Fixing the dashboard switches

[Kjeles]

Three of my five dashboard switches (buttons) did not work. "Could they be fixed?", I wondered.
The Haynes Manual shows how to pull them out of the dashboard, but not how to open them.

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It took me some time to figure it out. Since I will forget by next time I need to do it, I thought I would place my experience on the Forum. (I will probably be so surprised to see that I posted it myself).

Anyway, pull the button out by squeezing gently parallell to the long axis of the switch (horizontally):

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You need to squeeze from either side to free the two catches (left and right side) holding the button in place:

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Pry open the base of the switch:

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Note that the two clips holding the switch in place will come loose.
In my case, the switches worked fine mechanically, but the points did not make proper contact:

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I sanded the points a little bit with a very, very fine sand paper and added a minute amount of copper paste. The switches were good as new!

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Nice little guide

Yes I took mine apart when it broke, once I had a replacement. It was the interior light switch.

I could only conclude it was mechanically broken and not latching on (It would go on, but not stay on). Never did figure out why it broke.

[Aardvark]

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Since it is clear and well illustrated I think the moderator should move it to the "Technical How To!!!!" section.

[MinorMatt]

Nice little guide

Yes I took mine apart when it broke, once I had a replacement. It was the interior light switch.

I could only conclude it was mechanically broken and not latching on (It would go on, but not stay on). Never did figure out why it broke.

It may not be the switch... early mk5 ones latched mechanically, late ones had a latching circuit in the relay. Late switch in early van gives what you describe

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Nice little guide

Yes I took mine apart when it broke, once I had a replacement. It was the interior light switch.

I could only conclude it was mechanically broken and not latching on (It would go on, but not stay on). Never did figure out why it broke.

It may not be the switch... early mk5 ones latched mechanically, late ones had a latching circuit in the relay. Late switch in early van gives what you describe

Ach it probably was the switch, because it worked fine ... and then it stopped working. And when I put another switch in, it worked . You could push and hold it, and the lights would come on ... and then you'd let go and they'd go off.

It would also switch itself on with no intervention (leading to a flat battery once) after I'd been fiddling with it trying to get it to switch on.