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Square body design fail

79bonanza

79bonanza

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 31, 2010
Posts
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Location
Georgetown, Kentucky
Ok I've just noticed something on my trucks that kinda made me laugh.

First was in my 85 crew cab, the gas tank selector switch is a vertical mounted switch. I think up for the right tank down for the left tank. Mounted in the dark side of the dash.

Second was in my 91 K5, the rear window switch is mounted In the same dark area with I think right side is up and left side is down.

Now me just being a simple guy wouldn't it make more since for a up and down window to have a switch with up and down selection, not left or right. Also doesn't it make since to have a left and right switch for a left and right tank instead of up and down.

Idk maybe I'm the only one searching for switches in the dark and always hitting them the wrong way lol
 
79bonanza said:
Ok I've just noticed something on my trucks that kinda made me laugh.

First was in my 85 crew cab, the gas tank selector switch is a vertical mounted switch. I think up for the right tank down for the left tank. Mounted in the dark side of the dash.

Second was in my 91 K5, the rear window switch is mounted In the same dark area with I think right side is up and left side is down.

Now me just being a simple guy wouldn't it make more since for a up and down window to have a switch with up and down selection, not left or right. Also doesn't it make since to have a left and right switch for a left and right tank instead of up and down.

Idk maybe I'm the only one searching for switches in the dark and always hitting them the wrong way lol
Click to expand...


Gas tank i just turn the dome light on, but for the rear window i just play the guessing game each time, and Im usually wrong the first push of the switch.
 
They were just following the same train of thought as the turn signal lever.
 
I know every time I try to roll my window up I go the wrong way. I know there's only two choice but I'm gonna choose wrong every time lol
 
I bet somebody could mold a new plastic mount for the rear window switch that would turn it 90 degrees. You might even be able to start with a simple sqare flat plate a little bigger than the switch and work it into the stock switch mount for the same effect. I know that with an arbitrary decision between two choices you have about 25% chance of getting it right.

I've never had a dual tank truck, so I can't comment, but maybe there is a way to clock that one as well?
 
Yea I think it's just a square or rectangle hole, so it wouldn't be hard to change.

But it's just the little things lol
 
Two quick questions:
1. Are the switches fro the tailgate window still available?
2. Has anyone ever checked to see if the tank switch and the rear window switch are similar with the electrical plugs?

My idea was to use the tank switch just remove the tank markings if it could be used for the window.
 
I don't think a tank switch would work. It's like a three position switch. Like top middle bottom while the window switch is like a spring return to a neutral center position. It won't stay right or left it always comes back to center.
 
Suburbans with rear A/C had a 3-position switch that looked just like the tailgate window switch. That might work.
 
I've always wondered the same thing about those switches.
Just didn't seem like a lot of thought was given to orientation
or location. But they work.
 
Thats often an issue on many vehicles--they fail to think about every day use considerations..

Take our 1993 Dodge Caravan for example...the rear window defroster switch is right next to the one that pops the rear hatch open !...:eek1:..

I wonder how many kids tumbled out onto the freeway when the driver misjudged and pushed the wrong button and had the hatch fly open going 65 mph...

I hit the button a few times myself while driving it,and had to pull over,get out and slam it shut again!...I dont recall exactly ,but I think Dodge did send out a recall notice to tell owners they could bring the van in and have the switch for the hatch de-activated..
 
This is why most of these functions are controlled by the BCM. If you aren't in Park, the button doesn't work. Kind of like the trunk button on every (other) car in the world since the mid-90's. FAIL for Chrysler.
 
79bonanza said:
I don't think a tank switch would work. It's like a three position switch. Like top middle bottom while the window switch is like a spring return to a neutral center position. It won't stay right or left it always comes back to center.
Click to expand...

If the electrical connectors are the same the switch could probably be altered inside to prevent the ball detent from locking the switch from one side to the other. My present tailgate switch wasn't working so I took it apart and serviced it. It now works fine. I might just buy a tank switch and see what I can do to it.
 
79bonanza said:
I know every time I try to roll my window up I go the wrong way. I know there's only two choice but I'm gonna choose wrong every time lol
Click to expand...

Yeah I know what you mean, that side to side rocker switch doesn't make sense.
I took an old dymo label maker and used the 'v' letter like an arrow to mark what was up & down, doesn't show up at night though.

LMC had those dash switches, I don't know if they still do and they were damn pricey at $50+ per each!:dunno:
 
The switch for the rear window on suburbans in the mid seventies is an up and down switch, press up to roll the window up and vice versa. I'm not sure when they changed the window switch to side/side (or how it is in the K5s).
 
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