we're down to a few things to get my daughters car on the road. The wiper switch some dimwit tried to pull on like the lights. How do I get this one off to replace it? and, there are no dash lights. I checked the fuses, and they're good. All the other lights work (everything was gone except the headlights when we got it). How do I get to them? Thanks guys. Rhonda, otherwise known as Stephanie's Mom
There is a small friction clip that holds the knob on the shaft of the wiper switch.Stick a small screwdriver between the knob and the bezel.Pull the screwdriver against the knob and pull the knob at the same time and it will slip off.Unscrew the chrome bezel and the wiper switch will come loose from the dash.Getting it out of there is the fun part.Its easy to do with the instrument cluster out of the car.A bit tougher from underneath the dash.The plug on the wiper switch just pulls straight out of the switch.It will take some effort though its been in there for a long time.Wiggle/pull..wiggle/pull it will come out just go slow.To replace the dash light bulbs remove the instrument cluster.Pull your ashtray out.Remove the ashtray mount(2 phillips screws hold it in)You can now reach the speedometer cable to disconnect it.Gently twist the cable clip clock wise and pull towards the front of the car at the same time,it will come off then pull the cable housing off the cluster.2 phillips screws hold the cluster housing to the dash.Each one is located at the 12 O'clock position in each round guage pod.Remove the screws.(this is also easier with the steering column dropped down)From behind gently push the top of the cluster out of the dash.Once its at about a 45degree angle lift up on the bottom of the cluster to pop the 2 bottom clips loose.(this whole process takes some gentle manuvering to get the cluster out of the dash)Once it is out you need to disconnect the wire harness from the cluster.The plug has two detent clips at the 12 and 6 O'clock positions...squeeze them towards the plug and GENTLY pull the plug from the cluster.You can now take the cluster out of the car and replace the bulbs from the back side of it.Be very gentle with it.The printed circuit board (clear plastic with copper lines on it)on the back side is VERY fragile.Dont disturb it any more than you have too.Good luck,hope this helps you.
I'm printing this out, and going out to the car! I'm so sunburnt from working on it today, I'm glad it's evening. I'm hoping the bulbs are the only problem. I guess I shouldn't borrow trouble, huh? I hope it's not hard to find a replacement switch. Moved the car from the side of the house to the drive, and when daughter came home, she said it even makes the driveway look awesome. Guess the sunburn is worth it. Rhonda
Good luck Rhonda.Just be sure to check all possible avenues before you have to tear it apart.It could be a bad switch/fuse/wire.Be deliberate in your diagnostics...As for the switch...if all else fails post in the parts wanted section here.Someones gotta have a good one laying around.
the wiper switch works intermittantly if you push it back in where it's suppossed to be, but you can hear it shorting and crackling, but the wipers do come on, just don't stay on. I'm hoping the switch can be salvaged. As for the dash lights, since I''ve already checked the fuses, and everything else works, I'm just assuming it's the bulbs. There's' a meet here in Texas on the 27, and she wanted to drive her car. She's seen pics of the others, though, and maybe we'll just take the truck and look. Should be fun anyway. Rhonda
Well if everything else works and your back before dark and it doesnt' rain... yeah better take the truck.Car shows are allways fun.Enjoy!!!
Rhonda Don't try to save the wiper switch thay are not that expencive and are a bitch to change . Now that you have the dash open change both the head light switch and the wiper switch that will two less things you will need to change later. Jay
Yeah, it'll probably be the truck for this one. It's less than an hour drive to the meet, but it would be my luck to find out I missed something, and get stuck on the side of the highway. Rhonda
... the car...it will be fine... if you don't drive it untill you THINK you have ...eyerything...fixed, you will never drive it. i'm sure a lot of folks will agree..."working on your hotrod on the side of the road is part of the adventure" "that's Hotrodding" Is everyones car home from their last trip???...... ...by all means....go either way...i have driven my truck to mav/comet meets before... ...if you trust your car your car will trust you... (i'm spending waaay too much time with my car) ...Frank, Effie and Patches...
I just read about how to do that, and which vehicles to find the "donor" parts. Hadn't even thought about it, but I guess as long as the thing will be apart, might as well try this, too. As long as I have instructions to follow, I don't mind trying. I hope she remembers most moms wouldn't have even attempted this! 13yo son found a 60 (I think) falcon ranchero in a field, complete. Don't know if I'm up to that Rhonda
