Power Lock Switch

[tommyturbo]

Have noticed on both my 1st and 2nd gen cars that the power lock switch is fussy...anyone have experience on how to make it work right again. I took one apart but wasn't sure If I need to bend the brass a little or clean the contacts....since I can't find any new ones at the parts places.

 

[luigisho]

Were the contacts black? I had a good experience with cleaning them once out of the 2 times I tried it. Second time I replaced with a used master switch.

 

[zoomlater]

I've tried cleaning them, but in the end I just went to the pull a part and found a low mile SLO with the same switch panel. It's easier to replace the whole switch panel (windows and lock).

 

[tommyturbo]

The contacts looked black, what did you use to clean?

 

[luigisho]

I used alcohol and q tips. If it is more difficult you can use electronics cleaner and if you need more abrasion maybe a tooth brush or even a fine emery cloth or light pass with a tiny wire wheel on a dremel or something. Only thing to watch for is not to wear them down so contact in use is solid.

 

[SHOrod]

There should be a switch lubricant used after you clean the black carbon from the contacts. If you can find switch lubricant, use that. If not, you can use dielectric grease. If you can't find that, you can use a bit of Vick's Vap-O-Rub. It also does a nice job of preventing the carbon arcing from staining the copper/brass.

-Rod