Classic/Antique Car Repair: power windows, power window switch, screwheads

Question
I have aproblem with the power window switch on my 1968 Mercury Park Lane. I removed the 5 gang master switch to change one of the single switches and now I cant get the thing to work any windows except down on 2. I have power at the switch and through the switch but the motors wont run. what gives? Can you help? Thanks

Answer
Hi Paul.  Since I'm not there with you to share in your frustration and see what you are seeing, this answer's going to just hit the obvious:

When you moved the "gang" all the wires and nearby connections that were formerly content were disturbed.  Any connection that was poor but it worked because of gravity was probably disrupted.  Any nearby ground connection was likely wiggled or jiggled.  Again, without seeing what you're seeing...if it were me I'd start over and actually undo every connection you see and restore the connection to "as new" by removing any corrosion, possibly re-cutting and re-stripping the wire ends so new wire is involved, and especially by re-connecting ground wires.  These are more often the culprits because they look OK but there is just enough "crud" that has developed under the screwheads to weaken or eliminate the original connection.

As for the hard part...unless I had a wiring diagram, I really couldn't give you any specific advice...but if there was a wiring diagram, you'd have figured this out long ago, right?

Let me know if there's any other way I can help.

Dave