So I am in the process of taking apart numerous fog light switches in the hope to refresh 3 for a project.
Really all I was going to do was look too see if that piece inside melted.
Like this.

Not a fog light switch but a picture I had to show you the part inside I am talking about.
So I started thinking about all the switches that I have taken apart to date.
There is always some dried up gunk in there. Always assumed it was dielectric grease.
So it occurred to me that maybe I should clean off this part with electronic cleaner and reapply some dielectric grease.

Googling fog light switch repair talked about cleaning it up but not applying dielectric grease.
Also talking about giving the spring in there a little stretch.
This one thread brought up something that I thought of. To be frank thought it was a dumb idea.
About the bulbs helping melt that piece in the first shot.
The not gel covered white base one in the top.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/fo...repair-109808/

Any thoughts?

 

I'd be throwing a small amount of dielectric grease in there and also stretching the springs. The grease won't get in the way of the contacts and with streched springs, you should get good contact on the contacts. That's what I did with my dash switches for my lightbar,

 

I figured the dielectric grease was not a problem and that is what the dried up gunk in there was.
What do you think about that one bulb melting that one piece in there?
Like I said I thought it was a dumb idea when it popped into my head but then that thread said it too.
Almost wondering if I should change that one bulb out for an LED.
They do run cooler correct?
I just want to do the one bulb.
I really don't care about LED's.
The only reason I did them for the exterior lights on my Jeep is cause of the white lenses and amber 3157's showing through.
Kind of destroyed the look I was going for. Not cause I cared about brighter lights.

 

They do run cooler so may be worth swapping out if your switch has any signs of melting, or if it will be on for long periods of time depending on your use. The only thing with an LED is finding an appropriate replacement and you may need to add a suitable resistor in series. I'm no expert on LEDs but they often require other components past the LED itself so stop them from burning out.

 

Common problem with '97 and up switches melting like that.
I been poking around for an LED replacement for that one bulb.
Might have found something but going to need to research that more.