1962 Starfire, how do you clean the female flat connectors for the window switches

 

I thought the window switches used pin terminals, not flat ones. Can you post a photo?

 

I didn't know the correct nomenclature, sorry. How would I clean the female pin connector

 

It kind of depends on which connector style you have, thus my question. GM power window connectors tend to look like this.

 

That's what I have in the Starfire.
I have sprayed contact cleaner into the female half of the switch, connected and disconnected several times and have good continuity through the connector now.

 

These plastic connector bodies do open up. If you look closely at the edges, you will see seem with a few small lock tabs that snap into place to hole it closed. Be careful that once open, all the wires and terminals will come out, so be sure you know what goes where. The terminals inside the connector look like this. New ones are available.

This is the style for wires coming out the sides.


This is for wires coming out the back.

 

Thank you Joe

 

Warmly recommend that you take a picture of the wire pin out before you pull the wires and connectors out of the plastic shell so you have a reference as to how to reinstall them.

People under 50 do this, but not all people over 50 do this. It’s a good practice, us older people don’t necessarily think of because we remember when film had to be developed…

I can also recommend using a dremel tool with some kind of abrasive (with very small diameter head) to clean the inside (business end) of those female connectors for best conductivity.

If you break or otherwise ruin a connector, know that GM wiring harnesses were made from the “Packard 56” and that you may be able to find new terminals (not brass, though correct metal shape - aka it works) from AuVeCo, or their distributors.

Highly recommend that you stay as close to factory design as possible so your car works in ways factory diagrams can accurately describe & your heirs or subsequent owners don’t go nuts trying to figure out what you did in 2025. From the perspective of 2035…

Whether you’re going to own this car for a long while or just a short while, warmly recommend that you keep it formal & factory if possible. Someone down the line (possibly you) will thank you.

Plus there’s a tiny bit of pride associated with doing things right.

Cheers
Chris

 

cfair, are you suggesting that us old foggies don't take pics, why I carry a Kodak Brownie on my belt clip and after I fill up a 12 pic roll of film I take it to the drug store for developing.
That's why it's taking me so long to o this car.

 

I'm 61, nearing fogie status, if I'm not already there.

Just took me a while to get into the convenience of digital photography for information capture as opposed to memory capture.

Meanwhile, where's my polaroid? Must be in the closet next to my Super 8 camera and rotary phone.

Cheers
cf