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Heater switch help!!!

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by WorkInProgress, Jan 1, 2013.

  1. I just purchased a heater switch assembly from a member here for my 59 cj5 factory style heater and I cant seem to get the switch wired correctly. My owners manual says all the way to the left should be off, one notch to the right is low, and 2 notches to the right should be high. I can get the switch to work in all 3 off-low-high but I cant get it in the correct order like the manual says. ive gotten all the way to the right to be off, one left for low, and 2 left for high. ive been playing musical chairs with the wires and cant seem to get it in the correct order. does anyone know or have a wiring diagram of these early 4 banger cj5s that shows the heater switches? I have a wiring diagram in my owners manual and my parts manual but neither show any kind of heater.

    by the way this is the same STYLE heater switch im trying to install it has the cable setup coming out the back of the electrical switch.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/52-54-56-58...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
     
  2. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Can't you just switch the wires on the contacts? You obviously have the second position correct. That switch is in my wagon and works just like the manual says.
     
  3. I did try all combinations on the contacts on the back of the switch in every order and I couldn't get it to work. my owners manual said fully counterclockwise should be off, whereas mine is currently full clockwise is off. and this is the only combination I could get all 3 positions to work perfectly....only downside is they are all opposite turning direction from where the manual said they should be.
     
  4. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Who you gonna believe... the manual, or your own lying eyes? Sometimes those things got printed before the vehicles were actually off the assembly line, stuff changed.
     
  5. Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Do you have the original blower motor? Some motors work by applying power from the switch to the wires and some motors have power applied all the time and the wires are connected to ground through the switch.
     
  6. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I would agree but my switch works as it is supposed to. Maybe Walt is on the right track about the motor.
     
  7. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    "Maybe Walt is on the right track about the motor."

    He usually is.
     
  8. I'm pretty sure the motor is original it does have an old look to it. And the motor is grounded to the body and has two wires coming out for high and low, one is red and one is yellow.
     
  9. If yours is like mine and works correctly any chance I can bug you for a pic of the back of the switch??? To see the colors of the wires in their correct order, and compare to my order.
     
  10. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    I'll look but I restored the wagon around 7 or 8 years ago and might have replaced the wires without color coding them. I can't remember offhand what I did exactly, I'll find out though.
     
  11. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Do you have the switch installed as in the picture? If installed upside down the outside contacts would be opposite and would appear to be backwards.
     
  12. benjy58

    benjy58 New Member

    This sounds stupid but if you turn the switch 180 degrees is it now correct?.
     
  13. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    That's what I'm saying, I don't remember if it fits in the bracket only a certain way or not. Looking at the picture in the link made me realize that could be the issue. ;)
     
  14. This was a good idea I hadn't thought of, I just went out and checked and the switch only fits in the switch panel one way and cant be placed in backwards. the hole for the switch is round with only one flattened side to essentially "key" the hole.
     
  15. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Two upper connections are yellow on the left (driver's side), red on the right. Lower separate connection is power into switch.
     
  16. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    This is from a very deeply buried memory, so take it with quite a bit of salt.

    I seem to recall having a somewhat similar issue once, and the problem was the resistance coil had a break near one end, so it was essentially feeding current from the middle terminal backwards out the other end. I know that sounds strange. Just a long shot, but can you check the internals?
     
  17. I'm positive I could take it apart and inspect the internals pretty easily. But, since it currently works and I'm not sure these switches are very common. IF I broke it, it may take a while to replace. I think if that's what it will take to fix it I'd rather leave it be, full functional but backwards.
     
  18. PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    I agree. My dad taught me old cars and he always said "if it's working, don't fix it!"
     
  19. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Did you compare your connections to what I posted?
     
  20. Sorry I guess at first I overlooked that posting of yours. But now I went out and checked and mine is in same positions as yours is. bottom connection is ignition switched power, top one on driver side is yellow and top one on pass side is red. And thanks again for checking into this for me.