Window switch repair
These switch assemblies are from a 190E. They are probably mechanically
the same as most of the other model switches. It's pretty easy to open
things up and see what's wrong. Often they will start working again if you
just clean out the old coffee and Coke and rough-up the contact points a bit.
If things are too worn you'll have to replace the whole switch.
Slide a small screwdriver along side the switch and lift the rocker part so the
pivot points pop out of their holes. Do one side, then the other and the rocker
portion will come out along with two ball bearings, two springs and two metal
tabs. For the center permission control switch, slide a screwdriver in the top
part of the hole and push down hard enough so you can pry the plastic away
from the tab. Pull the switch side out a bit as you do this. Pop out the other
side
and it will come out.
Pull things apart slowly so you see how they fit together. Make sure you remember
which switch goes where and what direction it faces before you remove it.
The rockers must go back in exactly the same way or things won't line up.
Note the layout of the ball bearings and metal rocker tabs. Note that one
rocker tab is slightly forward from the other.
Clean the sides of the rocker switches. Remove the metal rocker tabs and clean
them and rough-up their surfaces with steel wool or very fine sandpaper. The
ball bearings in these switches are rusted but since they don't serve as contacts
I didn't bother replacing them. I sanded them a bit and they work fine. If
yours
are pitted or mishapen you'll have to replace them as they affect how smoothly
the switch moves and whether it binds. Make sure you get exactly the same size
bearings if you do replace them. I also pulled out all the springs and cleaned
them and stretched all of them a small amount just to compensate for years of
compression and possible collapse.
Clean out the body of the switch and rough-up all the contact points.....on both
switches.
Below is the layout of the permission switch. There is one large spring that
provides the push and three plastic pieces....the button, a sleeve and a very
small tab. Note the positions! Clean out the area where the small tab
runs. Make sure everything is very clean. When reassembling, put the
two large pieces together and then insert the small tab.
I lubed all the plastic parts with some ATF so they would move more smoothly.