[DeTomaso] 4-way flasher switch

Wed Apr 25 03:24:48 EDT 2018

There are two versions of that switch in Panteras. One type uses a metal cage to hold the switch parts together ('73?), Remove from dash- Note that you don't have to undo all the wires to that switch. 8" further under the dash is a big rectangular connector! Unnbend the metal tabs, then shim the internal follower so it again stays in its track.  I used two small strips cut from a Gary Hall business card to shim my follower. The other type ('71?) uses 6 plastic detents to hold the switch and without a tool that pushes ALL the detents in simultaneously, the thing cannot be disassembled. Most FIAT & Alfa Romeo switches are identical but the embossed number in back may be different. The threaded retaining ring & bulb will interchange. I wrote an article, with illustrations, decades ago in your Newsletter. The May '06 issue was one. Download that issue from the POCA Website for free... if you are a member and don't have that issue handy.

Do not use a matchstick or toothpick to jam the bad switch. If you push the button in only slightly too far, it disconnects your stoplights & tail lights and you will receive a fix-it ticket from alert cops. One fix that worked for some is to play around with the position of the button while progressively tightening a small worm-screw hose clamp around the body. Whats happened is, internal spring pressure in the switch-guts sightly swells the plastic switch body so the follower inside no longer follows a cast track. The clamp compresses the body so the follower, if its in the right place to start with, is forced to follow the track and your switch works again. Obviously, the follower must be in the correct place to start with and the clamp must NOT be too tight or it jams up the switch. Larry Stock has new switches in stock, and (I think) a few used ones.

-----Original Message-----
From: Himes, Terry (397C) (397C) <terry.himes at jpl.nasa.gov>
To: Matt <nwpantera at gmail.com>; DeTomaso Mail List <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Sent: Tue, Apr 24, 2018 6:55 pm
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] 4-way flasher switch

Mee too! Thanks guys!! This has been bugging me for a year.

"A Purple Heart proves you were smart enough to hatch a plan,
stupid enough to try it and lucky enough to survive!"

Terry W. Himes
JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dawn Spacecraft Team
Rosetta Sequence Team Lead
Phone: (818) 393-6261
Cell: (818) 653-8213
thimes at jpl.nasa.gov
🇺🇸

On 4/24/18, 6:05 PM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Matt" <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of nwpantera at gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks guys! Just bought one for $62 w/free shipping on Ebay. Same one was
also used in Fiat 2000's I found out. But the BMW one was cheaper!
Love this list...
On a side note, during my brief research I went to PanteraPlace.com looking
for switches and info. Thank you Mike very useful website!
Of course I got side tracked and clicked on his link to the local Modena
news, Gazzetta di Modena.
So here is what was going on in Modena yesterday. A car show with Fiat
500's! No surprise there but these have gotta win the cutest car show award
if there was one.
I like the one with the bike graphics. You can't help but smile when you
see a proud and pampered Fiat 500.
Enjoy your day,
*https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf <https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf>*

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 4:57 PM, Matt <nwpantera at gmail.com> wrote:

> My flasher switch button finally refuses to stay pushed in.
> Of the online vendors who actually show it they want between $120-200.
> Ouch!
> Can they be repaired?
> Any other cars use the same as the Pantera?
> Any cheaper vendors to recommend?
>
> Or should I just wedge it down with a matchstick and call it good?
> Thanks,
> Matt
> 3584
>

