How to fix window switch lights...w/pics

[empeguser]

I don't know if anyone ever fixed this problem but I am going to show how to fix it anyway. First take the switches off the door...duh, then carefully pry the rocker part off (do not pry off the window lock rocker) like this ---->



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0477.jpg

Next take the top of the switch off and you should see this, notice the tiny leds.



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0478.jpg
Next carfully pry up on the pcb with a screwdriver here ----->



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0480.jpg
The problem is not with the leds, but the bad solder joints on the resistors, here---->



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0490.jpg
Resolder the resistors in the pic above to look like this ---->



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0491.jpg
Also resolder any leds that look like they may have bad connections or just resolder everything just to be sure. Now bend the metal thingies back so the pcb will fit back on and then spred the metal thingies back out to hold the pcb again.



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0493.jpg
Your lights should look like this now.



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0494.jpg

Not like this--->



http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m217/empeguser/DSCN0484.jpg


I hope this helps and I hop that there is not already a post about this I did search but did not find one.

[larryo340]

:up:very nicely done, great pics

[Bradley G]

GREAT JOB, you are a NICE ASSET TO THE MARAUDER COMMUNITY!

[Paul]

Great job!! I think everyone on this site owes you a debt of gratitude - I know I do! :bows: This is a repair I've been needing to make, but didn't know how.

[Zack]

You know what, you are alright in my book!
Reminds me of 2003, when we were taking everything in at once.
this is new info years later, bravo!

[Raudermaster]

You da man! I got a light out or two on my rear doors.

[Aren Jay]

What if one can not solder?

I can not solder. I have tried and tried but I can not do it.

and what do you mean
Not like this

[DJCV]

What timing! The LEDs just failed for my driver's-side window switch yesterday!! (But I do not have a solder gun......yet.)

[offroadkarter]

What if one can not solder?

I can not solder. I have tried and tried but I can not do it.

and what do you mean


Soldering isnt hard, i can do it, although sometimes i just get angry that the wire wont stay still and i just glob it on :D

[Marauderjack]

GREAT INFO and thanks for taking the time to share it with us!!!:bows:

The sad part is that most of our electrical problems can probably be blamed on substandard assembly in Mexico or China!!!:shake::shake:

Marauderjack:cool:

[MERCMAN]

Thanks for the info. This thread has been moved to the resource room. It will benefit more and more owners as our cars age.

[RF Overlord]

empeguser, that was one of the best and most useful write-ups I've seen so far. The "up" indicator of my driver's window switch has been out for at least a year and now I know what I'll be doing tonight...Thank you!

*EDIT* empeguser, you're my new hero. I was resigned to having that light out and now they're all working again...YDM!

[RF Overlord]

I can not solder. I have tried and tried but I can not do it.Here are a couple of suggestions:

Print out empeguser's instructions.

Find an amateur radio enthusiast...a lot of them build or repair their own equipment.

or

Bring the switch assembly to your local vocational/technical school.

...or better still, get someone to teach you how to solder...it'll come in handy many, many times.

[MM03MOK]

I've added it to the Reviews section under Interior >> Misc. Interior

[empeguser]

Thanks for all of the comments:) I am glad to help. If anyone is afraid to solder themselves and are near Newberry SC maybe we could set up at time for me to resolder them for you (for a small fee). You could also send me the switch if you could do without it for a couple days during shipping. Just pm me with your email address if you have any questions.

[pantheroc]

Awsome, I just been too busy to get around to doing mine.

Anyone who has to get their's fixed and will be at Oktoberfest, let me know and I'll bring my iron and soldering skills...PM me, I may not make it back to this thread.

[ctrlraven]

Nice write up! After work today I left my shop with all my windows down and then down the road I went to put them all up (so I thought) my rear passenger window was stuck in the down position. So I remembered this thread and how to take the main window control apart PLUS my lights didn't work and haven't for a while, 20 mins later everything works now and the lights are even brighter than I remember when they did work.

[Blackmobile]

Thanks for the rightup, another happy customer. I think some of us are going to oue a beer or 2.

[BigCars4Ever]

Damn lead free no clean solder is the problem. Time for blue leds.

[Donald]

Mine was fixed under the extended warranty. :)

[Aren Jay]

Is this the same thing as the backlights blinking?

[empeguser]

Is this the same thing as the backlights blinking?
If you are talking about the dash illumination then, no. I read a post about the flickering having to do with the LCM and/or a bad ground I think.

[03SILVERSTREAK]

Excellent job sir. had I known how easy the switch came apart , I would have repaired my own months ago and installed red LED's...:bows:

[knine]

You da man! I got a light out or two on my rear doors.
Remember the rears go out if the window cut-out switch is activated....I didn't.

