Power window & gauges problem
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Power window & gauges problem
78 Vette is acting strange sometimes windows work just fine and gauges function properly & then at times power windows won't work, & the volt meter stops working. 
The gauges may start working again when I am driving. I can get the windows to go up or down if I jump the relay so.... Is it just a bad relay? Would the relay have anything to do with the gauges working properly?
The gauges may start working again when I am driving. I can get the windows to go up or down if I jump the relay so.... Is it just a bad relay? Would the relay have anything to do with the gauges working properly?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
depends on where your jumping the relay, check the switch contacts on the back carefully, thats usually where the malf is, clean the contacts and make sure they are secure. The guage problem is likely an intermittent ground in the dash, back of the guage most likely
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
I did clean and check the contacts on the back of the switches on the center console They look like new When I jumped the power window relay I jumped on the relay left to right & I bypassed the middle prong Thanks for trying to help me I appreciate all the help I can get
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
ok, so when you jump the relay are you putting a jumper across the contacts? or energizing the relay coil causing it to pick up?
If your jumping the contacts and the window works, this means that the window motor wireing is all good including the grounds for the motor itself and the problem lies in the control side of the system. If your jumping 12v to the relay coil energizing it and the window works, that means the relay AND all the motor stuff is good, again leaving only the control dide in question. jump the contacts on the switch connector, this will require 2 jumpers to make it work, see what happens. If you have an ohm meter, test the switch itself. Let us know how it goes. You can ring out the grounds with a home made test light, this is a good way to do it because it determines if a connection actually takes a load.
Good Luck Cristie
Dan
If your jumping the contacts and the window works, this means that the window motor wireing is all good including the grounds for the motor itself and the problem lies in the control side of the system. If your jumping 12v to the relay coil energizing it and the window works, that means the relay AND all the motor stuff is good, again leaving only the control dide in question. jump the contacts on the switch connector, this will require 2 jumpers to make it work, see what happens. If you have an ohm meter, test the switch itself. Let us know how it goes. You can ring out the grounds with a home made test light, this is a good way to do it because it determines if a connection actually takes a load.
Good Luck Cristie
Dan
