Foot Switches

[Yeahrightgreer]

This is probably a question I’m gonna feel stupid for once I hear the answer - but what is this switch for?

I know the top is the high beam foot switch but what is the one beneath the parking brake pedal? I’ve had this car for 7 months now and still haven’t been able to crack it. I’ve looked for an hour through my FSM and Owner’s Manual this morning to no avail. Is it just a switch for an option I probably don’t have? It’s a 70 NYer

 

[LocuMob]

Washer pump, you have a manual pump for the squirters.

 

[Samplingman]

Thought that was the radio seek function on some of the higher end models like Imperial or New Yorker. Pull the carpet and see where the wires lead.

 

[Yeahrightgreer]

Washer pump, you have a manual pump for the squirters.

I have a “Washer” button on my dash tho. Is this a secondary?

 

[Big_John]

It is, no doubt, the foot button for the signal seeking radio. If your car has the original radio, it should have buttons marked "AM" "LOC" "DIST" "FM" across the top. If everything works correctly, and it's plugged into the left side of the radio, hit the button and the radio will start traveling across the dial until it picks up a station.

Foot pump washers are just in A-Bodies or maybe some early B-bodies, but never in a 70 C-Body.

 

[Big_John]

70 signal seeking radio

 

[Big_John]

69 Imperial

 

[330dTA]

Yup, foot button for the Search Tune Am-Fm radio. I had the same in my former ’70 NYer.

 

[LocuMob]

I have a “Washer” button on my dash tho. Is this a secondary?

Nope, I was wrong. I forgot about the radio seek. Thanks for the lesson FCBO!

 

[Yeahrightgreer]

It is, no doubt, the foot button for the signal seeking radio. If your car has the original radio, it should have buttons marked "AM" "LOC" "DIST" "FM" across the top. If everything works correctly, and it's plugged into the left side of the radio, hit the button and the radio will start traveling across the dial until it picks up a station.

Foot pump washers are just in A-Bodies or maybe some early B-bodies, but never in a 70 C-Body.

Thanks! That’s how my radio is set up. Every time I drive I would just look at it and scratch my brain.

 

[JC68vert300]

Have the same radio. Great when you try to put on the high beams and change the radio station instead. Luckily my radio no longer works, lol.

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

My '59 Imperial has the washer foot switch. It is 1" round that is white vinyl color and about four inches off the floor. It is not floor mounted but under dash mounted.

 

[65 500]

Foot pump washers are just in A-Bodies or maybe some early B-bodies, but never in a 70 C-Body.

And E-bodies could have them too...not that anyone cares.

 

[Big_John]

And E-bodies could have them too...not that anyone cares.

Really? Never saw one in an E-Body. Interesting...

 

[Big_John]

My '59 Imperial has the washer foot switch. It is 1" round that is white vinyl color and about four inches off the floor. It is not floor mounted but under dash mounted.

I seem to remember my Dad's '57 Windsor having a similar white switch for the pump and also mounted just under the dash. That was a long time ago, so my memory might be a little hazy on that. I can't tell you if it was OE or an aftermarket Trico unit though.

That's an electrical switch on your car and not a rubber bellows pump like was mentioned. Correct?

My Dad's car also had an aftermarket system for dropping sanding grit on the rear tires. I've never seen another and only read about them a couple times.

 

[commando1]

Really? Never saw one in an E-Body. Interesting...

 

[Pete Kaczmarski]

There is no electrical pump attached or near the jiffy jet washer bag. The switch is fairly high off of the floor so I would say vacuum.

 

[Big_John]

View attachment 164057

Impossible... An E-Body part for $15??? No way.

Did you photoshop that? It has to be fake.... Has to be.

That should say "Hemi" in the description and be $750.

 

[Big_John]

There is no electrical pump attached or near the jiffy jet washer bag. The switch is fairly high off of the floor so I would say vacuum.

Yea, I don't really remember much about it other than the Trico bag and the switch being an ivory colored plastic.

My uncle was a Trico distributor (along with Autolite and a bunch of other brands) so it would not have been a stretch for my Dad to have installed it. When my Dad bought a new '63 Newport, I remember him installing the Trico washer in that car.

 

[Big_John]

Ha! Look what I found!

1959-61 Chry Ply Dodge Desoto Windshield Washer Man Foot Pump Mopar NOS 1887148 | eBay

Looks like it's a bellows pump with a lever on it. Maybe to push it by hand??

Learn something new every day.