Thanks for the post, My drivers side up has been out since I got the car. FIXED NOW ! :woohoo:
I also installed my door handle and cup holder lights from marauderconcepts.com http://www.marauderconcepts.com/interior_door_handle_leds.htm . Can't say enough good about them, now I can find that elusive cup holder and my dates can escape faster instead of clawing at the door and shreeking like a cheerleader. :eek:

[1stMerc]

This is a great write up for those out of warranty. Just had the board replaced a coupla months ago, under warranty, along with heated seat
seat switch. Could have saved that day off for something else.

[racorcey]

[quote=RF Overlord;527187]Here are a couple of suggestions:

Find an amateur radio enthusiast...a lot of them build or repair their own equipment. quote]

Watch it! I may resemble that remark!

- Randy WA2IMJ

[ctrlraven]

Remember the rears go out if the window cut-out switch is activated....I didn't.

Thanks for the post, My drivers side up has been out since I got the car. FIXED NOW ! :woohoo:
I also installed my door handle and cup holder lights from marauderconcepts.com . Can't say enough good about them, now I can find that elusive cup holder and my dates can escape faster instead of clawing at the door and shreeking like a cheerleader. :eek:

Speaking about the door handle and cup holder lights, that just gave me the idea to do that. Wow I had never thought of something like that before. I have a bunch of leds laying around. I had to take my mom to the ER the other night and when I brought her back home she had a hard time finding the door handle to get out until I opened my door and the light came on. Pretty neat little mod that actually that does something besides adding bling lol.

By any chance do you still have the instructions or are able to scan them so I know what wires to tap into.

Thanks,

Chris

[SB Marauder]

Nice job with the solder joints!! Nice troubleshooting too. My driver side leds have been out for a while and now I am going to fix them!! Thanks again!

[Zack]

Just did this the other night, thanks again for the awesome write-up.

[kwheels636]

hey, i just read this thread, and sure enough i went to my car and my front lights were out on the driver side. Do you guys know if this will help my connection? because my light is out, and now the window wont go down either! thanks for the help

[ImpalaSlayer]

i know this is a little old but i just wanted to say thanks this helped me alot in fixing my driver window LED. just got around to doing it today.

[shodude]

wow didn't think it would be that easy.. lol the EATC was easy to fix and now this.. lol i'm liking this car more and more. SHO's have a problem... well.. its usually a beyoch..

i was just laughing at my lights the other day.. when i first both it both rear windows lights worked thats it.. then i noticed that the passanger side of that car lights now work.. lol i see how this could happen now. is there a trick to getting the cover off.. i herd its easy to break.. ?

[CBT]

Remember the rears go out if the window cut-out switch is activated....I didn't.

Thanks for the post, My drivers side up has been out since I got the car. FIXED NOW ! :woohoo:
I also installed my door handle and cup holder lights from marauderconcepts.com http://www.marauderconcepts.com/interior_door_handle_leds.htm . Can't say enough good about them, now I can find that elusive cup holder and my dates can escape faster instead of clawing at the door and shreeking like a cheerleader. :eek:

But what if they ARE a cheerleader?!

[offroadkarter]

I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?

[ImpalaSlayer]

I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?

it seems that these are to common problems. mine does the same id imagine its something similar. did a quick search but didnt come up with anyhting as detailed as this.

[fastblackmerc]

I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?

Most likely.

[knine]

But what if they ARE a cheerleader?!
Then they need to learn about inflection and voice control. Starting at high-pitched screeching will burn out the clutch if you know what I mean. And now a word from my manic side......if the lights are flickering, it can be a bad solder joint or the little clip just needs a wider stance (did I just say that?) If the feet aren't spread out enough, they will not hold the contact to the board tight enough (o.k., tally please....stance, tight enough, hold, joint, spread. Yup, that's enough).

[JimmyXR7]

You da man! I got a light out or two on my rear doors.

Interesting, I had to look at my window switch lights after reading these responses. I am surprised as they do not come on with the parking/headlights but with the key switch.
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The rear ones were ‘out’ until I switched the power on for the rear windows.
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Will leaving the power off to the rear windows make the switch lights last longer or is the problem only due to some other issue like vibration or heat cycles breaking down the solder joint?

Jim

[kode3]

Thanks for the great write up and pictures!, only took 10 minutes to fix!

[MACFORD88]

Nice Work Hats Off To You.

[PRCARGUY]

I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?
Has anybody tried this out yet? Somebody? Anybody?:hide:

[Dennis Reinhart]

Has any one had there seat heat switches flash on and off

[knine]

I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?


Has any one had there seat heat switches flash on and off
I guessing...................... ........maybe?:confused:

[ImpalaSlayer]

Has any one had there seat heat switches flash on and off


I noticed that my heated seat switches flicker on and off, the passenger stays off more, the driver stays on more. Same fix?


it seems that these are to common problems. mine does the same id imagine its something similar. did a quick search but didnt come up with anyhting as detailed as this.


Most likely.



hmmmmm, nope

[ctrlraven]

I need to redo my window switch again, new solder job held for about 2 years then the front passenger led went out again on the drivers master window switch.