Hazard light switch cleaning
 

Hazard light switch cleaning.

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Hazard light switch cleaning. by whunter

#1. Remove the hazard light switch from the console.
#2. Use finger nail polish to mark the top side in three locations for reassembly orientation, refer to picture #A.
#3. Use a clean flat cloth covered surface to contain the work area.
#4. Insert a small screw driver into the back side tab area, refer to picture #B.
#5. Gently ease the back cover off, watch out for falling parts.
#6. Use tweezers to remove the shuttle with caps and springs, refer to picture #C.
#7. Use a cheap paper on wood type of finger nail file to clean the contact surfaces, refer to picture #D.
#8. Set the button to the on position and insert the shuttle, carefully.
#9. Install the back pin plate, be sure the back is oriented correctly and the bulb will enter the case hole.
#10. Gently squeeze the back into place, check the side catches are fully seated.

If you loose a part, buy another switch.

Hazard Light Switch Cleaning
 

Whunter,
Thanks for the photos and the detailed procedures. It always helps to SEE what we are doing. Though these pictures did not survive the compression process as well as the ones you posted of the starter and solenoid, they are still clear enough to know what and where to clean. Please continue including photos with your various posts. I appreciate them, as I'm sure others do, to. Thanks!
SteveKaa
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1982 300SD 337k miles

Hazard switch cleaning by MTUpower:

1) Drive to junkyard
2) find hazard switch
3) repeat step 2 three times
4) pay the 8 bucks
5) decide which switch looks best
6) R&R switch
7) test
8) smile big for the gift of south florida yards
:) :) :)

Hey whubter I have a question for you, hope you have the answer. :cool:

When my lights are on, the lights in the switch's for the rear overhead light, antenna, sun roof, and rear window defoger do not light up. I pulled the switch's and all the fiber optic's work, but I don't think they are bright enough. I looked inside the dash and there was a very bright light with a connector over it for I presume the optic fiber conectors to the switch's. The fan switch and all are really bright so could I have been looking at the light bundle for those switch's instead of the upper switches? I tried cleaning the ends of the fibers and it didn't help. What do I do next, replace the fiber optic wire's? If that's required are the part's expensive?

Should the lights in the switches only come on with lights on and in the on position? If that's the case I have never had the switch's on at night, so I guess I'll check that after it get dark.

I cleaned the hazard switch last month because it was working intermitnly. I had hoped I would just need to clean the optic ends, but that didn't work. Unless I didn't get them clean enough.

Sorry
 

Sorry, I don't have an answer for this question. :(
I would do a search then make it a post. :)
Can't recall seeing the subject in my searches. :(
Instrument cluster, radio and climate control; but not the upper switches. :(
Have a great day. :)

In both my wagons the defog, rear light button and other button lights do light up when the headlights are on, whether or not the individual button is activated.

And my MB CD only shows how to remove them, unless that's covered in a different section. I had hoped the switch's were repairable like the hazard switch.

Hmmm
 

Ok oldnavy
I will take a stab at it.

After removing my switches, all light up in running light position. :)
They are fiber optic feed lighting. :)
Attached are two switch pictures.
Some educated guesses are all I can supply. :)
If the fiber optic feed has been dislodged from the source head, no light.
If the fiber optic feed has been cut, no light.
If the fiber optic feed has been pinched or kinked hard, no light.
If the fiber optic feed has not been fully engaged into the switch, no light.

The light is of the same intensity from each fiber optic, so I had thought dirt at other end. But you brought up something I had not thought of, not fully seated in switch's. Got plans for today, but tomorrow morning I guess I will start pulling swich's and looking closer.

Thanks for your imput.

Man I love this forum and the internet.

Switch light update
 

If you can see a bright light when you look in the dash behind the switches, at the center of the fiber optic hub then chances are the bulb and socket are not seated properly and you are not getting use of all available light. I found this on my car and discovered a broken lamp base in the back of the socket with a new lamp jambed in on top of it. Cleared it all out and reseated the lamp holder. Now all switchs light up when the headlight switch is on.

FYI
 

This DIY is posted in

Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/DoItYourSelf



PeachPartsWiki : HazardSwitch

Cleaning the Hazard Switch
by whunter
8/28/04
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/HazardSwitch


A few notes:
Check your fuses first. :o

Question:
What's the connection between the hazard switch and the turn signals?

Answer:
The turn signal circuits are rerouted through the hazard switch = Left/Right join to flash together.

Question:
I used my hazard switch (road trip), the turn signals don't work now, is there a way to fix this?

(The hazard switch can fail so that one or both turn signals do not work).

Answer:
#1. Try cycling/exercising the hazard switch a few times and see if the issue is gone.
#2. You will need a pocket knife or small screwdriver. Remove the switch. Disassemble the switch, arrange the internal rockers to the off position (note on paper which pins are bridged), re-assemble and test the turn signals.
If your repair worked ignore the following.
If the repair failed, get two short pieces of wire with the ends stripped to fit the wire harness switch pin holes, take your note on paper of which pins are bridged in the off position, and bridge each pair with one of your wires, test the turn signals.

Worth Remembering.....
 

When this switch gives problems (it hates Coke!) it is usually accompanied by intermittent or continuous buzzing of the flasher unit under the ash tray as well as failure of both indicators. A quick fix to restore the indicators is to pull off the plug on the Flasher switch and connect #49 and #30 on the plug with a short loop of wire. You will then have indicators again until you have time to clean, fix or replace the switch.

My '80 has the big ol' red, backlit Hazard switch (/red map light combo :)) rather than the rocker pictured. Is it pretty self-explanatory as to what needs to be cleaned once I take it apart?

I've got an intermittent turn signal issue. Hazards work but now the turn signals only work if I press lightly on (but don't fully engage) the Hazard button. If I don't press lightly on the Hazard button, the turn signals don't work but I get the buzzing noise. The last time I had this problem, I cycled the Hazard switch on and off a couple times and the signals worked fine for the rest of the fall until I put the car away for the winter.

I'm assuming I can address that issue by disassembling and cleaning the Hazard switch assembly? If it's only a temporary fix I certainly don't mind replacing it. Is the rocker an improvement over the older design and could I just swap in the newer design? It'll never be a concours car so I'm not real concerned about keeping it stock if the rocker is a better choice.

Answer
 

It sounds like dirty contact points.
Be very careful with dis-assembly to access them.

Thanks. I'm going in! :eek::D