Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

[Pete B.]

I am doing a body off on a 71. 52k mile car, I am reaching the point of working on the dash, gages and switches. I found a few bad switches by using an ohm meter (wiper speed and the wiper override)
I took spray contact cleaner soaked them real good, repeated the process, then took light compressed air to speed the drying. I shot a bit of contact lube in them and WHOA now they work!

My question... is this a viable fix? Has anyone done this?
Second question..
Should I just replace the hard to get to switches now even though they work? (headlight on off switch)

Thanks in advance

Pete

[Steven B.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Pete, I have one I did like that in '65. The last I tried it still worked. Luck???

Steve

[Terry M.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

The headlight switch isn't hard to change with the car assembled. I did it on my 1970, which should be no different than your 1971. Sure, it is wise to check it during assembly if you are restoring the car, but it is not hard to change later.

I have never tried the switch fix you reported, so I have no personal experience with it -- but it sounds viable, at least for a while. Neither of those switches will be hard to change either. The hard part will be finding good replacement parts.

[Jim T.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Agree with Terry on the headlight switch change. The only reason I have replaced the original headlight switches in my 68 and 70 was for intermittent dash light illumination on my 68 and no illumination of dash lights on my 70 because the reostat wire burned into. Both replacements were done without completely removing the dash. Have also removed the speedometer without completely removing the dash.

[Terry M.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Have also removed the speedometer without completely removing the dash.

I would give you a medal for that one. You must have small hands.

Did you go in from the top, like the headlight switch?

BTW: I replaced my headlight switch for the same reason you replaced yours.

[Paul J.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Pete, that's what contact cleaner is for. I've been cleaning switches since I was a kid. If the contacts are'nt burnt or misaligned, your procedure is a great fix, and one I've used many times.

Paul

[Jim T.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

I would give you a medal for that one. You must have small hands.

Did you go in from the top, like the headlight switch?

BTW: I replaced my headlight switch for the same reason you replaced yours.

My hands are not small. I lowered the steering column and removed all the screws retaining the dash. Removed the door sill, and kick panel. Have done the speedometer removal twice in fact. First time was in 1975 when the original odometer stopped recording mileage and still had serveral months to go on the factory 50,000 mile warranty. I installed a new speedometer which had the white numerals. About 10 years ago I removed this speedometer and changed out the face plate installing the original green numeral face plate. I did not know how to remove the indicator needle in 1975.

[Pete B.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Thanks for all the reply's.
As noted, I did not see many suitable replacment switches and for the most part they were gummed up. The real test will be when they have load. As far as I can tell they are all ground switches and dont appear to carry a big load. I did however have to buy a headlight switch as the reostat was broke...It's a Taiwan knock off from Lectric limited...They say they sell a bunch and have not recieved any complaints.

[Edward J.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Pete, the wiper switch on my 72 had the same problem, I just unfolded the tangs on the metal backing and expsed the switch, and took some 400 sandpaper and cleaned and used some dielectric grease to re-lube , a very simple switch.

I dont know about the over ride switch it to maye a smiple fix. or may not be able to take apart because of crimped style assy.

[Alan S.]

Re: Switch repair...am I fooling myself?

Hi Pete,
When you mentioned the headlight switch it made me remember that the 2 vacuum hoses that run to it can be a puzzle.
The blue striped hose attaches to the FRONT nipple on the switch, and the black, (no stripe), on the REAR. The 1971 AIM shows these two hoses reversed, while the 1971 CHASSIS SERVICE MANUAL show them connected properly. It caused me a few moments of worry when I tested the switch, fortunately I tested before tipping the dash pad back in place, and the fix was easy.
Good Luck with your 71 restoration!
Regards,
Alan