[DeTomaso] dome light

[mikeldrew at aol.com]

Tom wrote:

Noticed that my dome light does not go on when I open the passenger side
door.
Anybody know anything about the door switch?
How do you remove? etc..

>>>It's a simple refrigerator-door-style plunger switch located in the 
A-post, between the hinges if I remember correctly.  It's held in with 
a single screw.  It's possible that the switch has corroded, or that a 
wire fell off.

Remove it carefully, so that the wire comes through the hole along with 
the switch, and doesn't catch and fall off and disappear into the 
bowels of the car.

Spritzing with WD40 or some proper electrical contact cleaner, removing 
the wires and cleaning the contacts will most likely bring it back to 
life.  The switch is common to many Italian cars of the era; De Tomaso 
wants an arm and a leg for them probably.

Here's the link from Wilkinson's website:  
http://www.panterapartsusa.com/cgi-bin/detail.cgi?prod_id=20067a

$52.55, that's a lot of money for a common switch.  Probably not 
Steve's fault, but rather De Tomaso sticking it to him (and therefore, 
us).

www.alfapartscatalog.com lists a couple of different switches for 
different model Alfas from the 69-74 period with prices in the $5 
range.  Sadly they don't show photos on their website.  But I'd be 
willing to bet that one of them is identical to the Pantera switch.

Mike Haney--you have a period Alfa Spyder and Nancy's Pantera in your 
garage--how about doing a switch comparison and letting us know?

Mike
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