1960-63 Eldorado door jamb switch

[Whit]

looking for the 4 contact door jamb switch for my Eldorado Biarritz. I could use a pair of them . I know that they are hard to find but I wonder if there is an acceptable substitute out there?

Whit

[David Greenburg]

I found one a couple of years ago after contacting the vendors of last resort, but it took a long time, and was not cheap.  Is there any way to repair yours, perhaps by cannibalizing parts form a lesser switch?

[76eldo]

How much would a pair of left and right switches be worth ?

[russ austin]

There is a 1, 2 and 3 pin connector door jamb switches.  The 4th port is empty for the ground contact built into the top cap of the switch.  This is 63-64 that I know about.

[fishnjim]

Another way.   Take a universal and use a relay for the other missing ports.   Should fit behind the kick panel.   Just use an 12V auto-rated relay.   

[russ austin]

Why use a relay?  The switch is ground operated. It completes a ground so the lights work.

[76eldo]

There’s 4 contacts because they got very fancy about what lights come on when you open each door. It is possible to wire things so that they all come on but I’m not sure what is different on the Eldo’s. 

[60eldo]

   I have a set,Steven after openning them, Im wondering, the contacts hit from top to bottom, so where is the breaking point.

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

They used the multi prong switch because they wanted your door panel lights map lights , dash light etc to come on when you opened the door . The need for multiple terminals is to keep the circuits separate with the door closed so for instance if you switch in your map light the door panel lights don’t come on at the same time . It’s very simple to use a regular switch and tie the circuits together but you have to install diodes to keep the circuits separate so they can operate separately when needed .