Miata Window Switch Repair

Window stopped in this position

Window stopped in this position

I went to put my windows down while driving, and the driver’s side stopped in the position pictured. I couldn’t get it to go back up or do anything else. Fortunately, it didn’t rain that day.

On these cars, the power window switch contacts have a tendency to go bad and simply stop working. This is what happened in my case, and here’s how I fixed it. Miata window switch repair is an easy job, only requiring a screwdriver and some minor soldering and sanding.

Here are some tools I used for this:

Pulling out the Window Switch

The shift knob simply unscrews by being twisted

The shift knob simply unscrews by being twisted

The power window switch has to come out for this job. Step one is to undo the shift knob.

Screw 1

Screw 1

Screw 2

Screw 2

Screw 3

Screw 3

Screws 4 & 5

Screws 4 & 5

Then, there are 5 screws to remove from the center console.

Lift the console up and then forward to clear the trunk/gas cap levers

Lift the console up and then forward to clear the trunk/gas cap levers

Once that’s all off, you can simply pull the console up and off. You have to pull it forward over the gas cap and trunk release levers.

Screws hold the switch assembly to the underside

Screws hold the switch assembly to the underside

Comes out pretty easily

Comes out pretty easily

You then can flip the center console over, and undo the screws holding the window switch assembly on. This comes out fairly easily.

Back of switch panel, needs to come out

Back of switch panel, needs to come out

Held in with clips, can be pried and lifted out

Held in with clips, can be pried and lifted out

If you look at the switch assembly, the white panel is what we’re after. It comes off by gently prying a few locking clips and lifting out.

Buttons removed and can be set aside

Buttons removed and can be set aside

The black button panel is now free and can be set aside. At this point, we can focus on the white backing panel. It can be unplugged from the car and taken to a more convenient work area.

Inspecting the connectors

Well, there's your problem

Well, there’s your problem

If you flip the back panel back over, you can see the contacts. The window switch works by using the little arched plates pictured to make connections when pressed down. With the contacts this grimy and worn down, no connection will be made and the window won’t move.

In particular, all of the black dirt on the contacts, and the rust-colored grime on the arched plates will inhibit function. No wonder my window stopped working.

Soldering the panel

Contacts sanded to clean metal

Contacts sanded to clean metal

Getting the panel contacts clean is the next step. First, we need to get to clean metal. You can do this with sandpaper or a dremel tool; it doesn’t take much. Just get the layer of grime off to where you can see nice clean metal as shown.

At least two of the contacts had to be sanded really far down

At least two of the contacts had to be sanded really far down

Slap some solder on

Slap some solder on

Some of the contacts will likely be very short now, depending on how bad a state they were in. They also wear down over time from use. The next step is to simply put a blob of solder on these contacts. It doesn’t have to be pretty, we’ll shape it in a second.

Dremel helps clean up the solder

Dremel helps clean up the solder

Solder cleaned up

Solder cleaned up

Lastly, we can sand down the solder to a flat shape of approximately the right height. I used a sanding drum on a dremel, which made short work of this. You could just as easily hand sand it or use a file.

Cleaning up the arched plates

Plates after sanding

Plates after sanding

I’m sure there’s a real name for these, but “arched plates” is all I have to go with. Anyway, these need to be hit with a little sandpaper as well, on the contact ends. Just getting the corrosion off is enough.

Ready to reinstall

Ready to reinstall

And now this is ready to go back in the car. Reinstallation is the reverse of removal. After this, I was able to start the car and roll my window back up.

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Andrusha Chancellor
5 years ago

Hi,

Awesome post! My driver side window stopped working a while ago.

I carefully followed your instructions–cleaned/sanded the panel, arched plates, and applied some solder material to the contact points as you specified.

But I must have done something wrong because now BOTH driver & passenger windows will not roll up/down.

I am quite a NOOB at DIY projects and brand new to the soldering process, so I am unsure if I used the right kind of solder material:

Lead-based solder wire Or Lead-Free Solder wire
Flux cores: Acid core Or Rosin core

Which type of solder should I use? Could you provide an example, link, pic of the product I need?

Thanks kindly,

Andrew C.

James Spadaro
5 years ago

Hi, you definitely want to use lead-based solder. Lead-free is intended for ROHS compliance, but it’s a lot harder to work with. Leave lead-free to the people making bulk electronics.

You want rosin core solder as well. Acid core is for soldering materials like steel, which you’re not going to be using. If you used acid core, you might need to clean up the resulting contacts.

The last solder I bought was this stuff: https://amzn.to/2H45ZRr

Andrusha Chancellor
5 years ago
Reply to  James Spadaro

Hi James,

I very much appreciate your prompt and helpful advise/pro tip! I will give give it another try with the recommended solder.

Thanks,
– A.C.

Karen
Karen
5 years ago

Hi there. I just wanted to write to say “THANK YOU” for this posting! My 1993 Miata’s driver side electric window would not go down. I found this post and my brother followed all of the instructions exactly as written and in 35 min. the window was fixed! Saved us a lot of money for sure! Thank you again for this very helpful DIY posting.

James Spadaro
5 years ago
Reply to  Karen

I’m glad I was able to help! Just so you know, I’ve found the fix here lasts for quite awhile, but not forever – eventually the new pads you built up will wear down, and you’ll have to do it again.

At some point in the next few months I intend to post a write up showing how to add relays to this switch for a permanent fix, but other major projects on this car are coming first.

Still, if you have the problem recur, know adding relays is a permanent solution you can look into!

Dan
Dan
3 years ago

This is a great diy write with excellent pictures. One important extra point though. There is a screw in the center of the white panel. Without taking it out, no amount of prying the locking clips will let you separate the two. I learned the hard way and broke a little plastic around the lock tabs. Also, I only used elec sensor cleaner and sand paper. Didn’t need solider. Great write though. Thanks!

Tom
Tom
2 years ago

I know I am late to this great DIY project…my switches are working as expected. My question is this: are the switches backlit when the lights are on? Mine are completely dark when the lights are on and I can’t remember if they were backlit in the past. Thx!

James Spadaro
2 years ago
Reply to  Tom

They are not. The only lighting as far as I know is the bulb in the ashtray / cupholder area.