'88 80Q center console switches

[Richard van der Hoff]

On Thu, 9 Nov 2006, Huw Powell wrote:

> Ed K says:
>
>> The face pops off with a little
>> persuasion and then you have more to hold onto to pull the switch out.
>
> Yes, that's it, I remember now.  Then you can grab the casing with a
> small needlnose or similar tool.

As I recall this:

First you pop off the face of the switch - this simply levers off with a 
screwdriver.

Popping out the switches themselves is a bit challenging, as they have a 
metal spring clip top and bottom which you need to disengage rather than 
force out (you'll break the crappy bit of plastic Huw describes). In my 
'91 coupe, there was a spare slot where you could put cards, change etc - 
this unscrewed with a screw buried right at the back, and then gave access 
to the sides of the switches. Otherwise it is possible to stick a 
screwdriver in without bending the plastic too much.

And as Ed describes - take the switch apart, clean it up, work it a lot, 
(probably) replace the (two) bulbs, and it may work for a couple more 
years.

> My defrost switch has always held up well, perhaps due to regular use,
> or perhaps due to simplicity.  But my foglight switches are at best
> 50/50, no matter how carefully cleaned, etc.

Yup. The rear fog lights are a requirement for the MOT test in the UK, and 
I usually ended up having to have a word in the mechanic's ear that he 
might have to wiggle the switch about a bit to get them to work...

> As I recall, the switch bodies and connectors are all color keyed, so if
> you take several out, you can reinsert them properly.

Yup. They're mechanically keyed as well as color keyed iirc.

Cheers

Rich