C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

[D S.]

Would someone describe the SX switches from year to year such as '68-'69, '70-'72, '73 on? I have seen them with plastic "paddles" between the connectors, "noses" between the connectors, metal ends, etc. I'm told the longer ones were courtesy light/ignition switch buzzers while the shorter ones were door ajar/alarm/hood switches. The shorter ones were aft and the longer ones were fore on the door jambs?

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Don L.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

Hi Scott. I'm not sure exactly what you mean in your terms plastic paddles and noses. Mine have steel disks on the back end that contact, closing the circuit, allowing the lights to go on (courtesy lights) and alarm to sound/door ajar light to come on). The tiny little elec. terminal ends on each of the wires insert through a white plastic barrel, holding them at the right depth for disk contact.

For sure, in my '72, the door ajar and alarm plungers are shorter than the courtesy light plunger switches. The courtesy switches are in the front of the door jamb. Alarm/door ajar switches are in the rear of the jamb.

Man, this is hard to describe in words. If it's unclear, I might have a spare switch or two at home. Let me know and if I have them, I'll take a couple photos andpost them for clarity.

[D S.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

Hi Scott. I'm not sure exactly what you mean in your terms plastic paddles and noses. Mine have steel disks on the back end that contact, closing the circuit, allowing the lights to go on (courtesy lights) and alarm to sound/door ajar light to come on). The tiny little elec. terminal ends on each of the wires insert through a white plastic barrel, holding them at the right depth for disk contact.

For sure, in my '72, the door ajar and alarm plungers are shorter than the courtesy light plunger switches. The courtesy switches are in the front of the door jamb. Alarm/door ajar switches are in the rear of the jamb.

Man, this is hard to describe in words. If it's unclear, I might have a spare switch or two at home. Let me know and if I have them, I'll take a couple photos andpost them for clarity.

I will do the same from a couple I have and some from eBay. Maybe others here will add some comments and information.

[D S.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

There seems to be three styles: the one with the flat plastic tail (middle photo) is said to be for 1968-1969. The one with the round tail is said to be for 1970-1972. The ones with the metal tails are said to be 1973 up. All have SX on the heads. The longer ones that are mounted on the front door jambs are said to be courtesy and ignition buzzer switch and the shorter rears are said to be door ajar/alarm/hood switch. Could someone place the styles with the correct years of use and the longer and shorter applications?

[Terry M.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

There seems to be three styles: the one with the flat plastic tail (middle photo) is said to be for 1968-1969. The one with the round tail is said to be for 1970-1972. The ones with the metal tails are said to be 1973 up. All have SX on the heads. The longer ones that are mounted on the front door jambs are said to be courtesy and ignition buzzer switch and the shorter rears are said to be door ajar/alarm/hood switch. Could someone place the styles with the correct years of use and the longer and shorter applications?

One would have had to disassemble a lot of Corvettes to know the styles -- but I am sure there are some who have. Since it is not something we can judge the knowledge base might be a little thin.

As to the location of the courtesy and alarm switches -- it changed from 1969 to 1972. in 1970 the door ajar is at the rear or the door, and I think the courtesy switch is at the front of the door. I think the alarm is part of the rear switch, but I could be wrong about that.

[D S.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

One would have had to disassemble a lot of Corvettes to know the styles -- but I am sure there are some who have. Since it is not something we can judge the knowledge base might be a little thin.

As to the location of the courtesy and alarm switches -- it changed from 1969 to 1972. in 1970 the door ajar is at the rear or the door, and I think the courtesy switch is at the front of the door. I think the alarm is part of the rear switch, but I could be wrong about that.

Thanks, Terry. I have a '70 and I want to be sure to get the correct SX switches. Reproductions I will not do. I need two of the door ajar switches and got outbid on eBay for two I think were correct for my year. Then I got to wondering if there were others like me who really aren't sure.

[Don L.]

Re: C-3 courtesy, door ajar, hood alarm switches

My '72 has the switches depicted in Scott's first photo - the one with the "orange" background - and the oreintation/application as stated in Terry's post . The switches in the referenced photo look to me to be the short (door jamb/alarm) switches. Both the long and the short switches, of course, are stamped with an "SX" ID in the face of the plunger. I've heard that there may be other vendor ID's, however, I've not seen them personally.

The courtesy light switch is a longer length than the door ajar and alarm.

Hope this helps...