Replacement window switches - that are DIFFERENT ??

[Gatorized]

Considered spending 70 bucks on a crappy worn out switch on ebay to see if I could take one apart and put in weaker springs.
Amazing how totally nasty all the used ones look. I mean - the coating apparently comes off after a couple of years. Some I've found have very little black left on the switch. It's a rubber coating that gets eaten away.
In this case just a matter of longer levers or weaker springs or a switch that is like the Grand Cherokee - a rocker that's really easy to push. You can open those windows just by resting your hand on the arm rest.

I was thinking a junk yard switch set… maybe from any vehicle, that might be adaptable to fit the wrangler arm rest. So you would have switches in the dash as well as the arm rest.

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[IamPro2A]

My thoughts:
Contact one of the companies that specialize in outfitting vehicles for handicapped people. They might already know of a solution.

Design and 3D print a toggle lever to go on the OEM switches. Without going out to look at mine, my first thought is the lever could maybe latch under the lip, and then use some 3M tape to hold it.
Something like these but with more leverage and quailty double-sided tape instead of the off-brand chinese stuff these use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZKHWNG/

 

[WILDHOBO]

Looked at that - $124 plus shipping is a lot to experiment on.

There's very little danger of these being hit by a child or a dog with their placement ahead of the shift lever and being recessed like they are.
The switches on the Grand Cherokee took very little pressure to activate and were easy to push. Push on front end of switch for up, on rear half of switch for down.
If the Grand Cherokee switch was in that dash panel it would be perfect.
I know what you are suggesting - but it doesn't fit because other Jeeps have switches in the open on the tops of the arm rests and it takes almost no pressure to activate them. These are very different from any other modern vehicle. If it was safety, then Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and almost all other Jeep models violate those protocols big time.
Check out the pressure to open or close those simple rocker switches in the WK2 platform.

I have to agree with Hootbro. It seems that $124 is pretty cheap to have the opportunity to customize your switch bank. Take it apart, and use CAD and a 3d printer to fabricate your own switches. You’d only need to reuse the back of the box, allowing you to switch it anyway you’d prefer. I get that you have specific requirements for your vehicles, but you knew that exactly how the switches operated before you bought the JL, since you were on your second JT. But you’re now on the forum complaining about the switch design. I’m genuinely not trying to be rude, but it sounds like it’s not the right vehicle for her. You keep going back to how great her grand Cherokee was, and repeatedly mention how much money you need to spend modifying her JL so she can get into it, open the windows, etc. It sounds like the only thing she likes about it is the color. Maybe it’s time to trade it in for another grand Cherokee?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have to agree with Hootbro. It seems that $124 is pretty cheap to have the opportunity to customize your switch bank. Take it apart, and use CAD and a 3d printer to fabricate your own switches. You’d only need to reuse the back of the box, allowing you to switch it anyway you’d prefer. I get that you have specific requirements for your vehicles, but you knew that exactly how the switches operated before you bought the JL, since you were on your second JT. But you’re now on the forum complaining about the switch design. I’m genuinely not trying to be rude, but it sounds like it’s not the right vehicle for her. You keep going back to how great her grand Cherokee was, and repeatedly mention how much money you need to spend modifying her JL so she can get into it, open the windows, etc. It sounds like the only thing she likes about it is the color. Maybe it’s time to trade it in for another grand Cherokee?

Yes we knew, but her being in the passenger seat was a lot different than being in the driver seat. Trying to put it back on us when we're really only talking these switches (and the seats but I have a solution for the seat lever already and it's simple as heck)
I rarely ever use the window switches. They'll last forever in my JT. and I've got enough strength I could break them if I tried.
It wasn't a big deal until we got into the situations where she used windows - with her right hand.
When you don't use something even on a monthly basis, you don't give it a lot of thought.
So blame the owner instead of helpful.
People come in all the time asking about how to modify the seats, changing this or that, need different part for this, this isn't good, the list goes on. So why does anyone ever buy a Jeep when they know the seats are how they are?
Yeah, there's 100 pros vs. a couple of cons - you work to resolve the cons.
Every vehicle will have downsides.
For me, for example, the Grand Cherokee had crazy blind spots, huge sloping A pillars that were always in the way.

My thoughts:
Contact one of the companies that specialize in outfitting vehicles for handicapped people. They might already know of a solution.

