Door Courtesy Light Switch

[GoatBeard]

Okay, cool.  I thought this might be the same type of connector you posted earlier with the blue insulation, but I didn't know what was under the blue insulation in the pic you posted.  So really I just needed to know if I needed the same type of connector that was originally on there or something different. 

Yeah, I'm gonna have to replace it -- or what's left of it!  I don't know that I have ever seen a connector rust like that.  It surprised me that it was that rusted considering the rest of the truck is so clean.

Thanks for all the help!  If my wife lets me go to the store to spend $.50 more on this truck, I'll be lucky!   

[GoatBeard]

OOps, I guess you see how much I know about wiring stuff!  I didn't realize that was a "bullet" connector -- never used those before.  I think what confused me is the fact that my old switch had rusted off onto the old bullet connector and made it look like a female connector for the new switch.  It's confusing to type, and was confusing to look at!

Anyway, I got it working.  Only bad thing was that the new switch wouldn't tighten up good.  I tried to put some Teflon tape around it, but it still didn't work too well.  Not sure what to do about that, but at least it's working!   

Thanks everyone!

[hotrod24]

yea it can get confusing but this is what it should look like and you should have a good tight connection

[GoatBeard]

Yep, I've got it hooked up and working now.  Only thing left is to figure out how to get it to hold in the fender hole good.  It's basically stripped out.  I may end up tackin' it in if I can't get anything else to work.  I'm kinda leery of gettin' out the welder though because I don't want to risk spatter on my new carpet!  If it spatters to the right it'll get on the carpet and if it spatters to the left it'll hit the door carpet...  I might be able to find a couple of old blankets or something else expendable to cover both.  I'm new to welding so other than not knowing what I'm doin', I don't know how spatter works exactly.  I guess it's not something that is controllable to a large extent.

I tried some JB Weld first.  I doubt it'll work just because that switch takes a beatin'.  Not sure if anything other than a tack will work on it though.  Any ideas?

[ccz145a]

helicoil

[hotrod24]

ok thats good man but the hole for the switch you could try a tap & die set and find one that will fit that hole and make new threds

[GoatBeard]

I put JB Weld on it to start.  I don't know how long it'll last but for now it's purty sturdy!  I can slam the door and it doesn't move, at all.  I don't have a lot of faith that it'll last, but I guess you never know.

I like that Helicoil -- good to know about that for future issues! 

Thanks for all the help, guys!   

[ccz145a]

I was just thinking about connectivity when I said "helicoil". Got to make sure it's grounded and that may be a problem w/jbweld.