1957-59 Power Seat Switch Fix

by John Grady

These power seat switches are often not working or working intermittently. The phenolic board warps upward at two ends of it and the 4 sheet metal screws cannot hold it flat. As a result, the contacts do not make or make poorly.

The solution is to add two 2/56 screws washers and nuts as shown. You might have to make relieve for screw heads, I have not gotten that far yet, but the switch now works perfectly. Be sure to mark cover and box; it can go together wrong, flipped 180. Ask me how I know (Murphy's Law).

Get correct drill size for just clearing 2/56. The screws are 3/4” long . Drill from inside box centered, tight against end wall, then temporarily assemble with just the cover. Then drill the other way to make hole in phenolic. Washers spread out stress since you are near the edge. Reassembly is a party, you need 6 small hands all at once.

Suggestion: clean back of black toggle of any grease or oil and clean rectangular metal tab too with BrakeKleen. Put a dab of windshield adhesive on slot and tab, put together the 3 pieces with the springs. Set this aside to set up a bit so there is just enough engagement that it will stay in one piece instead of nine — don't overdo cement as it slides in there in use. It will break free once together

Then, center one falls over, drives you crazy — so grab center black toggle on other side with small vise grips or big bag clip. Hold box level in hand so the weight of the vice grip hanging down keeps it up straight . The other two are less likely to tip, bring cover straight on, viewing through slit till all 3 are in sockets.

While the switch was open I noticed all the rivets holding bare copper wire connections inside were a bit loose. Perhaps the phenolic shrunk.

I put each contact and wire terminal on a vice anvil, one at a time, tapped the rivet cone from the back using a Philips hex drive bit point as a setting tool. This worked great. A light hammer tap does it.

Also spring clips to hold switch in bezel are often gone or work poorly. I recently discovered Permatex copper hi temp silicone sealer. It is super tough and strong, really bonds, way better mechanically than blue or red, nothing to do with high temp aspect The plan is to use four 1" dabs on chrome tabs to hold switch in bezel (you see them falling in all the time).