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[Muroman]

Hey,

I'm frustrated.

The driver side window switch is very clunky and won't work sometimes.
So anyone ever cleaned the window switch on pre-facelift?
First of all it won't come apart easily, I'm thinking of breaking some of the tips holding the switch together..... but if someone would have experience of this piece of german engineering? 

[MonzaGSE]

Have taken apart many of those for cleaning. Never broke anything. Fairly straightforward once you get the hang of it. First remove the metal clips on either side that holds the switch in the centre console. Then remove the plastic U shaped clip that lives next to the metal clip each side. Finaly use a couple of small flatbladed screwdrivers to bend the sides of the swichbody out so the bottom of the switch releases from the locking tabs along each longside. But do it all on the kitchen table or some other tidy area as there are 4 metal triangles in there that will fall out. Clean those triangles and carefully clean the contactpoints for the triangles on the small circuit board inside. Then reassemble. I have 3 pfl Omegas with electric windows that get smoked in. So those switches tend to get gunked up with both ashes and other crap and starts reacting slow or not at all. But never came across a switch that didnt return to full working order once disassembled and cleaned:)

[Muroman]

Well how did you get the switch of the car as the cable runs under the airway that goes for back seats and there is not much space for it to come off

I could lay a towel under the switch if I work on the car.

[Muroman]

Actually over the airway but nevertheless thight spot...

[MonzaGSE]

Yep. Its tight but can be done. Just feel with your fingers where there seems to be most room between the center console and the airduct. Once the connectors are on top of the duct there is space enough. The tight spot is just as they pass the edge of the airduct. But some mild force works for me. The airduct has some give in it and also the centre console will flex slightly when pulled.

[TheBoy]

Not sure about Finland, as Opel hold prices well in Euroland, but in the UK, I wouldn't muck about and just replace the switch from a breaker.

[MonzaGSE]

For me in Norway at least getting a new switch typically means ordering it from eBay, pay 20-30£ and waiting two weeks for it to arrive. Not many pfl Omegas in the junkyards around here. Dissasembling and cleaning an old switch is a 15 min job once you learn how to do it.

[Muroman]

Thanks to Monza I didn't lose my nerve on this. The mirror switch cleaning was easy as I had taken that door panel of a million times and the switch was just laying around there 

But this is a straight forward 15 min job too, you just got to know what to do.
I didn't take the switch of the car I just loosened the cables from their brackets and then put a shirt under the switch and started to disassemble it. Mine didn't come off the console before loosening the cables.

It's as good as new now 

Took a pic while working on it.


In Finland you could get one with 5-10€ I believe. But that would take time and could have the same problem 

[MonzaGSE]

Good job

[TheBoy]

Yes, here in the UK, nobody wants a Vauxhall, because we're a nation of snobs , so parts are plentiful and cheap.

Good result though