[V8] Sunroof woes

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

If your sun roof motor is toast because of a microswitch, you have little to
lose by attempting to repair it. I have done it to lots of switches and usually
am successful.
It has been a while, but basically you just pry up the crimped end of the rivet
(use a tiny flat blade screwdriver) that holds the switch together and push it
out. I suppose you could drill it - but do that only as a last resort. Do your
work over a towel or work surface where little parts will not bounce away.
Carefully separate the switch halves and with an Exacto knife tip, scrape the
carbon/gunk from the switch contacts. Put the switch back together with 2-56
stainless machine screws.
It also turns out that the microswitches are a pretty standardized form factor.
There is a good chance you could adapt a new switch if you really wanted to.
Either solution is far cheaper than a new motor, and better than a used motor

Same basic idea for window switches. They come apart, so no need to drill holes
in them. In fact, I recently replaced the dead red LED in my sunroof switch
(same as door window switch) with a yellow one. I just have to be a rebel you
know :-)
And - yes - it was a huge PITA, but that is what Sundays and beer are for.

Dave


Quoting Jeremy Ward <jward.v8 at gmail.com>:

>
> I had a failed micro switch so my sunroof would allow you to 'close it' when
> it was already closed; this makes a hell of a noise as it ratchets past
> where it should be and you eventually sync up again.  I went after a micro
> switch from a buddy's wrecked '91 and found it easier to do what your PO had
> done than de-solder / re-solder a micro switch to a motor with more miles on
> it...  Not sure if I deserve the baseball bat, perhaps the steak knife guy.
> Hee hee :-)
>