relocating lock and window switches? | Ford Explorer Forums

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relocating lock and window switches?

pimpedout97x

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 1, 2005
Messages
242
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1
City, State
Tampa, Fl.
Year, Model & Trim Level
1997 Eddie Bauer
Not sure if this is the right forum, but I need to shave the switches from the doors, and I want to move the master control ones to the center console. Is it hard to extend the wires from the drivers door to the console? I'm also thinking about doing toggle switches instead as well, or maybe some switches from a new explorer, or navigator or something.

Anyone done this before?
 



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so you wanna mount the switches like the older cameros have theirs right?? that would be awesome, only problem is you'd have those holes from where the controls were in the armrest. either way keep us posted i would love to see how this all worked out for you " LOTS OF PICS " of the build up would be great ;) . and i would stick with the stock controllers myself just to keep the look the same as the other controls and also to keep the one touch down function of the controls. just my 0.02 is all...... :D ;)
 






haven't done it yet- but will be in the spring. It will be a painstaking process, that will require some good organization/care.

However, it is very straight forward. I plan on tapping into the wires inside the kickpanels.

-drew
 






to the other guy- my I'm glassing the stock door panels, covering over the holes.

Drew- tonight ill talk to you about it on aim. :-)
 






All the wires for those switches go to the door through a hole in the body down by the kickpanel. As Drew said, you can just tap into them there. Just make sure you know what you are doing and tap into the correct wires. Just because the wire color is the same as the one going to the switch, doesn't mean it is the correct wires. I have seen ford use multiple wires of the same colors going to the same place. Just make sure you know what you are doing. Seems easy, but you just need to take your time and be careful. Getting some switches from another model would be awesome. You will just have to find the proper wiring diagram, which also isn't that hard. Do something cool VJ and then I will copy you. lol
 






Someone that knows the wires needs to educate me :-)

I'm gonna take a look at it later...wait til you guys see how I'm gonna do the tweeters lol!
 






sadly- no one is going to know the wires

you are going to have to wait for me- or figure it out.
 






What if I extend the wires starting right under the harness that plugs into the switches? And just run them to the console?
 






The wiring diagram is in the back of a haynes manual, or on service manual cd.
 






I've been wanting to do this as well. Along with bring the foglight and rear defrost switches down. All of the Saabs have the control switches there as well. Thats where I got the inspiration from :)

Just haven't take the time to do it.
 






my c43 has all switches center console as well
 






Guys, it is very possible to do for anyone. The key is to keep out too much resistance in the connections, or the windows will be very slow to move.

I have almost finished my dual window controls. I had to tap into or modify every window wire basically. I had to add two relays per door to isolate my right hand control switch.

I'll help more later, but here are some basics. All window power comes from the blue/black wire in the LF door. All window ground goes through the black wire in the LF door.

The three other windows are powered by the red/blue wire, which gets power from the LF blue/black wire. There are six wires going from the LF door to the other windows, not counting the red/blue wire.

The auto down function is controlled by the GEM module. If you maintain the wire scheme like the LF door wiring, it will still work.

All of those wires are 14 gauge, barely large enough. The best thing you could do is to maintain as much of the factory wires as possible. Meaning remove the seats and rug, then reroute the factory wires to where you mount the master switch. So don't cut any of those wires, first route them to where they need to go, then deal with the connections.

I can say that crimping with butt connectors, and soldering those, will create too much resistance. I have all of mine done except the RF relays. I shall try to just crimp those connections, to see if that works better. I'll have to go back into the three finished doors, to improve some connections. Good luck all,
 

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wow

CDW6212R way to go!

Good job, good report, good pictures.....I SAY, "WELL, DONE MY FRIEND!"
 






why is the master switches on the passenger door? was that your mod lol
 






why is the master switches on the passenger door? was that your mod lol

Yes dummy. lol He is using this explorer for mail delivery, and I am sure you know, that in order to get the mail in the mailbox, you need to be sitting on the right side of the vehicle. Either that or drive against traffic, or drive backwards, which is stupid and impractical. :D
 






is his wheel on the other side?
 






The wheel will stay where it is now. He will just reach over with an arm and a leg to operate the gas, brake, and steering. I don't know this for a fact, but it is what I gather from hearing about this project of his in the past. A complete right hand drive conversion would get pricey fast.

Is that window switch panel on the passenger door from a UK X Don? I bet that was an expensive part.
 






The wheel will stay where it is now. He will just reach over with an arm and a leg to operate the gas, brake, and steering. I don't know this for a fact, but it is what I gather from hearing about this project of his in the past. A complete right hand drive conversion would get pricey fast.

Is that window switch panel on the passenger door from a UK X Don? I bet that was an expensive part.

If I had oodles of money I'd shell out for a right hand conversion. Just be cool to see the looks on people's faces. Although toll boths would get annoying. I guess thats why there is EZPass :)
 






Thanks for the kind words. I am tall enough to sit in the right seat and drive with my left foot and hand, with the seat belt on. I could and may still change to RHD controls, but the extra work space without the wheel etc. is nice right now. My right knee has been wearing out faster than normal, so I may be forced to change.

...Is that window switch panel on the passenger door from a UK X Don? I bet that was an expensive part.

I take that as a compliment, because I actually cut up the RF switch panel, and merged it with a LF underside switch holder. It took a couple of hours of tedious cutting and epoxying. Regards,
 

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Very impressive Don. I had no idea that you did that.
 






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