How to Repair Power Mirror Switch

[TTait]

I put up a request for this, nothing yet. But I have a proceedure that may offer limited success.

I have a spare switch that only intermittently worked on a few functions, but mostly nothing. The switch seemed physically ok, nothing broken (the paddle joystick needed to be glued on) but it was gummed up electrically. This unit sat in my car before I saved it and was rained on for years with no drivers side glass installed.

All I did was soak it for 5 minutes in Tarnex. I drained it and then soaked as much WD40 into it as I could to help displace the remaining Tarnex. Finally I cleaned it thouroughly with paper towels to get as much WD40 off the surface as possible. Now every function works.

Everyone may not be so lucky, so if someone has ever had the switch apart - chime in.

[sdg3205]

this stuff?

[TTait]

Yeah, but is really important to get a really good rinse (I used WD40) after your done as it can be harsh on the metal if it stays on. Another option, probably better, is to use this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103700

[sdg3205]

Yeah, good call.

In fact I'm thinking of pulling my radio and cleaning all pots and buttons. They make a lot of static and noise when changing or adjusting anything.

[TTait]

Since I have a spare that would not even move, with this one I decided to open it up...

I have made up names for the parts to facilitate further discussion. Its relatively easy to take apart - there are 4 plastic pins that need to get drilled down on the back of the switch, you pull the paddle off the end of the shaft and it comes apart.

Everything inside is relatively easy to clean - its just that getting it back together is a little harder... Note that the steel balls go into the metal tubes and are pressed on by springs - the balls can shoot quite a distance if they pop loose, and they are hard to find. I had to crack open a BMW? window switch to get more when I lost one somewhere in the mud room. Seriously, do this in a space where you can find lost balls easier...

Also, the "bushing" seems to only possibly go under the rocker assembly - but parts scattered when I took it apart so its possible that's wrong.

OK, who has worked as a watchmaker before that can tell us how to reassemble the unit?

Seriously, that's kind of my plan - I may take it to the watch repair guy at the mall and ask him if he can put it back together now. I tried several clever approaches which all failed. I think the roller pins can be held in place over the springs in the back of the left/right switch by tying them down with dental floss, which could then be cut and extracted like stitches once everything was back together, but the rocker assembly would challenge even Ted Kazinsky's skills to reassemble. Maybe Hervey can use the same guy that rebuilds window switches - but this is a lot tougher.

I bring this up because that darned NOS switch on ebay the other day went for a LOT of money...

Ideas?

[Cory W]

Between the combined efforts of myself and the other owner now up here (he's on here, SDMC, and will chime in at his leisure) we managed to assemble his mirror switch. It came apart while we were removing it from his door. It had clearly been disassembled and reassembled previously, and was poorly done. One mirror direction did not work, and the casing looks like they had tried to melt it to seal it.

We sourced ball bearings for the mirror direction from a bicycle shop. When they were all in a small bag, you couldn't tell the difference.

A small dab of "battery protector" gel from the local parts shop held the bearings in place while fitting the rocker assembly back into the back plate.

I was having issues with the springs and roller pins, but that was handled by the other owner. Just takes a steady hand and patience, neither of which I had that day.

As long as you have all the pieces, or can get suitable replacements, it's worth taking the time to attempt a rebuild. His mirror switch now controls both mirrors, in all directions.

[sdg3205]

My LH mirror has all functions but the RH (passenger side) only has in/out and NOT up/down.

Before I tear anything apart, does this sound like a switch issue or a mirror/motor issue?

Cheers

[Cory W]

Has it always been like that? To test for sure, remove the mirrors and hook the passenger side up to the driver side connector. If it doesn't work, then you know it's definitely the motor.

The left/right switch has three little spring loaded barbell-looking rods making electrical connections....is it possible one of those connections when it's switched to the right isn't working?

[sdg3205]

Has it always been like that? To test for sure, remove the mirrors and hook the passenger side up to the driver side connector. If it doesn't work, then you know it's definitely the motor.

The left/right switch has three little spring loaded barbell-looking rods making electrical connections....is it possible one of those connections when it's switched to the right isn't working?

Yeah, the RH mirror has been like that as long as I've had the car.

I'm a little confused when you say to hook the passenger side up to the drivers side. Do you mean the wires under the switch?

[Cory W]

I'm talking more about plugging the mirror itself into the wiring harness on the opposite door. If it's a switch (or wiring) problem, you will know it if the mirror suddenly works perfectly. OTOH, if it continues not moving up and down, you know it's the mirror motor that needs to be replaced.

Talking about wiring, though, even before you start removing mirrors it's a good idea to check all the wires at the bottom of the switch to make sure none of them are loose. On the switch we rebuilt back in October, two wires came loose. A quick solder job took care of that.

[sdg3205]

I'm talking more about plugging the mirror itself into the wiring harness on the opposite door. If it's a switch (or wiring) problem, you will know it if the mirror suddenly works perfectly. OTOH, if it continues not moving up and down, you know it's the mirror motor that needs to be replaced.

Talking about wiring, though, even before you start removing mirrors it's a good idea to check all the wires at the bottom of the switch to make sure none of them are loose. On the switch we rebuilt back in October, two wires came loose. A quick solder job took care of that.

Gottcha, that makes sense.

How does one remove the mirrors?

[Cory W]

M:17:02 in the workshop manual.

