Depending on how it bit the dust, you may be able to fix it. On mine, the
back of the switch (that holds the contacts) came loose from the main body
of the switch when one of the two plastic tangs that hold the switch
together broke off. Here's what I did to fix it in a desperate few
minutes:
1) Remove remains of switch from dash (this will require some fiddling
around behind the dash with a small screwdriver to remove the clip/light
assembly that holds the switch in place). Be gentle but persistent.
2) Locate the parts of the switch:
the back of the switch (dangling from the wires)
the copper U-shaped sliding contact (about 3/8" by 1/2" across the
bottom,
with the sides of the U coming
up about 1/4")
the nylon slide that fits into the copper contact (has a 1/8" diameter
"stem")
the spring that goes on the nylon slide (3/16" diameter about 1/2" long)
the main body of the switch
You may find the little bits hiding where the dash curls under at the
bottom edge.
3) Find the end of the main body of the switch where the clip broke off (it
may be both ends).
4) Drill a pair of small holes (1/16" or less) in solid material either
side of the broken clip.
5) Use a small piece of solid wire threaded through the holes to fashion a
new clip that will engage the hook on the switch back (I used a paper
clip). Twist the wire off securely so it won't come loose.
6) Reassemble the switch:
set the U shaped slide in the back of the switch
set the nylon slide into the contact
set the spring on the stem on the slide
snap the back of the switch into the main body of the switch,
making sure that the other end of the spring goes into the
little stem on
the rocker
7) Reinstall in dash
Gee, does this fall in the category of a "Grapes of Wrath" fix?
Chris Kotting
ckotting@iwaynet.net
'77 Midget (with all the rocker switches fixed this way)
'93 Saturn (with unfixable switches)
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