Electric window switches

LXFX · Post by **LXFX** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 1:12 pm

I just got one from Ross at MX5Mart in Hamilton there's a link from the
club website...

Bill...
"LXFX"

Rod Martin · Post by **Rod Martin** » Mon Dec 17, 2001 8:39 pm

The switch for my drivers window (1990) has died! New switch and harness
~$450!!! from Mazda. Am trying to get the switch rebuilt as none
available through wreckers. Anyone know of alternative switches that can
be modified to fit?
Regards
Rod
"AGMX5"
--
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~pincha/HOMEPAGE.htm

"Geology is a capital science to begin with as it requires nothing but a

little reading, thinking and hammering."
Charles Darwin, 1835.

Post by **zorruno** » Wed Dec 19, 2001 10:53 pm

you can more than likely take your switch apart, clean the contacts with a
wire brush and contact cleaner etc and they will work fine again. Usually
just carbon and track crud buildup

Hope it is not too late... H.

Mike Donovan · Post by **Mike Donovan** » Thu Dec 20, 2001 6:22 pm

My drivers window switch failed a while back. It had been getting slower and
slower to wind/unwind for some time.
I stripped the switches down and found (my car is a 1989) that the contacts
were really carboned up but also badly pitted with a couple of the contacts
barely there at all.
I cleaned all the contacts then very carefully (so as to avoid melting the
plastic that holds the contacts) flowed a little solder onto the worst ones. I
then filed the soldered contacts to give a reasonably good surface. That was
about 3 months ago and no troubles since.
I think, from looking at the state of my contacts that the switches themselves
must carry all the current direct to the winding motors rather than using the
switches to trigger relays that would carry the fairly high(?) currents
required.
When I get around to it, I'm going to put a relay or two in(specially seeing
lately on the list how expensive new switch sets are), so the switches will
carry only a very low current and trigger plug in (easily replacable) relays
that will carry the higher currents to the motors. This should make the
switches last for another 10 -20 years hopefully! Tight fisted?
Ragards
Mike

Fletcher Blades · Post by **Fletcher Blades** » Thu Dec 20, 2001 6:27 pm

I think fitting a relay in those circuits is eminently sensible...

But I've got manual winders... so, no relays for me...

Fletch.

Post by **zorruno** » Mon Dec 24, 2001 5:46 pm

even better - buy an auto window winding box from a car alarm supplier, it
has relays/inputs etc and has an input from your car alarm armed output.
Your windows can go up when the alarm arms. I got mine a while ago from
Rapid Radio, but I think Jaycar sells a cheaper brand.

The box I have also does venting - i.e. the windows can roll down slightly
when it gets too hot and converts the switches into 'touch to roll fully up'
and 'touch to go fully down' etc

I looked at making a circuit to do the same thing, but with variable motor
current sensing, timing etc it was easier to buy one.