GTV/6 Illuminated Window Switches

Started by GTVeloce, June 23, 2022, 11:24:46 AM

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GTVeloce

One of my annoyances has always been that the electric window switches are not illuminated. At night time you have to fumble in the dark to find them. The US 1986 model had illuminated switches but they looked quite different to the originals and I wanted it to look more like the original. I finally found some! Installed they look and work well. If I was picky, I would prefer they had two leds per switch instead of one as you can see where the led is rather than it being uniform but at least I can easily see them in the dark now!

I bought them from this site;
https://aus.grandado.com/products/1pcs-universal-5pin-car-electric-window-switch-power-window-switch-for-all-autos-with-green-led-light-car-button-switch-12v-24v

They are designed for 5 pin wiring so check if your car has 4 or 5 pin wiring. Altering it is quite simple - the fifth wire is a second earth wire (1:window up, 2:earth, 3:power 12+, 4:earth, 5:window down). I had already altered my wiring when I installed the electric windows so it was plug and play for me.

Anth73

Nice upgrade Julian! Will have to consider that once my power windows are installed and I can confirm my wiring situation. I have seen the switches relocated to either end of the row, perhaps to help finding them in the dark.
Now:
2012 Giulietta QV / 1982 GTV6 3L / 1965 Giulia Sprint GT project

Gone:
2002 156 2.5V6 Manual / 2012 159 2.4JTDm Sportwagon / 1973 2000 GTV (cut & shut) / Alfa 90 (for its engine mounts) / 1970 1750 GTV / 1966 GT Veloce (sacrificed so others may live on)

bteoh

Thanks Julian,
It has been something that has annoyed me for a long time too. Just ordered a few sets for my GTVs.
Cheers  :)





Quote from: GTVeloce on June 23, 2022, 11:24:46 AM
One of my annoyances has always been that the electric window switches are not illuminated. At night time you have to fumble in the dark to find them. The US 1986 model had illuminated switches but they looked quite different to the originals and I wanted it to look more like the original. I finally found some! Installed they look and work well. If I was picky, I would prefer they had two leds per switch instead of one as you can see where the led is rather than it being uniform but at least I can easily see them in the dark now!

I bought them from this site;
https://aus.grandado.com/products/1pcs-universal-5pin-car-electric-window-switch-power-window-switch-for-all-autos-with-green-led-light-car-button-switch-12v-24v

They are designed for 5 pin wiring so check if your car has 4 or 5 pin wiring. Altering it is quite simple - the fifth wire is a second earth wire (1:window up, 2:earth, 3:power 12+, 4:earth, 5:window down). I had already altered my wiring when I installed the electric windows so it was plug and play for me.

GTVeloce

Quick update: my drivers window didn't want to go up the other day. Swapped out the nice illuminated switch for the original and it works again.

-1 for the new switch. Just as well they were cheap! When I get a chance I will open up the switch and try and see what has gone wrong.

Anth73

Bummer! Was going to grab a couple myself.
Now:
2012 Giulietta QV / 1982 GTV6 3L / 1965 Giulia Sprint GT project

Gone:
2002 156 2.5V6 Manual / 2012 159 2.4JTDm Sportwagon / 1973 2000 GTV (cut & shut) / Alfa 90 (for its engine mounts) / 1970 1750 GTV / 1966 GT Veloce (sacrificed so others may live on)

GTVeloce

I'm still quite happy with them generally. This failure may have been a one-off. But given they are less than $20 maybe buy 3!

Anth73

I bought four...just in case. Made sense to use these illuminated switches given one of my original power window switch connectors had been cut off anyway. Just waintng for the 5-wire pigtails to arrive so I can hook them up to the existing loom.
Now:
2012 Giulietta QV / 1982 GTV6 3L / 1965 Giulia Sprint GT project

Gone:
2002 156 2.5V6 Manual / 2012 159 2.4JTDm Sportwagon / 1973 2000 GTV (cut & shut) / Alfa 90 (for its engine mounts) / 1970 1750 GTV / 1966 GT Veloce (sacrificed so others may live on)

Anth73

#7
An update on the generic illuminated power window switches bought from the grandado.com website and available from other sites like Amazon and eBay. Quality seems to be an issue as both of GTVeloce's switches failed within 12 months. I bought four in preparation for my power window conversion and they are all faulty.

OKP sell the standard and illuminated switches for abour $60AUD each but shipping is a whopping 75 euro! l also found a slightly cheaper and what looks to be a higher quality OEM alternative from Autoloc rated to 20A and with a lifetime warranty for $30AUD. Might give them a go.

https://www.autoloc.com/catalog/Power-Window-Kits/Power-Window-Switches/AUTSW2/5-Pin-12V-Power-Car-Window-Door-Lock-Rocker-Switch-Green-LED-Illuminated-Arrows
Now:
2012 Giulietta QV / 1982 GTV6 3L / 1965 Giulia Sprint GT project

Gone:
2002 156 2.5V6 Manual / 2012 159 2.4JTDm Sportwagon / 1973 2000 GTV (cut & shut) / Alfa 90 (for its engine mounts) / 1970 1750 GTV / 1966 GT Veloce (sacrificed so others may live on)

GTVeloce

Yeah, as Anth73 said, both of mine failed in under a year so I'm back to using the originals. However, I'm thinking it may have been they were not designed for the current that runs through the switches in the standard wiring setup. The autoloc ones are rated to 20amps which could be the difference.

Also, rewiring the windows with relays should reduce the load on the switches.