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Cruise Control Switch Replacement


mccoady

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Not sure if this is where I should post this but here goes. One of the cruise control switches (left) is hanging off my steering wheel and while I’m not very mechanically inclined I’m thinking I should be able to install a new one.

So I bought a set off of Amazon and read if your existing ribbon wire is ok then just use the new switches for a simple plug & play. I’ve watched a lot of videos to see how you install these and it doesn’t look hard to do.

My question is there a trick removing the existing factory plug from the switch? On most videos guys were just using needle nose pliers and forcefully removing the plug but one guy said it had clips on the sides and you needed to squeeze and remove at the same time. Don’t want to mess up the plug and have to install the new ribbon wires.
 


rumblecloud

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Are you talking about the plugs on the ends of the ribbon wire?
 

mccoady

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rumblecloud

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There should be small tabs at the base of the plug on either side. This image is from a cruise button on Amazon. not sure which one you chose, but the ones in your steering wheel should be similar.
cruise button .png
 

mccoady

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Ok thanks that helps in all the videos I watched I only saw one person mention tabs everyone else appeared to be just grabbing the plug with their needle nose and pulling it out.
 

mccoady

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So I got my switches https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071L1B4WD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and feel like I just wasted $27. For the life of me I cannot get the plug out of the switch (only tried one). I've tried squeezing the tabs and tried prying apart the tabs and the plug feels wedged in there. I've been using pliers and have basically chewed up the plug trying and it's only moved a little but it's not coming out. The ribbon wires came out immediately and I thought I was on the plug but apparently not.

Surely they aren't made to be that hard to remove... are there quality differences between these Chinese knockoffs or are they all about the same? You can tell the one I got is very cheaply made but would I benefit by spending more on some other switches and maybe the plugs would be easier to remove? Or am I just helpless? Lol!

I messaged the seller before I got them asking if there was a specific way to remove the plug from their switch but he ignored my question. Instead he sent me instructions how to install the switches using the new ribbon cable which is not what I was asking.
 

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