Flashing Roof Light on dash - where to get new microswitch

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:42 pm

Had another tinker with Mango Bongo tonight and I'm now pretty certain the AFT microswitch on the vehicle offside is duff and causing the roof light to keep flashing. It seems to have a part number / code on it but its illegible. Anyone done this job before and/or know how I can get a replacement and if it is simple to fit. The switch seems to be held on by one phillips screw but I dont know how easy it is to drag te wires out and disconnect and fit a new switch. I wonder if the Bongomeisters parts service might be needed but I dread what the cost of a genuine mazda part will be!

Grateful for any help, and there's another BF member with the same problem who will be grateful too!

Mike

kawasaki kid · Post by **kawasaki kid** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:54 pm

Have read somewhere on this site that you can get them from Maplins,. Hope this helps

.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:17 am

Yea me too. Trouble is I think that is general advice, but it wont get me the part that goes straight on and is right for the job, especially if I dont even know what item number I need to order, if you get my drift. As Haydn observes, I'm too busy posting on BF to spend hours modifying stuff for the Bongo

But if anyone can steer me to a Maplins product that plonks straight on, I'd be very grateful. The Mazda one is bound to cost pounds

Mike

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:36 am

Ask BongoBits, or try Ians system.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:26 pm

Thanks pippin. I reckon if you dont know for sure whether a Maplins item will do, that it is time to try Bongobits or Ians list.

Prepare to launch Thunderbird CostsABomb

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:56 pm

Microswitches are usually international standard electrical components. They start at £1.21 and are all less than £2.50 at Maplins. The challenge may be the mounting and what type of actuator button/arm/roller the thing has.

Have a look at the pictures on the Maplin website and see if you recognise it.

This is the most standard one:

Low Cost Standard Microswitches

A low-cost range of
standard microswitches produced to an internationally accepted standard size and operating characteristics. These switches are manufactured from glass-reinforced thermoplastic to give rugged performance. Switches are single-pole double-throw and available in the basic style, or with a choice of actuators attached. Terminals are 6.35mm (&quarter;in.) blade type that can either be soldered or used with push-on connectors (e.g., HF10L). The actuators are of stainless steel and either a 27 5mm long lever, or a 27 5mm long lever carrying a roller.

Specifications:
Contact rating: 12A 250Vac
Body size: 278 x 159 x 103mm
Fixing centres: 222 x 103mm
Fixing hole: 31mm diameter

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:04 pm

The ones on the BongoRoof are much smaller than those.

smartmonkey · Post by **smartmonkey** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:47 pm

Just take the old one off and pop into RS Components (or Maplins). They will match it up for you whilst grumbling about amateurs. You could try filling it up with contact cleaner or WD40 to see if you get a reprieve.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:56 pm

Thanks chums. I'll try all that. I just bought some fancy spray on electrical motor / component cleaner. I'll try that first as I notice this switch seems to have got some blakc oil or grease on it, which may have casued a problem. I think I can feel a faint click on the GOOD microswitch - is that my imagination. But if so, I cant feel any click on the bad one.

It occurs to me I could just leave it removed for a bit. Question is, for the dash light to be flashing would the switch (whose trigger arm is held down when roof is closed) be in closed circuit (I'd have thought so). In that case I presume I just insulate the ends of the two wires while I head off to RS or Maplins (do they have shops in age of t'internet!) to throw myself on their mercy.

Pity I cant do these jobs in my lunchbreak as an alternative to BF!

Mike

Tom Cruise · Post by **Tom Cruise** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:09 pm

I have had the same problem for over a year now, I got the replacement micro switch frm ava leisure, but can not get the old one off. The wires go back inside the roof and have been told the roof has to come off to fit a new one. So will follow your thread with interest. Mine is the nearside front micro switch. tried wd40 have got it working for about 10 sec then it fails again. Got used to the flashing light now.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:19 pm

Thats interesting. I imagined that if th enearside one failed, you would get the bleeper to stop either as it seems to control that little b*gger too!?!

Bl**dy nuisance for such a small item!!!

Mike

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:22 pm

I remember looking very closely at the little blighters and coming to the conclusion that replacing them would be nigh on impossible.
There is no slack on the cables so they cannot be pulled out sufficiently for the connections to be remade.

A case of a penny (or a Yen) saved costing pounds and pounds later.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:01 pm

Most un-Japanese that, but there it is

Sounds like best option is removing the bulb from the dash! It seems to me that as long as you hear the reassuring click-clunk as the roof locks go home, there is nothing to worry about. What does the team think?

Mike

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:27 pm

Some while back I had a problem with the roof beeper not stopping when the roof was fully down. With help from Two sticks I discovered that the problem was with the microswitch at the front on the offside. I removed this one and found that the roof beeper still sounded with the roof closed down. Connecting the wires together stopped it, so the microswitch must be open circuit with the roof up. I have the offending switch in front of me and all it says on it is Omron Japan, but looking at their website it looks most like the type D2FW-G.

The nearside front microswitch is nigh impossible to remove as the wires are too short, but the offside one was no problem as you can get to the wires with the roof open.

http://ecb.omron.com.sg/pdf/switches/basic/D2FW-G.pdf

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:41 pm

Ah ha! And my problem is the offside one. A glimmer of hope then (I did notice it didnt looked quite as tucked away as the nearside one. Might investigate though I too have got quite used to flashing while on the move

Thanks+++ moonshine