Easy XYZ switch cleaning

[nfbeckman]

This may already be a “thing” but I found this the quickest and easiest way to get your XYZ switch to operate as it should. This eliminated the M&S lights that I have been getting every morning when I turned my truck around to leave for work.

Simply drilled a hole in the bottom of the XYZ switch plastic cover large enough for the straw from a can of electrical cleaning spray. I spray some into the hole. Then cycle the shifter from P down to 1 many times. Repeat this procedure a few times and then I sprayed a little WD40 into it. After a few days I’ll seal the hole back up with some epoxy. This has now fixed two different D2s I’ve owned with the same occasional M&S lights.

 

[Saturnine]

Why would you spray WD40 on to electrical contacts?

 

[mearstrae]

To give the stuff its proper name, "U.S.Navy Water Displacement Formula Number 40". That should give a little hint as to its use. It displaces water and helps prevent corrosion.

 

[discostew]

Why would you spray WD40 on to electrical contacts?

It's a conductor and it displaces water like mearstrea says. I think this would help some of them. But a lot of them are so far gone they need to be scrubbed out.

 

[JUKE179r]

IMHO I would...
Remove and take apart the XYZ switch by drilling out the stud heads that hold it together,
properly clean all the the old grease with an isopropyl alcohol soaked lint free rag,
clean the corroded areas with fine sand paper or a pencil eraser,
use compressed air to blow it clean,
wipe again with an isopropyl alcohol soaked lint free rag,
add dielectric/non-conductive grease to the moving parts and electrical traces,
reseal the whole assembly with nuts & bolts,
finally remount and adjust on tranny.
Done...

 

[GMOG]

+1 for cleaning the switch!
HandyHowie has a nice write up, but he omits one critical detail: The plug (on my 2000) won't release until it is taken off the bracket, which locks the plug in place.
In fairness, Howie's is a '99, and may not have this bracket.
-g

 

[ukoffroad]

+1 for cleaning the switch!
HandyHowie has a nice write up, but he omits one critical detail: The plug (on my 2000) won't release until it is taken off the bracket, which locks the plug in place.
In fairness, Howie's is a '99, and may not have this bracket.
-g

Mine was the same way. Frustrating until you know.