Rear Defroster Switch woes

[22229stingray81]

Since I got my vette 5 years ago, the rear defogger/froster switch has not worked. What I mean by not working is that it would not hold in the on poisition (yet it would light up and it would still defrost) and eventually it stopped working all together. I read in the owners manual how it is suppose to work, but the language is confusing at best. It IS suppose to hold the on position, correct?? You are not suppose to just hold it, correct? Is it one of those, press forward for on, yet goes back to the neutral position switches? Because mine does not stay lit up when I do this. I have purchased a switch from another forum member and this one does not hold the on position either, so whats the deal? How does this switch work?? Thanks for any info.

-Tatortot

 

[78SilvAnniv]

Defroster switch in my 78 operates in this manner:

To turn it on and activate the defrosting function I flip the switch up. It will return to the center position. It runs for a while and turns itself off after a time interval. The light remains on until either it, or I, turn it off. If I wish to turn it off before the timer, I flip the switch down, where it will return again to the center position, and the light goes out, indicating it is off.
Heidi

 

[22229stingray81]

Thanks 78SilvAnniv! This is what I suspected, but my light does not stay on. Hopefully this new switch will. Our switches do vary a little though, 80e and up has a different, discontinued switch (or this is what all the parts places tell me).


-Tatortot

 

[78SilvAnniv]

I hope it works for you!
I didn't know how much it would vary between years, but I figured they may have operated in the same manner. Perhaps by changing your switch it will cure the light not staying on...because it seems to me that if the light is off, the defroster would be off, too. (Is this why you had to hold the switch on?)
Heidi

 

[22229stingray81]

Yes, I had to hold the switch while driving, which was a little awkward. It would not defrost unless I held it. Unfortunitally I cannot replace the switch quite yet; I live in an apartment and there isnt even a plug I can attach a soldering iron to near by, so it will probebly have to wait for the holidays, when I visit my parents. Thanks again for the info.


-Tatortot

 

[Tom Bryant]

I had to replace our switch a few years ago for the same reason. Something inside the switch broke.

Tom