_______________________________________________ Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes DeTomaso mailing list DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use the links above. Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages.
-------------- next part --------------
   There are two versions of that switch in Panteras. One type uses a
   metal cage to hold the switch parts together ('73?), Remove from dash-
   Note that you don't have to undo all the wires to that switch. 8"
   further under the dash is a big rectangular connector! Unnbend the
   metal tabs, then shim the internal follower so it again stays in its
   track.  I used two small strips cut from a Gary Hall business card to
   shim my follower. The other type ('71?) uses 6 plastic detents to hold
   the switch and without a tool that pushes ALL the detents in
   simultaneously, the thing cannot be disassembled. Most FIAT & Alfa
   Romeo switches are identical but the embossed number in back may be
   different. The threaded retaining ring & bulb will interchange. I wrote
   an article, with illustrations, decades ago in your Newsletter. The May
   '06 issue was one. Download that issue from the POCA Website for
   free... if you are a member and don't have that issue handy.
   Do not use a matchstick or toothpick to jam the bad switch. If you push
   the button in only slightly too far, it disconnects your stoplights &
   tail lights and you will receive a fix-it ticket from alert cops. One
   fix that worked for some is to play around with the position of the
   button while progressively tightening a small worm-screw hose clamp
   around the body. Whats happened is, internal spring pressure in the
   switch-guts sightly swells the plastic switch body so the follower
   inside no longer follows a cast track. The clamp compresses the body so
   the follower, if its in the right place to start with, is forced to
   follow the track and your switch works again. Obviously, the follower
   must be in the correct place to start with and the clamp must NOT be
   too tight or it jams up the switch. Larry Stock has new switches in
   stock, and (I think) a few used ones.
   -----Original Message-----
   From: Himes, Terry (397C) (397C) <terry.himes at jpl.nasa.gov>
   To: Matt <nwpantera at gmail.com>; DeTomaso Mail List
   <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
   Sent: Tue, Apr 24, 2018 6:55 pm
   Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] 4-way flasher switch
   Mee too! Thanks guys!! This has been bugging me for a year.
   "A Purple Heart proves you were smart enough to hatch a plan,
   stupid enough to try it and lucky enough to survive!"
   Terry W. Himes
   JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory
   Dawn Spacecraft Team
   Rosetta Sequence Team Lead
   Phone: (818) 393-6261
   Cell: (818) 653-8213
   [1]thimes at jpl.nasa.gov
   d--od-,
   i>>?On 4/24/18, 6:05 PM, "DeTomaso on behalf of Matt"
   <detomaso-[2]bounces at server.detomasolist.com on behalf of
   [3]nwpantera at gmail.com> wrote:
   Thanks guys! Just bought one for $62 w/free shipping on Ebay. Same one
   was
   also used in Fiat 2000's I found out. But the BMW one was cheaper!
   Love this list...
   On a side note, during my brief research I went to PanteraPlace.com
   looking
   for switches and info. Thank you Mike very useful website!
   Of course I got side tracked and clicked on his link to the local
   Modena
   news, Gazzetta di Modena.
   So here is what was going on in Modena yesterday. A car show with Fiat
   500's! No surprise there but these have gotta win the cutest car show
   award
   if there was one.
   I like the one with the bike graphics. You can't help but smile when
   you
   see a proud and pampered Fiat 500.
   Enjoy your day,
   *[4]https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf <[5]https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf>*
   On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 4:57 PM, Matt <[6]nwpantera at gmail.com> wrote:
   > My flasher switch button finally refuses to stay pushed in.
   > Of the online vendors who actually show it they want between
   $120-200.
   > Ouch!
   > Can they be repaired?
   > Any other cars use the same as the Pantera?
   > Any cheaper vendors to recommend?
   >
   > Or should I just wedge it down with a matchstick and call it good?
   > Thanks,
   > Matt
   > 3584
   >
   _______________________________________________ Detomaso Email List is
   not managed by POCA Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
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   [8]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso To manage
   your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use the
   links above. Members who post to this list grant license to the list to
   forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future members
   of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an
   archive or approve the archiving of list messages.

References

   1. mailto:thimes at jpl.nasa.gov
   2. mailto:bounces at server.detomasolist.com
   3. mailto:nwpantera at gmail.com
   4. https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf
   5. https://tinyurl.com/y8balyyf>*
   6. mailto:nwpantera at gmail.com
   7. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   8. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso