My drivers side window switch/button suddenly became wobbly. No idea why, it just did. So I set about finding out how to fix it. I searched a few threads here and had a bit fiddle. If you get the same problem, here's how you fix it.
You start by removing the little stippled rubber mat that sits in the armrest.
Use a flat blade screwdriver or similar (if you have fat hands and chew your nails, like me).
And here we are after - you can clearly see the two bolts holding the panel in place. Unscrew them with an allen key. I used one of those poundshop ratchet screwdrivers with interchangeable bits - perfick!
The whole unit lifts readily out of it's slot in the armrest, which you will see is constructed of something exotic and valuable, like space kevlar or summat.
Each switch has a distinct unit with wires leading to it. Remove the block of wires - the black block that the wires leads to has a small clip on it's side, just push it in with your thumb and give it a firm pull (holding the plastic, not the wires).
You then need to remove the colourful plastic switch unit from it's housing.....in the photo you can see I've used a thin flat blade screwdriver at the front of the unit. I pushed it in a little and wiggled fairly gently. It soon edges out and you can finish it off with your fingers (oooh err!).
The button sits in a little rocker and has two tiny pegs that fit into little loop holes in the brightly coloured unit. What happened with mine was that one of the tiny pegs had snapped off.
I swapped one out of the back door to make sure mine was working ok - I might buy a new one so the back door hasn't got a wobble on. At the moment I'm trying a free fix by glueing some plastic to try and recreate the 'peg'. Unfortunately, when I removed the switch the shrapnel fell out and I could as heller find it.
Reverse to replace - everything pushes nicely back into place and bobs your uncle.
My car is a 2004 156, by the way. I understand earlier models might be slightly different.
Great post, thanks! Do you happen to know whether the individual 156 switches fit the 166 door window control units? I am having the same problem with a 2003 166, for which parts (needless to say) are in short supply...
Thanks again. PAUL
Thank you. You saved me. Drivers window switch broke in shopping centre car park with window down. It was about to start raining. With your guide I was able to fix in 10 minutes and keep dry.
Garage broke my drivers side window switch as well as the actual tiny switch that lowers the window on the PCB (So I need the whole "purple" switch unit Steve has in his pics above,) and then they ordered the wrong replacement. So I went to swap it out with another switch in the drivers door whilst I wait, don't think the cops would be delighted if I have to jump out of the car at a checkpoint!
Thing is, all the other window switch units won't fit the drivers side connector. The plastic connector for the inline pins for the drivers window is completely different shape to all other connectors on the drivers door console (Facelift model.)
Does anyone know if the rear window switch units will fit the drivers window connector?? I haven't had time, but if they don't I'll leave it as getting the switches away from the connectors is losing me my finger tips!
I'll note here - as I couldn't find a clear statement elsewhere - that although the switch surround/door handle looks identical between the pre and post facelift interiors, the switches themselves are different and the post facelift ones will not fit in a pre facelift unit. You might be able to swap them the other way round.
This is a shame, because the pre facelift switch/door handle unit isn't coated with that soft feel rubber stuff that goes manky after 10 years!
I've just replaced one of my driver's door switches and the only thing I'd add (and mine is a 2000 pre-facelift car) is that to remove the switches from the housing you need to release four lugs, two each side of each switch. Thin screwdriver did the job for me; ease it down each side of the switch and release them one by one.
Don't bother looking down the short end of the switches - there are no clips there...
Might be different on a facelift, however - I know the switch design is slightly different.
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