Hello... new owner of a 1989 4runner SR5.

I tried to search but I couldn’t find an exact answer. I’ve seen a few threads where people have cleaned out the contacts on the switches to get them to work again (it unlocks doors but the lock function doesn’t work.) My issue is I can’t get the drivers side armrest master switch open to get to the guts.

I can get the bottom off pushing in the white tabs. When I try to do the same for the last section, I feel like I am going to break the switch in half. Do the actual upper switch parts come apart or is there some other trick to opening this up the rest of the way? Thanks for your help.

 

IIRC, @Redeth005 worked on his power window switches on his build thread here:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...ection-252426/

 

Here:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...roblem-299803/

 

Safety pin along the channel above the tab to spread the housing, then lever up the plate from the slot on the outside. Do the first two on one side, put something into hole to stop it clicking back in then work the other side three. Repeat this zig zaging back and forth..

It's less scary the third time you do it..

 

Thanks everyone! SomejayJ's photos were perfect, as I've got the same armrest type. These 32 year old plastics are making me nervous, so slow and steady to work it on out.