HOW TO Replace Driver Side Window Switches in a Crown Victoria

NOTE that all versions of the plastic switch panel are prone to breakage of the mounting tabs.  If you are like me, it will annoy you to no end having a panel that pops up all the time.

These photos are from my '08, but will help you with older versions as well.

The job is otherwise very simple.  The hardest part is removing the switch-block from the panel.  I suggest two thin screwdrivers to keep the panel pried apart for easier removal.

New switches

Look for the small slot where it is safe to insert a flat screwdriver

Try not to mar the plastic

You do NOT want to break this tab!  Older versions are worse...
The plastic is more brittle and has an added metal "gripper"

Electrical connectors that need to be removed

There are four locator tabs that you need to deal with

NOTE the location of more mounting tabs!

Old switches removed.  Notice the "shmoo" that collects around them!

2008 Ford Crown Victoria Window Switches

Crown Victorias are usually pretty beefy cars.  Part of the reason is that they are simple.  What cars tend to be maintenance nightmares?  Cars that are "complicated".

One part that seems to have issues on the later cars are the window switches.

Vic 3.0's driver's window switch started to act strange not long after I took the car over.  I'd have to "finesse" the switch to get the window to go up, but not all the time.  It got worse and worse, and I started thinking I better start looking for a used set of switches.   

Of course, what happened?  It stopped working... with the window OPEN.

Now, I had it in back of my head Mystery Mechanic had a set of switches in his basement.  I looked around and found them.  BUT, I quickly discovered they worked, but had the same problem!  We then remembered that his '08 ALSO had the issue, and the part was the bad one.

I was at least able to put the window back up.

I decided to take apart my totally-toasted one to see if it could be fixed.  I thought perhaps some contacts would be cleaned.  In the end, I couldn't fix them and just gave up.

A trip to our favorite junk yard later, and I had a new (used) part in-hand.  This was in September 2020 and so far, they still work fine.  

There may be folks out there who know how to fix the switches, or may want to try it.  Below are some photos to help those people out.  

NOTE:  The switch style changed one last time, I think in 2009 or 2010.

Ford part number:  5L1T-14540-AWB

Exploded view of parts

Little dust/water guards slip right off... notice the copper connectors

View of bottom with connectors

UPDATE: Sealed and Delivered...

Windshields for late Vics come with the black rubber trim already attached, unlike the '88 Grand Marquis I had, which involved prying off chrome trim.

About a month ago, I noticed that the black trim on Vic's windshield was loose at the top-center.  After all these years and multiple windshields, I've never had this happen.  I've seen the trim come off the bottom of the rear windows, but not like this.  At first, I thought it would snug back down and that would be that.  But that wasn't that.  I could see that water was seeming under the trim, instead of rolling over it.  Just a little, but enough to make me worry.  I couldn't decide if I should try and fix the problem myself, or call up my glass people.  Instead I decided to wait and see if the cold weather, ice & snow caused the trim to lift more.

It did.  So did a car wash.  Water got under the trim, iced up, and lifted it off.

So I made the call, and on a windy 17º day, a man from Precision Glass came out to see what could be done.  I didn't stay out there to watch, but I did periodically peek through the kitchen door to see what he was up to.  He seemed to use the same stuff that is used to do the actual window installation.  Sort of a black goo that they warm up in the van so it will flow.  It took him about 15 minutes, wasn't messy, and so far, has worked.  And it didn't cost me anything, either, which was a BIG help.

I need Vic to last as long as possible, and I didn't want water getting into the window frame and causing rust.  It has been too cold to really get a good look at the work he did, but so far, so good.

Just another chapter in the life of Vic...