Six way power seat switches

[jon schapiro]

I have seen numerous pictures of Mark V’s catching on fire while sitting in the storage due to aged or defective six way power seat switches. These switches appear to be identical to the ones in my 1973 Lincoln coupe. The ones on the 1977 and newer Lincoln’s appear to be redesigned. I was wondering if I should add a battery cut off switch to my Lincoln while it is in storage for the winter? It probably can’t hurt to be safe.

[Mike]

There shouldnt really be more risk of it catching fire over the switch in storage then any other time. But I disconnect the battery when a car is sitting over winter. Mainly to make sure the battery doesn't go dead.

[LithiumCobalt]

I have a battery disconnect just for good practice when the car sits for an extended amount of time. I also leave the battery on a maintainer

[78_towncar_460]

I believe Dan, the admin, had a good fix for these cars using a relay. The switch contacts can corrode and they are hot at all times. Don't remember what you had to do, but I don't think it was all that complex. Makes the windows faster as well I believe.

[Dan Szwarc]

I had one of these switches in my 77 and didn't have a problem, but that doesn't mean anything to the guy whose car burned.

I'd say the best practice would be to remove the switch, carefully disassemble it, cleaning out any metal shavings, applying deoxit for the contacts, then reassembling it. Inspect all the tightly crammed wiring in the driver door armrest and apply tape and padding where chafing or under pressure.

Short circuits from water may cause an issue, but the real fuel is high heat from high contact resistance. circuit breakers won't open for continuous loads even at their rated current, depending on temperature, for as much as two hours.

Protect your investment by removing the negative lead and float-charge your battery for long life.

The relay fix is for 60s front windows. I should invent a solid-state/magnetic switch with relays as a permanent fix. Maybe in another life.

[John Mc]

Could not agree more, I’m no electrical engineer but I do know that dirt and corrosion means high resistance and high resistance means heat or fire. I always disconnect the battery widen my Lincolns sit, but opening up and throughly cleaning the switch and all contacts is a good move. The switches are nearly a half century old.

[jon schapiro]

Added a battery disconnect yesterday just to play it safe while in storage:

[TonyC]

That's a good idea in itself anyway, if the car spends a lot of time dormant. I physically disconnected the cables from the new battery I installed in my mother's Mustang last year when I last visited her, before I made my return trip home, just to make sure the car didn't drain it out like it did with the battery before this current one. I'm hoping that, when the time comes to collect it, it should be easier to revive and drive.

---Tony

[jon schapiro]

Tony - The Mustang computer has to relearn which takes about 5 miles of driving. I trickle charge my Mustang periodically to avoid the relearning process