Mazda MPV Power Window Switch DIY
01-29-08, 09:18 PM
#1
Mazda MPV Power Window Switch DIY
As most of us already know, the power window switches in the FC aren't that grand. Most, if not all, require fairly consistent 'cleaning'. This 'cleaning' entails pulling the switches out of the door panel, taking them apart and then sanding the contacts very gently to remove the corrosion that causes them to stop working properly/efficiently. The reason that the switches fail temporarily are because every time you depress the switch and the contact surfaces mate, a slight arc occurs. Over time, this arcing corrodes the contact surfaces, causing the current flow to deteriorate. While easily solved...it's a pain in the backside!
I will admit, this idea did not originate from my own mind. Another forum member has written about this swap some time ago, but it lacks detail (as I found out tonight).
The switches you want come from the first generation Mazda MPV of which spans from 1989 to 1998. They will drop into the door panel seamlessly and look pretty good in comparison to the factory switch sets.
The passenger side window switch is a DIRECT drop in replacement, while the driver side master switch requires cutting the wiring harness off and swapping over the harness from your old factory switch. It's easy, but confusing, and it took me a while to get it right. So here's the key...
Cut the harness off at the base, to give you plenty of wire to work with in case you accidentally snip a little too hard and cut the wires off entirely while attempting to strip them later.
You will notice that the color coding of the insulation is identical looking at the factory and the MPV switches. This is what will throw you off. The thick black wire with blue striping is plug and play, as are the solid black and black with red striping wires.
However, to make the switch work properly, you will need to switch the other color wires with their counterparts. For example: The green wire with black striping will need to be mated with the green wire with white striping on the MPV switch. You get the idea?
If you've done it right, when you test the switch both windows will work properly. I went through several different combinations before I got it right. It can get confusing.
So to sum it up in an easy to look at sort of get up:
Colors that directly swap over:
Thick black with blue stripe.
Thick solid black.
Thick black with red stripe.
Colors that need to be opposed:
Green with white stripe > Green with black stripe.
Green with black stripe > Green with white stripe.
Red with black stripe > Red (It will be red with white stripe on the old harness)
Red (Red with white stripe) > Red with black stripe.
I hope this helps someone who is wanting to do this swap. The switch works great and feels more solid than the standard FC switch set!
I will admit, this idea did not originate from my own mind. Another forum member has written about this swap some time ago, but it lacks detail (as I found out tonight).
The switches you want come from the first generation Mazda MPV of which spans from 1989 to 1998. They will drop into the door panel seamlessly and look pretty good in comparison to the factory switch sets.
The passenger side window switch is a DIRECT drop in replacement, while the driver side master switch requires cutting the wiring harness off and swapping over the harness from your old factory switch. It's easy, but confusing, and it took me a while to get it right. So here's the key...
Cut the harness off at the base, to give you plenty of wire to work with in case you accidentally snip a little too hard and cut the wires off entirely while attempting to strip them later.
You will notice that the color coding of the insulation is identical looking at the factory and the MPV switches. This is what will throw you off. The thick black wire with blue striping is plug and play, as are the solid black and black with red striping wires.
However, to make the switch work properly, you will need to switch the other color wires with their counterparts. For example: The green wire with black striping will need to be mated with the green wire with white striping on the MPV switch. You get the idea?
If you've done it right, when you test the switch both windows will work properly. I went through several different combinations before I got it right. It can get confusing.
So to sum it up in an easy to look at sort of get up:
Colors that directly swap over:
Thick black with blue stripe.
Thick solid black.
Thick black with red stripe.
Colors that need to be opposed:
Green with white stripe > Green with black stripe.
Green with black stripe > Green with white stripe.
Red with black stripe > Red (It will be red with white stripe on the old harness)
Red (Red with white stripe) > Red with black stripe.
I hope this helps someone who is wanting to do this swap. The switch works great and feels more solid than the standard FC switch set!
01-30-08, 12:39 PM
#10
The switches out of the MPV feel more solid. I realize that some people have broken the button plastics off of the stock switches and these do not feel like they'd do that unless you really tried.
Here are some pictures of the switches installed...
And a comparison shot..
Any more questions?
Edit: Yeah, I know they're kind of dirty and the passenger switch doesn't look like it quite fits. It *does*. The slight bulging is because of my warped door panels.
Here are some pictures of the switches installed...
And a comparison shot..
Any more questions?
Edit: Yeah, I know they're kind of dirty and the passenger switch doesn't look like it quite fits. It *does*. The slight bulging is because of my warped door panels.
01-30-08, 06:32 PM
#16
I just pulled apart one of the other master switches I've got.
Honestly, I don't see much difference between the FC's switch and the MPV's switch. However, the rocker contacts feel more sturdy and it seems to be sealed a little bit more tightly. The plastics that make up the switches themselves also feel more solid and less prone to breakage.
The bottom line is this: They swap right in. They're cheaper. They're everywhere. What more are you wanting?
Honestly, I don't see much difference between the FC's switch and the MPV's switch. However, the rocker contacts feel more sturdy and it seems to be sealed a little bit more tightly. The plastics that make up the switches themselves also feel more solid and less prone to breakage.
The bottom line is this: They swap right in. They're cheaper. They're everywhere. What more are you wanting?
01-30-08, 07:46 PM
#18
registered user
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 2,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
10 bucks says this can be done without cutting the harness. Mazda likes to use the same type of contacts and same gender across car lines in most of its cars of the same general era, and same area of the car.
The pins pull out from the plugs with a dental pic and some finess. Sometimes you end up with extra pins, that would need to be taped over to keep them from shorting.
You could probably get the door side harness plastic plug along with the switch and just put that with the correct pin out onto the wiring for your factory doors.
The pins pull out from the plugs with a dental pic and some finess. Sometimes you end up with extra pins, that would need to be taped over to keep them from shorting.
You could probably get the door side harness plastic plug along with the switch and just put that with the correct pin out onto the wiring for your factory doors.
Cut the harness off at the base, to give you plenty of wire to work with in case you accidentally snip a little too hard and cut the wires off entirely while attempting to strip them later.
You will notice that the color coding of the insulation is identical looking at the factory and the MPV switches. This is what will throw you off. The thick black wire with blue striping is plug and play, as are the solid black and black with red striping wires.
You will notice that the color coding of the insulation is identical looking at the factory and the MPV switches. This is what will throw you off. The thick black wire with blue striping is plug and play, as are the solid black and black with red striping wires.
01-30-08, 08:25 PM
#20
Wow, those look a hell of a lot better than I thought they would when we were getting them at the yard. And for everyone else, the MPV switches are a dime a dozen, unlike good FC switches. And IMO they look just about OEM, besides the color. But if he had a blue interior, I'd never know the difference...
Anyways, now maybe I can roll up and down my window in your car without hurrying it on
Anyways, now maybe I can roll up and down my window in your car without hurrying it on
01-31-08, 03:19 AM
#23
I wonder how much work goes into putting the FC top on on the MPV mechanism? I'm pathetic when it comes to keeping the interior stock/uniform. Though there is a divider on the FC that's different than the MPV..maybe it's not possible at all.
Either way, this is an awesome tip. Something I'll be keeping an eye out for.
Either way, this is an awesome tip. Something I'll be keeping an eye out for.
01-31-08, 03:59 AM
#25
It looks like you might simply swap the tops off and with the non-lettering on the actual switches...none would be the wiser. I've got an old driver's side switch that I took apart when it broke. I'll have to dig that out and take a trip to the junkyard, do some comparisons.