1961 Frigidaire FPI refrigerator - light switch question

[frogkid11]

Hi everyone,
I have a 1961 Frigidaire FPI-15B-61 and the little switch that operates the light inside the fridge needs to be replaced. The interior lights "flicker" instead of staying on constantly when the door is open and today the switch simply slid out of the holder and fell on the floor.

Does anyone know how easy it is to replace and what the part number is for this switch? I can't imagine that the removal and installation are that difficult but I'm hoping someone here has done this operation before.

Thanks in advance for your assistance and advice.

 

[philr]

Some switches can be reassembled together easily. If you could attach pictures of it, it would be easier to tell what happened and what needs to be done.

A few weeks ago, I got a 1955 Frigidaire Imperial for free and it had a stuck door switch that caused the light to stay on all the time. I removed the plastic moulding where the switch was mounted, then disassembled it and reassembled it correctly and it works fine now. I don't know how that switch ended being stuck like that as there was nothing that was damaged in it. I guess the internal parts had just been forced out of place probably when we moved it out of the basement where it was installed (had to remove the door to get it in the narrow stairs).

In another Frigidaire from 1977, the plastic part that extends from the switch was broken and the previous owner had just removed the light bulbs that didn't shut off because of that broken part so I was able to "recreate" the missing part... It works now. Sometimes, we have to be a bit creative to fix things that are hard to find or no longer available!

 

[frogkid11]

Thanks Phil

Thank you for the reply, Phil - I knew you may have tackled something like this before. Can you give me any tips or pointers on how to remove that vertical piece of inner liner (where the switch protrudes) so that I don't break it?

 

[philr]

You need to pull it away from the outer part of cabinet first and then from the inner liner, not very hard to do but you still have to be careful not to crack it and avoid using tools like a screwdriver to pry it. I never had problems removing these but maybe some technicians who post here (which I am not!) could give you better advises!

 

Disconnect the fridge before you do so to avoid touching or shorting the wires that are probably hanging loose at the back of this trim.

 

I think you'll have to start from the lower part of the side trim first as the lower part is overlapping the one at the bottom while the top trim overlaps the side trim (but you shouldn't have to remove the top one). 

 

 Once the piece of trim is removed and you removed the remaining part of the switch, you can make sure the terminals won't short on anything (by taping their ends with electrical tape) and reconnect the fridge while you'll be figuring what to do with your switch!! If I'm not mistaken, the door switch on these have no effect on the blower as on the 1963 or newer models and I think they only have two terminals for the light... If there are more than two, just note where each are connected on the switch.

 

[frogkid11]

Got the trim off !

Thanks for the tips, Phil - I was able to successfully get that trim piece off and unhooked the switch. It seems that the white plastic part (that protrudes from the switch and comes through the liner) has broken off inside the shaft. There is actually some black residue on the white section like it was burnt through. I can smell a faint burnt smell when I bring the switch close to my nose. I've attached a picture of what I have found (I removed the white switch from the insert of the shaft) but I believe it may not be safe to attempt a repair on this, if indeed the electrical connection has caused the switch to burn. Any thoughts?

 

[goatfarmer]

You should be able to find a replacement switch. It won't be metal, but should work fine.

 

[philr]

As Kenny said, finding a eeplacement shouldn't be too hard. Just bring the old switch with you at a local appliance store and they should be able to find something similar. I'd think the contacts in this one overheated to cause that...

 

[simplicity345]

light Switch part # 9918100

To Whom It May Concern;
You May Find This Light Switch On EBay New Part # 9918100 Any Questions Please Email Me @ [email protected] Or Call Me @ 724-506-0344 And Ask For Mark M I Had Talked To You On The Phone Before When You Had Called I Am In Pittsburgh,PA

 

[philr]

I just got a similar 1959 Frigidaire and the light switch also had a bad contact. The plastic was fine so I just dissasembled it and cleaned the contacts. It works now.

Mark, do you have defrost heaters for these old Frigidaire refrigerators. Mine is shorted to the ground and I used my last new one last year for another fridge.