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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: limo Jason on March 02, 2024, 11:49:08 AM

Title: 1949 series 75 window switches
Post by: limo Jason on March 02, 2024, 11:49:08 AM
Greetings, I've been working on the hydraulic windows on my 1949 series 75 and I'm just about finished.  However I'm having issues with both of the back window switches. Currently I can only lower the windows from the back. I suspect it's dirty contacts. About 2 years ago I had these apart and cleaned them and they worked for a short time only to stop again. Has anyone had any luck cleaning these or repairing them? They are different from the front doors and all the standard non-limo Cadillacs that I've see. Thanks 
Title: Re: 1949 series 75 window switches
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on March 03, 2024, 04:58:43 AM
As I recall, the chauffeur can raise the rear windows, he cannot lower them.  This gives the passenger the air "privacy" afforded by a limousine.  My two '56 Derhams were like that
Title: Re: 1949 series 75 window switches
Post by: limo Jason on March 03, 2024, 05:30:24 AM
Quote from: TonyZappone #2624 on March 03, 2024, 04:58:43 AMAs I recall, the chauffeur can raise the rear windows, he cannot lower them.  This gives the passenger the air "privacy" afforded by a limousine.  My two '56 Derhams were like that


Thanks Tony.  Same is true in 1949 for the drivers door, these are the rear and they did and should work in both directions.
Title: Re: 1949 series 75 window switches
Post by: tluke on March 03, 2024, 10:43:17 PM
Quote from: limo Jason on March 02, 2024, 11:49:08 AMCurrently I can only lower the windows from the back. I suspect it's dirty contacts

Like Tony, I first thought that meant that you could only lower the rear windows while sitting in the back and you thought the front switches had dirty contacts so you couldn't lower them from the front. As mentioned, that would be a feature on a formal limousine, not a problem. However you meant to convey the rear window switches won't raise the windows but the front switches will.

So while I have a limo, I don't have hydraulic windows, they're all electric but I assume there is an electrical component to them to activate the hydraulics. You mentioned you cleaned the switches and they worked for a while. I don't know how you cleaned them but I recommend using DeoxIT. It is very good at both cleaning the connections and protecting them afterwards. If it worked the first time it's probably the switches and the DeoxIT solution should be long lasting.

But it could also be that the act of removing the switches and reinstalling them jostled some bad wiring just right to make a connection again making it seem as if the switch cleaning was responsible and after driving the car for a while all the bumps jostled the wiring back to losing the connection again. That scenario is less likely however, since both windows won't go up.