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Are 1965 power window master switches repairable?


ca65riv

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Having some trouble with 1965 power window 4-button master switch.  A couple of switches only operate the windows in a single direction.  There was some crackling and puff of smoke coming from the switch.

 

* Does anyone know where to find a replacement?  I could only find one for sale on ebay, but dubious whether it would work or not, and pricey.

* Is it possible to disassemble and repair, does anyone have experience with this, perhaps by cannibalizing parts from a newer switch?  Or does anyone offer such a service?

* Or has anyone somehow installed and wired up a newer model 4-button switch?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Tim

 

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I'll have to dig out my GM parts reference catalog to be sure, but more than likely that is the same switch used in most or every large GM w power windows over many years. Until someone smarter chimes in you may want to broaden your search to include Cad,Olds,etc. If I can find that book I'll get back to you w some part numbers. Until then, where there's smoke there's definately a problem. I recommend unplugging the switch or disconnecting the power source.    Drew

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8 hours ago, ca65riv said:

Is it possible to disassemble and repair

 

From what I remember about those switches (and other such switches of that era) I'll say 'yes'.  Typically the switch would be held together with several metal tabs that are crimped over the edge around the perimeter, or there may be a couple of rivets to remove.  In any case, if carefully disassembled I see no reason the guts couldn't be cleaned up and reassembled as good as new.

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I refurbished my four way switch a few years ago, the switches themselves are held into the housing with pins and they can be easily removed for cleaning and adding a bit of grease. My switches that were next to each other would move together and the back window ones barely moved at all, but after cleaning and polishing the contacts and the chrome finish work very well and look about as good as possible for fifty plus year old chrome (stainless?) can.  The contacts can be sanded lightly to remove oxidation with some fine emery cloth and after I would lightly coat the contacts with dielectric grease to help stop any new oxidation. The circuit boards are a little more difficult as mine were okay I didn't have to do much to them other then clean the contacts. Good luck on replacement wiring connectors for them though, I've found them to be next to impossible to find.

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Thanks for the responses.  I did replace the paper back with a plastic one to ensure the wires were seated correctly but there continued to be problems.  Bench-testing just the switch with a 12v power sources reproduces the issues with a couple of the pins.

 

Presumably there's not really much to these things on the inside, but newer-looking ones seem to have the metal tabs that screw into the underside of the door-arm plate in a different position and seem to have 10 pins that wouldn't mate to the '65 connector.

 

Will take it apart and see what's inside.  I see some sites that sell the guts for various switches, but none directly for the 2x2 buick switch, hoping maybe they look the same on the inside

https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/switch/window.html?prod_year=499

http://www.fusickautomotiveproducts.com/products.asp?dept=852

 

Thanks,

Tim

 

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  • 3 years later...

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