salt air corrodes electric window switches -help

[alex]

My dad has a car in Mexico with electric windows and the salt air gets
in the window switches. he's had to replace these switches several
times due to corrosion. does anyone have a better idea to solve this
problem? I was thinking maybe a marine switch that is waterproof. any
ideas or sources for parts would be great. I'm sure he'll have to
re-mount anything that isn't original, but that's fine. At least
they'll work.

thanks in advance.

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[James Sweet]

My dad has a car in Mexico with electric windows and the salt air gets
in the window switches. he's had to replace these switches several
times due to corrosion. does anyone have a better idea to solve this
problem? I was thinking maybe a marine switch that is waterproof. any
ideas or sources for parts would be great. I'm sure he'll have to
re-mount anything that isn't original, but that's fine. At least
they'll work.

thanks in advance.

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email)

Perhaps you could take apart the switches and coat all the contacts with
dielectric grease.

 

[Mike Romain]

Like the others have said, dielectric grease. We have serious salt on
our roads and that stuff is the only way to go.

It also works great on sensor plugs and sockets. We were told 3 years
ago our TPS was cooked. I cleaned it with a contact cleaner like WD40,
then used dielectric grease on the seals of the plug.

Lasted until last summer and had to do it again.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

[Jerry G.]

You have to use the original switches. Probably putting on some dielectric
grease or the equivalent would do the job. There are also some rust
inhibitors used for electrical systems. You would have to research out
something that would be available in your area for you. Check with some of
the major electrical and automotive suppliers in your area for this type of
product.

--

Greetings,

Jerry Greenberg GLG Technologies GLG
=========================================
WebPage http://www.zoom-one.com
Electronics http://www.zoom-one.com/electron.htm
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My dad has a car in Mexico with electric windows and the salt air gets
in the window switches. he's had to replace these switches several
times due to corrosion. does anyone have a better idea to solve this
problem? I was thinking maybe a marine switch that is waterproof. any
ideas or sources for parts would be great. I'm sure he'll have to
re-mount anything that isn't original, but that's fine. At least
they'll work.

thanks in advance.

please reply to [email protected] (remove XXX before using this
email)

 

[alex]

thanks for the great info on how to fix this problem. I'll send these
ideas off to my dad.

thanks again - Alex

 

[Tibur Waltson]

My dad has a car in Mexico with electric windows and the salt air gets
in the window switches. he's had to replace these switches several
times due to corrosion. does anyone have a better idea to solve this
problem? I was thinking maybe a marine switch that is waterproof. any
ideas or sources for parts would be great. I'm sure he'll have to
re-mount anything that isn't original, but that's fine. At least
they'll work.

Vaseline.

I'll bet some fine casseroles that dielectric grease aren't
found in Porta Vallarta... uhmm...unless I'm WRONG.

 

[El Meda]

Vaseline.

I'll bet some fine casseroles that dielectric grease aren't
found in Porta Vallarta... uhmm...unless I'm WRONG.

Well, maybe there is something like it in the local Wal-Mart. :')

Greetings from _Puerto__ Vallarta.

 

[Mike Romain]

Vaseline.

I'll bet some fine casseroles that dielectric grease aren't
found in Porta Vallarta... uhmm...unless I'm WRONG.

They sell it as spark plug boot protector to make removing the boots
easy later and it even comes with new plug wire sets so my guess is you
are wrong....

I could be wrong, but vaseline is a petroleum grease that does conduct
electricity.

Dielectric grease is a silicone based product that does not short out
wiring.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

[Richard Crowley]

I could be wrong, but vaseline is a petroleum grease
that does conduct electricity.

*IF* it does conduct, it is very high impedance and won't
have any practical (or discernable) effect in a vehicle power
window switch (low voltage and high current).

 

[Tony Hwang]

...



*IF* it does conduct, it is very high impedance and won't
have any practical (or discernable) effect in a vehicle power
window switch (low voltage and high current).

Hi,
Another solution may be to spray the switch with foam spray out of
can sealing the whole assembly.
Tony

 

[James Sweet]

Hi,
Another solution may be to spray the switch with foam spray out of
can sealing the whole assembly.
Tony

That'll just make a big mess, that stuff is nasty.

 

[Richard Crowley]

"Tony Hwang" wrote ...

Another solution may be to spray the switch with
foam spray out of can sealing the whole assembly.

The only way to *completely* protect it would
be to seal the button and all. Of course, that would
render the switch useless.

OTOH, grease protects the metal surfaces while still
alowing them to touch when needed.

 

[Mike Romain]

...

*IF* it does conduct, it is very high impedance and won't
have any practical (or discernable) effect in a vehicle power
window switch (low voltage and high current).

I will use dielectric, it's cheaper even.

Vaseline also flows at very low temps and the OP mentioned a warm
climate.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's