Cleaning powerwindow switches

bag3lbit3s · 03-10-2006, 09:57 PM

Over the years I've noticed these things build up junk and lightly oxidize inside to the point where it won't function. It's already happened to mine as well as my grandmothers car. So I thought why not help others out with this small little problem.

-Mike

Three Fat Tigers · 03-11-2006, 08:52 PM

Well done!

How 'bout some suggestions on the cleaning part, what do you use to clean it? Personally I use 000 steel wool or a dremel with a wire brush type bit. Then treat with DeoxIt spray, which will likely help prevent a repeat. Also maybe note that the plastic clips that hold the switch can break easily so go easy on them. And I'd also mention an alternative to prying up the switch panel is to take out the screws that hold the arm rest to the door, then you can slide the panel out, or reach behind and pop it out of the arm rest without prying.

bag3lbit3s · 03-11-2006, 09:39 PM

I used a dremel with a wirebrush bit...Got them clean fast. Mine were filthy, I actually noticed that the cleaned ones vs. a non clean one rolled the window up faster. And in LA that's a safety issue driving down the wonderful areas of CA

. I didn't remove the entire armrest on the door since I was too lazy. I could maybe see you doing this if your armrest was hard from age, mine was still relatively soft and it came out fairly easy and no damage was done. Also like TFF mentioned be very careful with the clips that keep the switch attached to the panel, they break very easily.

BRUNOP39 · 03-11-2006, 10:24 PM

Thanks for this great info,i am in the need for this.Thanks for your time spent.
Bruno

VQ · 03-11-2006, 11:24 PM

Thanks for that, I've already replaced mine with another one as one of the clips on mine was gone, but I might have a go at cleaning the damaged one...

seth · 03-13-2006, 10:59 PM

I'm going to do this tomorrow. My passenger side one is super sticky. Thanks for the how-to, it seems like if you break in to stuff like that without knowing what your doing you can break things.

seth · 03-15-2006, 07:01 PM

Finally got around to doing this. I snapped two of the black plastic clips while taking out the switches as careful as I could. They were real brittle on my '84. Nothing a little super glue couldn't fix tho.

My switches no longer stick now!

740T_Whale · 05-15-2006, 12:10 PM

When I had a 240, and cleaned my window switches, I found that if placed a magnet on the top of the switch, this would allow the ball bearing to say in place, thus allowing you to easily snap the top on to the bottom.

Ryo240T · 04-18-2007, 02:49 PM

I just did this and it fixed the rear window that would not go up ( its been raining here for almost a week and the window was down about an inch)! All the windows work like new! The directions are perfect! Thanks for great write up.

H.M.S · 05-28-2008, 12:57 PM

2 switches on my electric seats have stopped working, is this something you think might get them to work again?

driven sydeways · 05-28-2008, 10:18 PM

good write up! ive been doing this for years, and on my toyota. i use di-electric grease on the connections, only thing i do different.

03-10-2006, 09:57 PM	#1
bag3lbit3s Board Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada	Cleaning powerwindow switches Over the years I've noticed these things build up junk and lightly oxidize inside to the point where it won't function. It's already happened to mine as well as my grandmothers car. So I thought why not help others out with this small little problem. -Mike Last edited by bag3lbit3s; 03-10-2006 at 10:15 PM..

03-11-2006, 10:24 PM	#4
BRUNOP39 THE FLYMAN VOLVO 245 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: SAN JUAN,PUERTO RICO/USA	Hi Thanks for this great info,i am in the need for this.Thanks for your time spent. Bruno __________________ http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/9...smallerng1.jpg

03-11-2006, 11:24 PM	#5
VQ PRVert Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Thanks for that, I've already replaced mine with another one as one of the clips on mine was gone, but I might have a go at cleaning the damaged one... __________________ 81-86(US) Flathood Grilles for sale 88 760GLE Bilstein HD's, King springs, 940 leather interior, re trimmed headlining and pillars, Hydras, EBC pads, stock b280/AW71(no 2) 264 GLE RIP 88 740T wagon 16t, 90+, fresh motor, 4x4 ride height, decent stereo

05-28-2008, 12:57 PM	#10
H.M.S Board Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Oxford/Surrey U.K	2 switches on my electric seats have stopped working, is this something you think might get them to work again? __________________

05-28-2008, 10:18 PM	#11
driven sydeways my member is board Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Neenah, WI	good write up! ive been doing this for years, and on my toyota. i use di-electric grease on the connections, only thing i do different. __________________ -1986 AE86 rwd corolla, 20v install when I'm not lazy -1981 242 turbo, lost alot of money, went to a good home -1998 subaru legacy RHD rofl wagon, DD.

03-11-2006, 09:39 PM	#3
bag3lbit3s Board Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada	I used a dremel with a wirebrush bit...Got them clean fast. Mine were filthy, I actually noticed that the cleaned ones vs. a non clean one rolled the window up faster. And in LA that's a safety issue driving down the wonderful areas of CA . I didn't remove the entire armrest on the door since I was too lazy. I could maybe see you doing this if your armrest was hard from age, mine was still relatively soft and it came out fairly easy and no damage was done. Also like TFF mentioned be very careful with the clips that keep the switch attached to the panel, they break very easily.

03-13-2006, 10:59 PM	#6
seth Board Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Modesto, CA	I'm going to do this tomorrow. My passenger side one is super sticky. Thanks for the how-to, it seems like if you break in to stuff like that without knowing what your doing you can break things.

03-15-2006, 07:01 PM	#7
seth Board Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Modesto, CA	Finally got around to doing this. I snapped two of the black plastic clips while taking out the switches as careful as I could. They were real brittle on my '84. Nothing a little super glue couldn't fix tho. My switches no longer stick now!

05-15-2006, 12:10 PM	#8
740T_Whale Board Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Silver Spring, MD	When I had a 240, and cleaned my window switches, I found that if placed a magnet on the top of the switch, this would allow the ball bearing to say in place, thus allowing you to easily snap the top on to the bottom.

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