I'm still rebuilding my '86. I gutted the doors, and ended up getting it painted. Now, I'm trying to reassemble it.

The lock/alarm system hasn't been functional since I bought it 5 years ago. OK, I bought all new parts (regulators, chrome handles, new locks, even new little plastic thingys for the lock pawls) - except door lock switches. These damn things are a poor and flimsy design made of thin cheap plastic. The plastic has disintegratred. When I removed the passenger switch, it crumpled. Ok, another call to Chris at Superior Chevrolet. No longer made. Chris gave me the part #'s. I call Vintage Parts - they have only the driver's side. Great, I'll live with that. $50 later, part shows up, and it is not even close to the original. Useless.

I contact used Vette parts places. Vette2vette had them. $25 for both switches. The important fragile plastic turn piece was missing from both of them when they showed up, and one of them began disintegrating just from handling it. In reassembling the driver's door this morning, I tried to reuse the lock switch that was in there. 1/2 hr later, I got it all together, but the switch doesn't close when I turn the key.

It looks like I'll have to reassemble the car using only the key to lock it, and I won't be able to get the VATS working again. Anyone have any experience or advice to share? Did anyone get around this problem before? This is on an '86 coupe. Thanks.

Gregg

 

I just replaced mine. "The Last Detail" (1-888-527-8338) has them for about $18.00 each. Part number 671917.
In 1987, Chevrolet went to a much better window regulator assembly..
It does away with the plastic ribbon and increased the stability of the door glass. They can very simply be retrofitted into the 86. If you haven't already finished your doors it would be worth a consideration.

 

I think he is talking about the alarm switches on the back of the door
locks not window ribbons.
I have the same problem if anyone has the answer.

 

Yes, I mean the 'theft deterrent' switches.

I just noticed something. I was looking at my '86 Parts & Illustration catalog (which has a date of 5/86 - my car was made in 10/85), and in the disassembled door picture, I see the switch that Vintage Parts sent me (it's not obvious in the picture where it's mounted). I went back out to the car, and peered into the doors. I still cannot see any way that switch can be easily mounted. It is a micro switch, with a long activating arm. So it doesn't have to be right near the lock cylinder pawl. It could for example be activated by one of the levers sticking out of the door lock mechanism. But I still can't see a good place (and a couple existing holes) where that would mount. Perhaps, in early '86, they didn't drill the holes yet for that style of switch. I'm thinking of hitting a couple Chevy dealers and see if any service person knows how the switch ismounted (it may be used in later C4's).

 

I'm talking about the switches on the back of the door locks too. I just replaced both my alarm/door lock switches for $18.00 each.

I just mentioned the regulator as something to consider while your in there.

 

Well, I (and bully-85 apparently) didn't believe you were talking about the theft deterrent switches being available. But I went to their web site and saw drivers side switches available. I called TLD, and sure enough they were - somewhat. He said the driver's side switch was out of stock, but that a Flint GM warehouse showed 67 of them in stock. I quickly ordered one. Then he asked about the passenger side. I said their web site didn't even mention it. He said the computer showed them out of stock, and no longer available. No surprise to me. But he said to wait, and he went and checked the shelves. He found one (just one), that wasn't on the computer. I barked out "I'll take it" so fast I set a record.

The passenger side switch he sent actually turned out to the a driver's side switch. But when the driver's side switch came, it actually turned out to be a passenger side switch inside a driver's side switch box. So I ended up with just what I wanted, two brand new theft deterrent switches, that haven't been available anywhere else. Strike3, I owe you a beer or three if I ever meet you with a tap nearby.

For others (bully-85?) searching for the early C4 switches, there may still be some driver's side switches available (and it's possible one of those may be in the wrong box, and actually be a passenger side as well).

Here's what to order, and how to recognize the parts (these are for '84 - thru early '86):
Driver's side - TLD # 671917, GM# 14047191, the green part # tag on the part says 47191.
Passenger side - TLD # 672917, GM# 14047192, the green part # tag on teh part says 47192 (I'm guessing that's the correct GM aprt # based on the green tag #).

I have one driver's side theft deterrent switch for a late '86 onwards (GM part # 14066515) if someone is interested in paying what I paid for it from Vintage Parts (this part is supposedly no longer available - I'll look it up, but I think it was around $50. Vintage Parts hits you hard for unavailable parts).

Thanks again Strike3.
Gregg

 

Good ending

 

I think you can take the plastic insert out of the switch, flip it around and use it on the other door. Check it out and confirm if this can be done. Might be a good alternative.

 

Good idea. I won't try it because I already have both, and these switches are rather fragile (those little plastic inserts disintegrated when I removed the old switches - they became brittle over the years). These switches also fly apart very easily.The new switches from late '86 onwards are much better quality (standard sealed microswitches). But I couldn't find a way to mount the one I had. My P&I catalog, from late '86, showed the newer switch in the door exploded view, but not where it went. There was, however, a bracket also displayed elsewhere in the view that isn't in my doors. So maybe that bracket was added to hold the new style switch. There weren't any unaccounted for holes in my doors. There were holes already drilled for the new late-'86 style window regulators, even though the early-'86 ribbon-style regulators were installed. Also, some door wiring was of the late '86 type (a new better kind of connector was used for most wiring). Chevy seemed to be experimenting throughout the '86 model year.