MAMA's Techno-Geek Thread

[snid]

No multi-meter. I do have a 12v circuit test light thing, but I don't know that there would be enough current flowing through the switch to light the light anyway.

I'm gonna go out again soon and prove to myself that the light really does go off when I pull the plug on the switch.

[GadgetGav]

The test light should work. If it lights when you touch the two leads together, you can use it to test the switch. As long as it's not one of the neon ones meant for testing AC...

[snid]

Pulled the plug on the switch, and the light is off. So, there's one solution to the problem.

[jwardell]

Quote: Originally Posted by snid (original)

No multi-meter. I do have a 12v circuit test light thing, but I don't know that there would be enough current flowing through the switch to light the light anyway.

I'm gonna go out again soon and prove to myself that the light really does go off when I pull the plug on the switch.

I don't think you're allowed to post in this thread if you don't own a multimeter!
:P

Try it with the 12v light and a 9V battery or whatever (I'll assume you also don't have a power supply) and see if the switch is switching properly.
There could also be something physically broken with whatever actually presses on the switch.

[snid]

It's not an alignment problem with the thing that's supposed to move the lever. That's cool. I used my big honkin screwdriver as a substituted for the "loop" on the hood to trip the hood catch thing. Those springs on the hood release stuff are pretty massive. In any case, when the hood is closed, it definitely moves the arm on the switch.

So, either the button(?) on the switch is stuck, or more likely, the switch itself somehwere inside the black plastic housing is hosed.

Since I discovered I can just unplug it and the light goes away, I'm less interested in actually fixing it. But I'll probably pop the switch off the car and bring it inside this evening anyway, after I put the snow tires back on the car.

[snid]

The switch is fixed!

So, the spring arm actuates a doorbell style button (momentary switch?). That button had become stuck in the "in" position. A little cleaning, a little wiggling with some needle nose pliers, and the button started moving in and out. Of course, pushing it all the way in would get it stuck again. A little more cleaning, a little more wiggling... oh crap! where'd the button go? The button was a white post surrounded by a red rubber whatchamacallit. So, I fished around with the needle nose pliers and was able to find the post again and pull it back through the hole in the rubber doo-dad. Then, it started working right. Push the arm all the way down, the button goes in. Let go of the arm, the button pops back out. With a satisfying "click" coming from inside the plastic body of the switch.

Popped the switch back in the car, reconnected the wires. Hood open = light on. Hood closed = light off.

Who knows how long it will continue to work for, though.

I'm still slightly puzzled that hood closed = button pressed in = no light. But button stuck in also = light.

[GadgetGav]

Maybe button stuck in = not quite stuck all the way in = not quite breaking the circuit...?

[blalor]

whatchamacallit? doo-dad? Your geek cred's on the line, man.

[snid]

membrane?

[GadgetGav]

Hey, at least he could come up with a picture of a variety of MINI switches..!

[snid]

Quote: Originally Posted by GadgetGav (original)

Hey, at least he could come up with a picture of a variety of MINI switches..!

gotta love http://www.realoem.com/

[jwardell]

Google just added MyMaps to google maps, an easy way to create your own map with your own locations and draw lines for routes etc. Please keep this in mind for plotting future mini runs!

[blalor]

That's so cool. I started putting together a map of local points of interest here. Too bad we can't edit it as a group!

[snid]

What's this I hear about free beer?

[blalor]

You keep having better things to do when I invite you over!