole ==then fish....

How could you possibly see through that hole?!!!

[proporsche]

ok i am just telling how i go about it;-) and i have done it like this several times..you have to be patience to do this job....
How do i see the wire ..easy wiggle with it from the other end and it will show up ....

Ivan

[pmax]

Originally Posted by jgurnari

Through the switch hole?!! Really?!!!

Goes into a drain pipe

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GrabEasy-24-in-Flexible-4-Claw-Pick-Up-Tool-Jewelry-Retriever-Clog-Remover-Drain-Snake-in-Chrome-PF0401/202505170
24 in. Flexible, 4 Claw Pick-Up Tool, Jewelry Retriever, Clog Remover, Drain Snake in Chrome

[john walker's workshop]

Thin welding rod with a V bent in the end. Do as Proporsche does. Done it many times. A flashlight helps and glasses if you need them.

[jgurnari]

Where do you point the flashlight? The hole is too small to look into! Where should I be looking?

[john walker's workshop]

In the hole. Just keep it 6" away and look for the brown wire to show up as you move it from under the dash. Then hook it and pull slowly with your 3rd hand. Oh, maybe set the light up so you only need 2 hands. Or hold it in your teeth.

[jgurnari]

Success! Just as John Walkers workshop stated... move the wire around from under the dash and the wire will show up passing by the hole and just grab it! Not the nightmare that I was told. Easy
Thanks everyone

[sugarwood]

I tried to clarify this in a past thread.
The hysterics about the black hole are total bull****.

Worth spreading this into every thread on this bogus mythology.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1050252-can-someone-verify-door-switch-wire-lost-hole-myth.html

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Lights don't always go on when I open the door. My door switch seems flaky, so I will remove it and clean it (or replace it with 96461360100 or 92861314700?).
I have not touched my door switch yet, but want to understand all unexpected scenarios before I touch it.

Seems the switch be cleaned with DeOxit without removal? I'll try that first.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/290541-easy-fix-dome-lite-door-switch.html


In the past, I read threads warning about losing the wire into the abyss. EVERY thread has 3 posts saying DO NOT LOSE THE WIRE WHATEVER YOU DO!!!!

I now see threads saying you just need to remove the footwell cover (3 screws) and you can find the wire down there. Is it that simple? Why were people freaking the F out about dropping the wire in the hole?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/981080-help-fishing-out-door-switch-wire-85-targa.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/977865-door-switch.html


Cleaning
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/922908-dome-light-door-switch-r-r-question.html