Dummy switches - anyone found a functional switch to replace? Alternatives?

[jawn101]

I'm thinking of adding some extra functionality to my center console, and using the dummy switch as the location for the additional switchgear. Due to the concave shape of the dummy switches, I'm not sure I could successfully add much in the way of a pushbutton in to the plastic widget itself (I need a NO, SPST momentary pushbutton).

Has anyone found an xref switch that fits? Or have pictures of their additions to the dummy widget?

Thanks! :)

[DMCMW Dave]

(I need a NO, SPST momentary pushbutton).

Has anyone found an xref switch that fits? Or have pictures of their additions to the dummy widget?

Thanks! :)

Use a window switch. On an OEM switch you can even remove the arrows.

[jawn101]

Use a window switch. On an OEM switch you can even remove the arrows.

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a great idea especially since mine have the arrows worn off and I wanted to get the LED Houston ones anyway. Will the window switches have too much impedance for a 3v coin cell battery?

[Marty]

SOMEbody makes them. Ken Kapalowski has two functioning switches in place of the dummies. I forget what they do though. Maybe if he's watching he'll post...

[Mark D]

Ken is in Kentucky at the moment so I don't think he'll respond any time soon.

I've got a set of switches installed in place of my dummy switches though and have the DS one wired up to my radio antenna. If I'm listening to my iPod and don't want the antenna to come up when I turn my radio on I can disable just the antenna by turning the switch off.

[ramblinmike]

Ken is in Kentucky at the moment so I don't think he'll respond any time soon.

I've got a set of switches installed in place of my dummy switches though and have the DS one wired up to my radio antenna. If I'm listening to my iPod and don't want the antenna to come up when I turn my radio on I can disable just the antenna by turning the switch off.

Wouldn't a defroster switch be better for that? It would stay on/off.

[Farrar]

FWIW, Houston sells blank rocker switches:

http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7040-onoff-switch.aspx

I bought two of them. They work great.

Farrar

[Mark D]

FWIW, Houston sells blank rocker switches:

http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7040-onoff-switch.aspx

I bought two of them. They work great.

Farrar

Yup, those are the switches I used.

For the record though they aren't *exactly* the same shape as the originals. The edges are more angled than rounded. And the switch action is kind of clunky compared to the original defroster switch.

So if you can find a NOS defroster switch and just take some acetone to get the white paint off that would be ideal.

For 70 bucks or whatever I paid for the pair of repro's I was kind of let down by the match to the original and quality of the switch mechanism.

[jawn101]

FWIW, Houston sells blank rocker switches:

http://www.delorean.com/store/p-7040-onoff-switch.aspx

I bought two of them. They work great.

Farrar

Those wouldn't work for my plan, which is just to install a simple garage door opener :) I ended up getting a momentary pushbutton that had a small enough diameter to fit inside the concavity of the dummy switch. It looks really good. I'll post pics once the install is done and everything's installed.

By the way, I've heard that the LED window switches from DMCH are 'taller' than the stock ones, which causes them to pop out if the armrest is crushed at all. Is that true? Anyone have any experience with that?

[Bitsyncmaster]

By the way, I've heard that the LED window switches from DMCH are 'taller' than the stock ones, which causes them to pop out if the armrest is crushed at all. Is that true? Anyone have any experience with that?

If you solder your wires onto the switch (not use a connector), you will have not problem.

[dhaney]

Use a window switch. On an OEM switch you can even remove the arrows.

This is what I did as well. I, with help from CKline, wired a window switch to a mini garage door opener so I could hide the opener under the center console.

This little modification is one of my favorites on my car. I smile everytime I push the button to open the garage door.

Dan

[robvanderveer]

I smile everytime I push the button to open the garage door.

Dan
I get a smile everytime I reach it back to my garage without roadside assistance.

[Citizen]

I bought two switches from DMCH. I think they're great. Can't tell any difference from the others.

I use one to turn off ALL of the interior lights, even though I've gone LED. It works great for turning off all lights for daytime shows, or when you're working on your car in the garage. I just wired it to interupt the fuse curcuit (can't remember which one it is right now, but it was easy.). It also shuts down the trunk and engine lights.

The other switch, I haven't figured out what I will use it for, but thought maybe control the cooling fans or something like that.

Thomas

...

[jawn101]

Here's my progress on this so far. I relocated the innards of my keychain door opener to a small project box that I installed a DC power jack in. Then I put a hole into one of the dummy switches, dropped in a SPST/NO momentary pushbutton and wired the switch to a DC power plug. This will let me route the wires very easily and remove the project box quickly to change batteries, etc. All that's left to do now is solder the DC power jack to the surface mount pads on the circuit board. I have never had much luck with surface mount soldering so I have a friend back east that's going to handle that part for me.

I do think that when I get around to putting in my LED window switches I'll reuse one of the old ones to replace the pushbutton. It looks fine, but it can always be cleaner.
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