Driver's door switch - not working

[crazylegs]

Got a bit of a problem with the switch under the wing mirror on the driver's door - it has always been temperamental and I had this down to water in the switch, and it still worked 95% of the time.

However, it's grown worse now and I can rarely open it from the outside and have to round to the passenger side to let myself in. The solenoid doesn't fire, and there's no relay clicking sound from the inside, so I assume that it's the switch.

Can anybody tell me how I can get hold of a new switch, and can anyone provide detailed instructions on removing the wing mirror and replacing it?

Any help much appreciated!

[Big Al.]

I would imaging that your service garage would have a spare they could sell you.

As for taking the mirror off? do a search in either the Griff or Chim forums you will find the info you’re looking for.

[razorman]

MIne stopped working as well.
Gave it a good old squirt with WD40 both from the outside and using the thin straw on the spray can to reach behind the mirror without removing it. Left it for a while and then some repeated pressing of the switch and it sorted itself out. Perhaps worth a go before you start spending money.
Before the WD40 treatment, I also found that it tended not to work if I just pressed the button and let go straight away, but pressing and holding for a couple of seconds and it worked.

>> Edited by razorman on Wednesday 1st February 22:57

[crazylegs]

razorman said:

MIne stopped working as well. Gave it a good old squirt with WD40 both from the outside and using the thin straw on the spray can to reach behind the mirror without removing it. Left it for a while and then some repeated pressing of the switch and it sorted itself out. Perhaps worth a go before you start spending money. Before the WD40 treatment, I also found that it tended not to work if I just pressed the button and let go straight away, but pressing and holding for a couple of seconds and it worked. >> Edited by razorman on Wednesday 1st February 22:57

I've done exactly that with the WD40 and had only limited results. When it only stopped working occasionally it seemed to help a lot, but now it has limited effect but I may try again.

I'll try holding it for a bit longer, I hadn't thought of that! Cheers.

Another funny effect I noticed this morning was that after I let myself in (via the passenger door) and I was moving the car slightly climbing around the solenoid seemed to be clicking a bit, but not firing totally. More evidence of a dodgy switch?

[V8 Kieran]

Also just tried the WD40 trick (unfortuantely no straw so some wiping up as well!) sprayed loads in - after 5 mins of pushing the button, the stuff got in, and now - perfect! (Previous owner recommended spraying every winter as part of maintenance - which I forgot until now)

Also sprayed the door switches on sills for good measure, and whaddayaknow - they work much better too!!

Praise be WD40

[bobs4c]

You don't have to remove the mirror! Just remove the glass to gain access to the switch and its wiring. The wires go through the door to a connector behind the speaker.

Bob

[alflee]

i had the same thing on my old cerb,the wire inside the door had corrodide and snaped off at the conecter block,it was still touching so would work now and then

[crazylegs]

bobs4c said:

You don't have to remove the mirror! Just remove the glass to gain access to the switch and its wiring. The wires go through the door to a connector behind the speaker.

Bob

I've done some more looking into this today (can't believe I was asking about this 5 months ago!) and I've found that the switch is making a connection on the other side of the connector behind the door. The relay isn't clicking when I press the button so I'm guessing it must be the problem (or the wire to it, which would be much worse). I've got a vague memory that this is one of the ones under the dash? Can anybody tell me which? I've looked in my handbook and the bible but they only describe the ones in the footwell.

Any help much appreciated.

[Ribol]

crazylegs said:

I've got a vague memory that this is one of the ones under the dash? Can anybody tell me which? I've looked in my handbook and the bible but they only describe the ones in the footwell.

Any help much appreciated.

IIRC on mine it is under the dash top between the alarm unit and the fuse box, it is wired on a loom, not plugged into anything.

[crazylegs]

Ribol said:

crazylegs said:

I've got a vague memory that this is one of the ones under the dash? Can anybody tell me which? I've looked in my handbook and the bible but they only describe the ones in the footwell.

Any help much appreciated.

IIRC on mine it is under the dash top between the alarm unit and the fuse box, it is wired on a loom, not plugged into anything.

Cheers Ribol. As ever with these faults the door switch has started working again so no point pulling the dash off to have a look now.

If it stops again I'll have a look and investigate the problem a bit further.

[jonathant]

alflee said:

i had the same thing on my old cerb,the wire inside the door had corrodide and snaped off at the conecter block,it was still touching so would work now and then

It's worth checking this location on the Chimaera too. I went through four (presumably functioning ok) door switches before looking behind the speaker. There's a connector block which was badly corroded.