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Thread: How To: Rebuild the original Torrix window switches

  1. #1
    '82 T3 FABombjoy's Avatar
    Join Date:  May 2011

    Location:  Lansing, MI

    Posts:    1,168

    My VIN:    10270

    How To: Rebuild the original Torrix window switches

    I found the windows switches much easier to refurb than the defroster switch. I used a fiberglass scratch pen which allowed me to clean the contacts without much disassembly. I cleaned both switches and took pics in about 20 minutes.

    These get funky because they lack real high current contacts and the brass center terminal becomes burned.

    Tools used:
    -Xacto knife
    -Small flat blade screwdriver
    -Fiberglass scratch pen
    -Thick cardboard or a business card
    -Naptha, WD40, or contact cleaner

    Step 1:
    Remove the switch cap
    Cut the plastic rivets that hold the switch body halves together.
    01.jpg

    Step 2:
    Pry the case halves apart but be sure to keep the switch parts held into the larger switch half. I held my thumb over the terminals while slowly working the case apart.
    02.jpg

    Step 3:
    Remove the middle terminal and burnish the contact area with the scratch pen.
    In this image you can see how discolored the contacts get.
    03.jpg
    04.jpg

    Step 4:
    Burnish the moving contacts with the scratch pen
    05.jpg

    Step 5:
    Clean the lower and upper contacts with naptha and cardboard until black marks on the cardboard are no longer created. The uppers will probably not show much wear but will still probably be dirty.
    06.jpg
    07.jpg

    Step 6:
    Replace the middle terminal.
    08.jpg

    Step 7:
    Reassemble the case and make sure the upper contact bar is captured by the case correctly. I used a spot of super glue where the rivet heads were cut off to keep the case locked together.
    09.jpg
    Last edited by FABombjoy; 05-02-2016 at 11:51 AM.
    Luke S :: 10270 :: 82 Grey 5-Speed :: Single Watercooled T3 .60/.48 :: Borla Exhaust :: MSD Ignition :: MS3X Fully SFI Odd-fire EFI :: DevilsOwn Methanol Injection

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date:  Jul 2014

    Posts:    38

    My VIN:    16306

    Thank you very much for posting this. I just fixed my passenger side switch by following this step-by-step.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date:  Feb 2016

    Posts:    101

    Fixed

    Great post. I just rebuilt mine. They went from barely working to working 100%. Where did u find a replacement middle terminal. I was able to just clean mine. Thanks.

  4. #4
    '82 T3 FABombjoy's Avatar
    Join Date:  May 2011

    Location:  Lansing, MI

    Posts:    1,168

    My VIN:    10270

    Oh, that's "replace" as in "put back"

    Further thoughts:
    All of the damage is from arcing. I wonder if a few high volt caps across the terminals wouldn't help. Either that or some tungsten contact points.
    Luke S :: 10270 :: 82 Grey 5-Speed :: Single Watercooled T3 .60/.48 :: Borla Exhaust :: MSD Ignition :: MS3X Fully SFI Odd-fire EFI :: DevilsOwn Methanol Injection

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