Design and 3D print a toggle lever to go on the OEM switches. Without going out to look at mine, my first thought is the lever could maybe latch under the lip, and then use some 3M tape to hold it.
Something like these but with more leverage and quailty double-sided tape instead of the off-brand chinese stuff these use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KZKHWNG/

I'm considering that - bought some of the Amazon pieces. My thinking is that they'd add at least some length to the switches. Length = leverage.
I don't know CAD, don't have printing capabilities.
I have big rolls of the 3M tape for auto trim among other things. Far better than what comes with internet parts.
Longer levers, maybe weaken or weaker springs might work out.

 

[22EcoDs]

What if you fabbed an aluminum plate with 4 replacement double throw toggles from the parts store?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That would go over like a lead balloon, not to mention - wonder what the wiring inside that switch panel is like.......... since it's a lot of wires in there.

This is the back of the panel and in the middle is the window lock knob.

 

[IamPro2A]

I don't know CAD, don't have printing capabilities.
I have big rolls of the 3M tape for auto trim among other things. Far better than what comes with internet parts.
Longer levers, maybe weaken or weaker springs might work out.

I don't know cad or 3D printing either. But I do know that there are a lot of smart people out there who do, and enjoy doing it to be helpful and maybe even make a few bucks. Some even specialize in 3D printing Jeep stuff.

 

[IamPro2A]

What if you used something like sugru to mold a toggle lever onto one of those aftermarket trim pieces on Amazon? Wouldn't be pretty, but if nothing else it would be a pretty easy proof of concept.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I don't know cad or 3D printing either. But I do know that there are a lot of smart people out there who do, and enjoy doing it to be helpful and maybe even make a few bucks. Some even specialize in 3D printing Jeep stuff.

Yeah, there's a very helpful member who is helping me get the insulators I need for my Prestolite windshield wiper restorations. I've never be able to do what he's doing (well, maybe, but in years).
I have a feeling that just making those switch levers stick out more would be a help - that is worth trying.
I'll see if I can find a pick n pull near me that has a trashed JL/JLU to salvage switches from to experiment. The ones on eBay, etc are pricy for what they are but then don't want to experiment on GOOD ones, either. But I'll see what I can find locally first. Oddly, over the years, I have found that Jeeps are really hard to find in the junk yards around here. Tried in the past to get parts and the response was always "we don't have Jeeps" or that sort of thing.

 

[npgeorgeuw]

Already have that device. It's the act of moving the tiny short switch against a stiff spring that's the problem now.

Couldn’t a simple hook or lever be used for leverage for her? Seems like something could be 3D printed into the rough shape, sanded or filed into exact fitment and 3M taped into position?

 

[WILDHOBO]

That would go over like a lead balloon, not to mention - wonder what the wiring inside that switch panel is like.......... since it's a lot of wires in there.

This is the back of the panel and in the middle is the window lock knob.

It probably isn’t that complicated. 2-3 wires per window, power, ground. They probably make it look more complicated to allow a single connector. Open one and look at it. I doubt it’s that bad.

 

[Dartboy]

There's probably a group of Engineering students at a local College looking for a Senior project to get their degree...

Would a wiring extension to mount the existing switchbox to a better location help? Upper left of the dashboard maybe?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There's probably a group of Engineering students at a local College looking for a Senior project to get their degree...

Would a wiring extension to mount the existing switchbox to a better location help? Upper left of the dashboard maybe?

Very few places in a JL to put anything like that - 4 switches plus the window lock switch. There are what, 10 or so wires (some of a healthy gauge). The only way I'd consider relocating is if they were closer to the driver's seat. The right side is crowded (and would be the right arm thing again) and the left on these is limited in space.
Light switches on the lower dash area, then the left HVAC duct and then you get up to the top of the dash - reaching forward to get to them, possibly also creating a blind spot.
It's a large piece as it sits. (this shows how great the condition is of the typical used ones for sale out there)

 

[TigerInFL]

too bad there isn't a way to use Siri or something like it to raise or lower the window.

betting there is some whiz kid who could come up with something like that.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

too bad there isn't a way to use Siri or something like it to raise or lower the window.

betting there is some whiz kid who could come up with something like that.

Using Raspberry pi?

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