Website for parts interchange?

**clovis** · #1 10/07/10, 02:02 PM

The power window switch is bad on my old 98 Monte Carlo.

The parts stores want about $60, and ebay is about $35.

I'd prefer to buy a used one out of a junk yard, assuming I can find a good one, and it is cheap enough.

Any chance you guys know of a website that shows what parts will interchange?
I'd love to know if a Regal, 2 door Grand Am, S-10 or Sonoma, full size truck or Camaro switch would work.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

barelahh · #2 10/07/10, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis

The power window switch is bad on my old 98 Monte Carlo.

The parts stores want about $60, and ebay is about $35.

I'd prefer to buy a used one out of a junk yard, assuming I can find a good one, and it is cheap enough.

Any chance you guys know of a website that shows what parts will interchange?
I'd love to know if a Regal, 2 door Grand Am, S-10 or Sonoma, full size truck or Camaro switch would work.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

IF you call the GM dealer they will tell you.

skwentnaflyer · #3 10/07/10, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barelahh

IF you call the GM dealer they will tell you.

Also, the wrecking yard should have a good parts interchange book/program that might be more comprehensive than the dealer parts catalog.

mightybooboo · #4 10/08/10, 11:40 AM

If its a pick a part type place takes yours in ,Im betting GM didnt go out of their way to make a bunch of different ones.

**Ross** · #5 10/08/10, 07:06 PM

I always liked the late 90's Monte Carlo. Knocks 20 years off me just thinking about it!

Cars is funny creations ain't they!

**clovis** · #6 10/08/10, 09:01 PM

Thank you for your replies. They are appreciated.

Boo- You are probably correct.

The switch has to be from a two door car, like the MC. The Lumina is a 4 door, so the driver's master switch would have 4 controls, where the MC just has the two. I'm told that the Camaro is out because they used a different switch in the console.

Ross, I've always been fond of the Monte. Very comfortable to drive, whether it be short distances or long ones. Great MPG...and overall, a great car.

zito · #7 10/09/10, 12:01 AM

There's no interchange info available to wrecking yards on parts like window switches unfortunately. Taking your old one to a wrecking yard and matching it up is the only way to go. Even on the same year/type of vehicles there can be different switches used, depending on which assembly line the car was built on, which parts supplier was used, etc. Dealership might be able to tell you interchange info, but in my experience A) often don't have the information. They'll look up a part for a customer, and will end up with a part number. Their information won't tell them what other vehicles it is also used on, and B) often won't give you that info, even if they do have it.

agmantoo · #8 10/09/10, 08:29 AM

clovis

Have you attempted to clean out the old switch with carb cleaner? If not, jut flush it with the cleaner and then use an air hose to dry it out. Don't be surprised if it starts working again.

unioncreek · #9 10/13/10, 02:38 PM

go to rockauto.com and search for the part you want. They will give a list of all vehicles it was used on.

Here's the list I checked at Rock auto

CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 1999
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LS (1995 - 1998)
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Z34 (1995 - 1998)

Bob

**clovis** · #10 10/13/10, 06:24 PM

Thank you for the replies!!!

Agmantoo: I have not tried that, but I certainly will!!!!!

zito: Our local GM dealer's parts department is something next to dreadful. I have had horrid, awful, unbelievable experiences with those absolutely over-the-top arrogant jerks. I won't even step foot in that place for parts, no matter how desperate I am. They won't even look up a part, when you are standing there with cash in your hand ready to buy. It is crazy they way they treat people.

Union: I've used rockauto as an interchange site. It can be pretty decent. I'm on slow dial up, so it takes a while for it to download sometimes.

Danaus29 · #11 10/13/10, 07:05 PM

You can use the parts store websites (autozone and advanced auto) to cross reference models and years. Just look up the same part for the different models.

Wis Bang 2 · #12 10/14/10, 11:39 AM

The two door variant of the full size GM should work...Impala/Monte Carlo, does any other similar body; Grand Prix, Buick Century, etc. come as a two door or was Monte Carlo the only one?

I remember going to Harry's U pickit and the Chev & Ford sections were the closest and most picked over while the 'other GM' section was deeper into the yard and I found everything Iwas looking for...

**clovis** · #13 10/14/10, 12:29 PM

I think that the Monte Carlo and the Grand Prix were the only 2 door cars out there for the model years that I need.

FWIW, there are two newer pick-a-part places in Indianapolis. I cannot believe how picked over those cars are. Simply amazing.

Thanks for the continued replies!!!!!

**clovis** · #14 10/14/10, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

clovis

have you attempted to clean out the old switch with carb cleaner? If not, jut flush it with the cleaner and then use an air hose to dry it out. Don't be surprised if it starts working again.

IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you agmantoo!!!!!!!!

You saved me an hour and $15!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mightybooboo · #15 10/14/10, 09:57 PM

Well how about that???

Did you have to remove it,or just sprayed it in?

**clovis** · #16 10/14/10, 10:22 PM

I already had it out of the car, so I sprayed it, wiped off the excess, and let it sit in the sun for a few hours to dry. I don't have easy access to an air compressor.

It is simply unbelievable.

Mickie3 · #17 10/15/10, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clovis

I already had it out of the car, so I sprayed it, wiped off the excess, and let it sit in the sun for a few hours to dry. I don't have easy access to an air compressor.

It is simply unbelievable.

Sounds like you just had carbon or dirt on the contacts of the switch. If it were me, I would clean it again before putting it back in, so you are sure its clean and don't have to take it back out and repeat in a week or so.

For reference & Info Only: There is some stuff (Blue Shower being the brand I use) that is made for cleaning electronics contacts, but its really just a light, non-greasy solvent, as far as I know, so using anything along that line to clean up electronic contacts should work fine. Also, some stuff that was sold as "TV Tuner Cleaner" (when tuners were mechanical) was essentially the same stuff. Radio Shack still sells that stuff.