I'm installing power vent windows in a 66 B body and I want to confirm the correct way for the switch to function. It's been a long time since I installed a set of these. I have an aftermarket switch and I'm making up a harness. Can someone with power vents tell me the correct orientation? The back toggle on the 2 bar switch is for the driver's vent, I believe but want to double check. And do you pull it back to open the driver's vent or push it forward to open the driver's vent? It's this style switch.
Well that is interesting. I'm in Canada and I was sure I'd seen them in those cars. Here's the parts book showing the switch for LeSabre and Wildcat and also the snapshot of the Pontiac parts book. The 4432792 switch changes up to 4432793, the same from Buick to Pontiac. Thanks for your help, I've learned something new about Canadian Buicks today!
Ok, I'm asking about power vent windows. I don't think you are talking about power vents when you say "push them away to lower the side window"?
The power vent switch paddles are vertical (as illustrated in my initial post here) and the window switch paddles are horizontal. That's why I asked if you pull back or push forward on the switch to open the vent window.
When I've seen the power vents in a 65/66 Wildcat or LeSabre they are almost always on Canadian cars. I'm talking ebay auctions, Craigslist etc. I don't know why. Who's selling that switch? They were really hard to find 10 years or so ago.
Auto City Classic in Minnesota has the switches now. It was a great day when that switch got reproduced! They are impossible to find used.
I have no idea if this helps or not, this is from my 1967 chassis manual. I couldn't find the same diagram in a '66 manual online. IF the wiring is the same (may just be), with some hunting with an ohmmeter while operating your switch, you may just be able to figure out which directions the switch should be engaged for open & close. Devon
I know the back switch operates the driver's window and found a guy who has a car with them. You pull back on the back switch to open the driver's vent. And thanks for the wiring diagram as well.
Kind of a long shot here, but check You Tube for videos of the operation of the vent windows maybe there’s something on there that shows their operation when new, like a manufacturers ad for available options, maybe it shows the woman operating the switches to open/close the vents. But I would think you pull the switch rearward to open the vent.
Thanks but I posted just above your post the I found out you pull back on the back switch to open the driver's vent, so that gives me the orientation, all is good. Good idea with Youtube and I had actually tried that before I posted here. I found one video where the guy operated the vents but he sat in the driver's seat, opened the passenger side vent and had the camera on the vent, not his hand when he opened it! All good though, I do have this question answered because I found a guy who had a car with power vents and messaged him.
Power vents were an option in Canada but not in the U.S. I would guess power vents were made available to Canadian customers because those customers were much less likely to order AC as compared to US customers. I have had a couple of first gen Rivieras with no air and power vents so it seemed to be a good default option for folks who didnt want to spend the $$$ for AC which was an expensive option. Tom Mooney
