Sometimes, you will find that it is difficult to get something in place when reassembling something.
The Problem
I replaced the headlight switch on my 2005 Ford Explorer. The last task was to re-attach the lower cover to the steering wheel assembly. One of the screws in question was recessed in a hole about 2 1/2″ long and just larger than the diameter of a screwdriver. Trying to get the screw into the hole so that it lined up with the threads on the column was difficult, even with a magnetic screwdriver.
The solution – A small piece of plastic as a retainer
The solution was to use a small square of plastic from a heavy plastic bag as a retainer. You could also use something like a matchbook cover (do they even make those anymore? ) or a business card.
The idea is to punch the screw through so that it is held in place enough to help line up the parts. Since the screw was already in the long hole it was relatively easy to line it up.
Summary
This little tricked saved some time and eliminated a lot of frustration. The screw stayed in place nicely and was relatively easy to line up and start the threads
Oh yeah, and the lights witch works great. The dimmer was not dimming. I was planning a short trip and the repair place I usually use was closed. The switch cost about $110 and replacing it took about 45 minutes. I was working slowly as I hadn’t done one before.