[grd777]

i have a 81 turbo, never worked on a t/a with p.w . How do i remove my p.w switch , need to replace it

[ladytata]

Originally Posted by grd777

i have a 81 turbo, never worked on a t/a with p.w . How do i remove my p.w switch , need to replace it

There’s a thin bracket that holds it it, if you start to take console out,lift it up to unplug the odd shape piggy from switch, you will see the bracket

[Grand73Am]

In the pic below, you can see the switch has prongs on each side. The prongs snap into and hold it in a metal "cage" similar to the one in the pic. The cage has prongs that are bent over inside the hole in the console to hold the cage in place. You should be able to slip a screw driver under the bezel of the switch and press on the side prongs on the switch to release it from the cage. Then the switch can be pried out.

Or, if you're willing to remove the glove box from the console, you could reach under the switch, and release the switch cage by bending the cage prongs straight, and the switch, with cage, would lift out together.

011 by grand73am, on Flickr

[Skip Fix]

"Or, if you're willing to remove the glove box from the console, you could reach under the switch, and release the switch cage by bending the cage prongs straight, and the switch, with cage, would lift out together."

This is how I do it. many of the switches are POS even the last GM ones I got. Our cars shoot 12V through the switch vs it just activating relays.Painless does have a relay harness but pricey or you can make one. The switch actually have contact "points" inside it so they get burned form arcing like distributor points. Also many they are not lined up and barely make full contact. I usually carry a spare as I've had one stuck down before because the switch was toast.

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

many of the switches are POS even the last GM ones I got.

I had the same experience with what was supposed to be an NOS GM switch. Fortunately I tested it beforehand and discovered that the buttons were working intermittently. I took it apart, and the internals were cheaply made. I compared to an original switch I had that looked bad due to weathered chrome, but the internals were much better quality and worked smoothly. So, I installed the old switch's guts into the new switch's chrome housing. Works great and looks new. But of course, I shouldn't have had to do that.

[grd777]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

I had the same experience with what was supposed to be an NOS GM switch. Fortunately I tested it beforehand and discovered that the buttons were working intermittently. I took it apart, and the internals were cheaply made. I compared to an original switch I had that looked bad due to weathered chrome, but the internals were much better quality and worked smoothly. So, I installed the old switch's guts into the new switch's chrome housing. Works great and looks new. But of course, I shouldn't have had to do that.

i think my switch is shot ,saw some smoke when i tried it last

[Grand73Am]

Originally Posted by grd777

i think my switch is shot ,saw some smoke when i tried it last

Take it out and look at the wiring. Sometimes it's the wire connector that's fried. I've seen some ugly ones, being melted and falling apart. If yours is like that, you can buy a new connector here. The wires are different colors but they tell you how to match them up. I have the same connector and it works great on our cars.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/power-windo...72.m2749.l2649

[grd777]

Originally Posted by Grand73Am

Take it out and look at the wiring. Sometimes it's the wire connector that's fried. I've seen some ugly ones, being melted and falling apart. If yours is like that, you can buy a new connector here. The wires are different colors but they tell you how to match them up. I have the same connector and it works great on our cars.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/power-windo...72.m2749.l2649

thanks Grand73Am for this info

[Skip Fix]

And there is a company that even sells the terminals you can crimp on the wires I picked up. Plug will pop apart also.