-Remove door trim panel (around the window)
-Remove three screws
-Disconnect electrical connector

[sdg3205]

M:17:02 in the workshop manual.

-Remove door trim panel (around the window)
-Remove three screws
-Disconnect electrical connector

Thanks, Cory. I appreciate it.

[sdg3205]

Fixed.

With the wiring diagram and a volt meter I determined all 4 directions were working at the harness in the passenger door. When I plugged the mirror back into the harness again, nothing worked. Now I knew the culprit was those pin connectors. After a good sanding and cleaning I now have a fully functional RH mirror.

Go team.

[Cory W]

Congrats on the fix! There's really no better fix than one that costs only your time.

[sdg3205]

Congrats on the fix! There's really no better fix than one that costs only your time.

It was also good because it turned out the seal around the mirror was out of place and likely letting water into the door. This gave me a chance to re-glue it.

[jfirios]

I have a weird problem. It seems that my LH mirror tends to drift on its own. I am constantly having to re adjust it. Any ideas?

[Cory W]

When you say drift, is it moving under power somehow (when the mirror switch is in the left side position), or is something possibly loose inside the housing? Is the drift consistent, or does it move at random each time?

[robertwilliams]

Nice information .. Thanks for all...

[Mrdashbo]

I had the same issue never worked from when I bought it, Dave Howarth said its likely to be rusty connections due to water leaks on my drivers door. So I drilled a small hole in the side of the switch housing and another on the opposite side (very carefully with a pin vice). Then I put the straw of a WD40 can inside and gave it a liberal spray. I left it on its side for a few minutes to let the excess drain. Then with a rag on my knee I sat watching tv gently moving the joystick of the switch back, forth, left, right. I did this for about 2 hours GENTLY. Plugged the bugger in the next day and it worked. Now I have a spare!! Lucky perhaps but it worked.

Mike

[mluder]

Hey, Dave.

I have the same issue. Passenger mirror goes up and down but not side to side.

I swapped motors between driver and passenger and determined that both motors are working fine. This lead me to believe it's a wiring thing.

Did you just clean the connections where the mirror attaches to the harness inside the door? Or, did you run all the way back to the roof harness and to the control swithc? I ask because I am going to clean the ones at the door tonight but I'm not sure where the rest are.

How did you use the volt meter to test the wiring at the harness? I tried but not really knowing how to use the volt meter all I did was pop a fuse.

Thanks.
Steve


Fixed.

With the wiring diagram and a volt meter I determined all 4 directions were working at the harness in the passenger door. When I plugged the mirror back into the harness again, nothing worked. Now I knew the culprit was those pin connectors. After a good sanding and cleaning I now have a fully functional RH mirror.

Go team.

[sdg3205]

Hey Steve,

Yes, I cleaned the pin connectors inside the door. These are accessible when you remove the upper door panel. You might have to fish them out from behind the vapor barrier.

Get an assistant to operate the joy stick while you carefully place your volt meter over the pins. It's been a few months now and I can't recall which pin is which without looking at a diagram, but if my memory serves me right (no guarantees!) each outer wire/pin is associated with one inner wire/pins. You'll notice 12v or -12v depending on where the joy stick is. One combination is up down, the other is left right.

I found a little sanding and the tightening of the female end receptacles was all that was needed.

Cheers,

[mluder]

Thanks, Dave.

I'll have a go at it.

Steve


Hey Steve,

Yes, I cleaned the pin connectors inside the door. These are accessible when you remove the upper door panel. You might have to fish them out from behind the vapor barrier.

Get an assistant to operate the joy stick while you carefully place your volt meter over the pins. It's been a few months now and I can't recall which pin is which without looking at a diagram, but if my memory serves me right (no guarantees!) each outer wire/pin is associated with one inner wire/pins. You'll notice 12v or -12v depending on where the joy stick is. One combination is up down, the other is left right.

I found a little sanding and the tightening of the female end receptacles was all that was needed.

Cheers,

[kings1527]

Can anyone share the super secret technique for getting the three little posts inside the left/right switch to stay in the three springs while you assemble the whole thing back together? The rocker was no problem for me but the left/right switch is another story. I'd like to give it a shot since I have all of the parts to the OEM switch.

It seems like having surgeon hands is the key but there has to be another trick.

[er1c]

Re-assembly is a piece of cake really.

Once you have the ball bearings in (which is just a case of working them into the cross one at a time, its easily do-able, although I lost 30 mins searching for a dropped on. You can then apply the plate which stops them going anywhere.

With logic as your friend just lower the switch into the case (effectively upside down) so gravity is doing the work, you can re-put them in if they fall out. If you use your finger underneath you can touch the switch and lower it into place. Then all you need to do is lower the cabled end onto the case and your switch.

[er1c]

Finally all back together.

Issue : Right hand side mirror has always been floppy, so I managed to get a replacement on EBay. It was working Up Down Left Right just wouldnt hold in place.

Just fitted the eBay one and an odd one is when I do left and right it goes up and down and up and down on the switch does nothing.

Any ideas ?

I have just taken apart the switch and refitted together as it just happens I have suddenly lost left and right on the drivers side.

Some of me was thinking I must have wired the new one in wrong but I re-checked and its all good. I even re-fitted the old one (praise be I had 2 of something for once) and Up Down Left Right as normal.

I cant imaging short of internal wiring /motor the wrong way around ?

Whats the best way to pull the mirror out to see whats going on behind it ?