GLOVE BOX LIGHT, mercury switch is BAD

[54 HSWH]

Recently I purchased a NOS, glove box light switch from a gentleman in another country outside the USA.

Decided to test continuity before installation and, surely enough, it was not working. Apparently the mercury is solid and not moving or functioning.

Does anyone know where to have this repaired, or, alternatively, do I just install a manual switch and be done with it?

Thanks for any ideas on how best to resolve this issue.

TIA

54 HSWH

[BJ__TN]

It's just my opinion but I would use a small manual switch.

[54 HSWH]

In January 2003, the mercury switches were out-lawed. Apparently, the old style switches are being replaced with a ball bearing type of switch, AND the old mercury switches need to be collected properly and recycled to protect the environment.

Any idea where to buy the proper replacement (ball bearing) switches????

[54 HSWH]

here is an interesting article

http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=ball+bearing+light+switch&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D1 bb663b3bd6cf1bf%26clickedItemRank%3D4%26userQuery% 3Dball%2Bbearing%2Blight%2Bswitch%26clickedItemURN %3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.cayuganet.org%252Fhazwas te%252Fmercury.htm%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSBoom%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cayuganet.org%2Fhazwas te%2Fmercury.htm

[54 HSWH]

Well, I found a website with specs on police cars (Crown Vic's) and at least the 2005's ahve the ball bearing switches for the trunk, hood and glove box; therefore,, now we know ehere to obtain used switches.

I also found one website that siad the switches cost $ 0.38 each but it did not divulge where to purchase.

Used parts suit me so that is where I go from here, I suppose.