Anyone take apart a wiper switch?

[87gtVIC]

This is purely for aesthetics. I really like the black knob, but the unit itself does not operate properly on my car so I want to see how to take it apart and eventually swap it into a proper unit, if it is even possible.

Looks as if all I have to do is grind down the little rivets and pull apart. What do you guys think? I doubt anyone else took one of them apart, but one never knows.

[91grandmarquis]

Sometimes the rivets will punch out with a punch and hammer too, you will just need to replace with bolts + nuts is all, should be doable.

[CheeseSteakJim]

try hitting it with a small drill bit to grind away the peened part, then push the rivet out with a punch

[85crownHPP]

See if you can figure out how to make it wipe less than three times when you tell it to spray, lol
I wish we had a 'mist' function...

[91grandmarquis]

See if you can figure out how to make it wipe less than three times when you tell it to spray, lol
I wish we had a 'mist' function...

After you spray bump the wipers to low then back to off, they will stop wiping, but I know what you mean.

[gadget73]

I'd probably figure out how to modify the wiring so that switch worked rather than take the thing apart. Its entirely possible to dissasemble and re-assemble it but I'll bet there are a bunch of little parts in there just waiting to fly across the room when you open it up. Moving pins around in connectors by comparison is a piece of cake.

Mind you this comes from someone who has dissasembled headlight switches to fix a non-working interior light just so I wouldn't have to buy a new headlight switch. Anything that was put together can be taken apart, but sometimes its better not to do that unless you absolutely have to.

[87gtVIC]

Oh boy. At least the switch has no real value to me so I can go ahead and learn without kicking myself about breaking something I really needed.

I have decoded most of the pin function on this black switch yesterday but it is pretty different from my 86 EVTM stats. There is no continuity between any pins while in the off position and the high position has three pins with continuity between them all. It is entirely possible the switch is bad (came out of a 81 or so T-Bird). I still think I am going to take it apart though.

[Pirate]

I took one apart once.

I eventually grew three of my fingers back.

[1987cp]

[86VickyLX]

new smiley? Dave, why not strip the chrome off of one that does work, and paint it black?

[87gtVIC]

Have a simple way in mind on how to strip the peeling chrome?

[1990LTD]

I have a new one that is also black...not identical to the one you have but it's not for my model year. It's yours if you want it.

[87gtVIC]

what is the part number on it?

[1990LTD]

dunno, upon closer inspection it seems to have been ground off? i am noticing this for the first time. I got it for free from a member that said he didn't want it, only paid 5 bucks to ship it. Like I said, it's yours if you'd like it.

[87gtVIC]

It wouldnt work. It does not have the same amount of pins as my current one has. Thank you though.