WARNING: Chinese Combination Switch Replacements

[OR3X]

Hello all,

Just wanted to share my recent experiences. Like a lot of folks my combination switch was broken and I went looking for a suitable replacement. I found a few used OEM options but they were astronomically priced. ($180+) I did notice a healthy number of obviously Chinese clone parts on Ebay and decided to bite the bullet on one. (for $80 it seemed like a steal!) I waited about two and a half weeks for it to make it's journey across the ocean, but when I received it I was really impressed! The quality seemed nice and everything seemed to move and function as it should. So I set about removing the OEM switch and installing the replacement. Once I had it mounted in place I decided to test it before re-installing the steering wheel and all the other giggly bits. Turn signals, wipers, and marker lights all seemed good as well as the momentary brights switch. Then I tested the low beams... nothing. Turned it off and back on, still nothing. Got out of the truck to look and confirmed that the headlights were not illuminated at all. looked back in the cab and it was FILLED WITH SMOKE!! I ran back and flipped the switch back off and pulled the key from the ignition but the damage was done... Seems the headlight switch was incorrectly pinned on the replacement part and it shorted battery to... something. I've looked and looked for connector pin outs (connector is C26 in Haynes diagrams) and cannot seem to be able to figure out what it actually melted on the truck side. All functions still work as expected and I have yet to find any evidence of blown fuses or anything. Just a single melted mystery wire under the dash. Anyway, learn from my mistake and compare the pins if you get one of the Chinese knockoff replacement parts. Seller was nice enough to refund me AND send me a new part free of charge. I guess that's something.

Album of pictures: https://imgur.com/a/uqTub1q

-Cole

[ostlar]

That's quite scary, things like these makes you more aware to check the pinout of replacement parts.

Even though I know things like this can happen, I'm a bit too eager to just plug in and test..

Thanks for the PSA!

[OR3X]

That's quite scary, things like these makes you more aware to check the pinout of replacement parts.

Even though I know things like this can happen, I'm a bit too eager to just plug in and test..

Thanks for the PSA!

Indeed! My excitement to get it installed got the better of me. I did trace out mystery burnt wire under the dash and it ended up just being an unused ground, thankfully. I think it's probably for the cruise control which my truck wasn't optioned with.

https://imgur.com/a/L7I8eU4

[OR3X]

Well, an update:
I recently started having trouble with the radio. It now turns back on after the ignition switch is turned off. Suspect its the result of more damaged wiring causing a short to power somewhere. I have the Haynes manual for my truck but it doesn't really cover the wiring for the radio. Anyone got a wiring diagram?

[camoit]

You would need to look through the manual section line by line. But I think there’s a full factory diagram in there somewhere. Might also be in the tech section. Don’t forget about the archive from the old board. We got it. Just not sure where. If you find it. Post in it and bump it to the front of the line.