Power windows
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
Power windows
I am redoing the interior and II recently replaced the power window regulator and power window motors. It does not go up or down much when key in the accessory position is on..When running both would go up and down fine. replace carpeting and reinstalled center panel. now the windows hardly move when car is running, does not work at all when in the accessory position. Any ideas? I did not replace the switches. The switches seem to be loose when operating. should they have much play?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 226
Likes: 22
From: Milton Ontario
Sounds like not enough power with the new set up or something you did to the track increased the friction. There is less power in Accessory setting than when car is running because alternator is helping so any issues will be multiplied. Switch should not be the issue as they are 'closed' or 'open' and should not regulate the power. However, if you have an exposed wire in the console touching ground you should see the lights dim and rpm drop when you try the windows. Can you try the old parts one a time to see if they work better then the new ones? Do the windows work if you help them or push the glass one way or the other?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 457
Likes: 132
From: England
Could be the switches, if there is corrosion inside then they won't pass enough current to operate the motors. You can take them apart, clean them up and put them back together. That's what I did and it worked fine. See this thread
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ir-how-to.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ir-how-to.html
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,177
Likes: 1,668
From: Long Island
Check the ground wires first,
Then take a jumper from the battery to the switch and operate the window by passing the switch, If it works check the switches. If they are good check the relay. Using a volt meter you can see if there is a very big voltage drop at the switch, which could mean a bad connection in the feed.
Just a few things to consider
Then take a jumper from the battery to the switch and operate the window by passing the switch, If it works check the switches. If they are good check the relay. Using a volt meter you can see if there is a very big voltage drop at the switch, which could mean a bad connection in the feed.
Just a few things to consider
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Ground is the usual suspect with these. Also, I'm not 100% sure but most cars wouldn't allow the power windows to run in the ACC position, only the run as they did draw a lot of power
M
M
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,177
Likes: 1,668
From: Long Island
I would run power to the window motor from the bat and put a ground jumper on it .. If it still has issues , it's either the motor or the tracks are jamming / out of alignment.
Do you know if the spring is broken or rusted? That can do it also.
Last edited by BLUE1972; Mar 7, 2022 at 03:27 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
All new regulators, springs and motors. Tried with door open, no difference I bypassed the switch and it didn't work. Motor works. I am leaning to a bad ground. especially that the light dim when pressing switches. My problem is that wiring is foreign to me. I am a complete novice. I know I have to find where the ground is bad, but i have no idea how to do it or what to look for. I did look at all ground wire connections and they are all grounded tightly to bare clean metal.
Any help would be appreciated..
Any help would be appreciated..
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I believe you're still has the double winding motors so the case is ground and one of the two connections is up and the other is down
Ground the case of the motor with a wire to a known good ground point (the battery neg terminal if you have a long enough wire and good clip that can clamp onto the terminal, jumper cables would work I guess, careful not to short them out
Then with a smaller wire, connect to positive (again the battery would be good) and carefully touch one of the two spade connections on the motor, then try the other, one should be up the other down
I'd start there since you're getting something out of the switches.
FWIW, any time I'm screwing with the power window motors I'll run a separate ground wire for the motors rather than counting on the connection through the hinges etc. Can't hurt
M
Ground the case of the motor with a wire to a known good ground point (the battery neg terminal if you have a long enough wire and good clip that can clamp onto the terminal, jumper cables would work I guess, careful not to short them out
Then with a smaller wire, connect to positive (again the battery would be good) and carefully touch one of the two spade connections on the motor, then try the other, one should be up the other down
I'd start there since you're getting something out of the switches.
FWIW, any time I'm screwing with the power window motors I'll run a separate ground wire for the motors rather than counting on the connection through the hinges etc. Can't hurt
M