Switch panel defective

V8HSE · Mar 20, 2012

Switch panel for electric windows/ sunroof -- Does anyone repair these ? Mine is playing-up - rear windows goes down but only close with door-switches and sunroof switch now not working. Dealership says there's a problem with P38A switch panel mother-board and that replacement panels are on 'back-order' @ £200 :-0. Surely someone can test /repair the motherboard ?

Datatek · Mar 20, 2012

Get a working second hand one from Emmotts

Endeleus · Mar 20, 2012

I had similar problems with mine - the passenger window stopped working, then a while later, the rear window would only go down and not back up.

I suspected that it was just gunk in the switches, and had been meaning to look at it for ages when I finally got round to it last weekend.

I took the switch pack out, sprayed it liberally with anti-static foam cleaner, agitated it a bit with a small paintbrush, sprayed some more foam cleaner on, toggled all the switches a few times, sprayed some more foam cleaner on, then left it to drip dry for about an hour. Repeated this 3 times, then left it overnight to dry properly.

Refitted the switch pack, and all my windows are working properly for the first time in months.

Note that you can buy switch cleaner, but I prefer to use the anti-static foam cleaner for a couple of reasons - depending on which solvent is in the switch cleaner it can react with the plastic, and also the foaming action of the foam cleaner gives it a chance to get in behind the switches and dissolve the gunk from the contacts better than a pure solvent cleaner.

I've recently switched to using Mykal De-solv-it as my anti-static foam cleaner of choice after using Electrolube for years. There are plenty of them to choose from, but I find Mykal has the edge in degreasing properties.

V8HSE · Mar 23, 2012

Endeleus : I'll give cleaning switch pack a blast.... will let ya know outcome

sas1810 · Mar 23, 2012

Endeleus said:
I had similar problems with mine - the passenger window stopped working, then a while later, the rear window would only go down and not back up.

I suspected that it was just gunk in the switches, and had been meaning to look at it for ages when I finally got round to it last weekend.

I took the switch pack out, sprayed it liberally with anti-static foam cleaner, agitated it a bit with a small paintbrush, sprayed some more foam cleaner on, toggled all the switches a few times, sprayed some more foam cleaner on, then left it to drip dry for about an hour. Repeated this 3 times, then left it overnight to dry properly.

Refitted the switch pack, and all my windows are working properly for the first time in months.

Note that you can buy switch cleaner, but I prefer to use the anti-static foam cleaner for a couple of reasons - depending on which solvent is in the switch cleaner it can react with the plastic, and also the foaming action of the foam cleaner gives it a chance to get in behind the switches and dissolve the gunk from the contacts better than a pure solvent cleaner.

I've recently switched to using Mykal De-solv-it as my anti-static foam cleaner of choice after using Electrolube for years. There are plenty of them to choose from, but I find Mykal has the edge in degreasing properties.

did you use any electrical contact grease after cleaning? just wondered in case the switches went "stiff" after a bit of use.

Endeleus · Mar 27, 2012

Shouldn't need any contact grease - these things are designed to have dry contacts - probably the biggest issue they have on the P38 is spillage from using the cup holder on the cubby box lid attracting dust. I should have taken a photo of the circuit board when I took mine out - it was covered in the kind of sticky gunk that you find if you combine dust with sticky liquid over a period of time.

Update on mine, I'm going to take it out again and have another blast, it's now all working fine apart from the rear passenger window won't go down from the main switch pack, but comes back up ok.

As before, I'm convinced my problems stem largely from the combined residue of coffee and cola over the years, so suitably enthused by my 90% fix, I'm going to have another blast at the final troublesome switch tomorrow.

NicP38 · Mar 27, 2012

According to Rimmerbros website there are 4 sorts of switch paks: with or without sunroof pre 1999 and post 1999. Prices from £ 147 to £ 237 inc VAT

:

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID009675 http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID009675

I would try to clean it first

NicP38 · Mar 27, 2012

With sunroof for £ 166 excl VAT from Island. just in case.

V8HSE · Aug 15, 2012

Got an exchange unit in pwo....

Switch panel defective

V8HSE

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Datatek

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Endeleus

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V8HSE

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sas1810

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Endeleus

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NicP38

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NicP38

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V8HSE

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