Electric Door Lock Switch

[bhw33191]

The switch to lock the doors on my 83 caprice hasnt been working lately. It works if you keep pressing it for a while then stops. My car leaks so much that its probably corroded. Is this easy to fix? For starters how to i even take it out?

[PeteA216]

The switch pops right out. Corrosion in the switch contacts is a very common problem among these cars. Once you get the switch out (the spring clips may be rusted pretty badly, which would make it harder for the switch to pop out) unscrew the little plastic "nut" that secures the wire harness. Then wiggle the harness off the back of the switch. Don't worry about remembering how the harness goes, it can only go on one way. Using a small pipe cleaner style wire brush clean out the holes that the switch leads go into and using some sandpaper clean off the switch's leads. Plug it back in and try it out. If it's still not working, that means the switch itself probably has corrosion inside it. Not to worry. Take the switch to a bench or coffee table. The chrome piece and black plastic backer will separate pairly easy. This is a good opportunity to clean off any dirt or green that may have set into the nooks and crannies of the switch over the past 25 years. One you have that apart you sould begin to get a clear view of how the switch works and it's internal contacts. Take off the little hinged lever that connects the swtich's contacts and clean off any corrosion. Slap it all back together plug it in and try it out. Still no good? Well then the problem may lie somewhere in the wiring itself. Otherwise, you're all set.

[PeteA216]

I also remember that sometimes the wires can actually corrose in the wire harness itself and break. Though uncommon, it is likely if none of the above helps.