Help diagnosing power window problem
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Help diagnosing power window problem
My driver side window suddenly quit working a few weeks ago. Fortunately, it was in the up position, as this is my daily drive. I thought it might be the power window switch, so I bought a new harness. Sure enough, one of the wires had broken loose. So I installed the new harness. Absolutely sure I wired it correctly. Hard to mess up red to red, brown to brown and blue to blue. Know the connections are secure. Still did not work, so took a test light to the power - red wire - and do have power. Don't know how to test the other wires to see if it might also be a switch problem. If I probe the test light to one of the other connections and activate the switch should I get a light on these wires? In other words, how do I test the switch itself.
If the switch turns out to be OK, how do I test the window motor? Can I use the test light on the motor harness to check for power just like testing the switch?
Somewhat at my knowledge limit, though I do learn fast, so let's have the diagnostic procedures and approaches!
If the switch turns out to be OK, how do I test the window motor? Can I use the test light on the motor harness to check for power just like testing the switch?
Somewhat at my knowledge limit, though I do learn fast, so let's have the diagnostic procedures and approaches!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 14
From: Lancaster PA
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Larry82)
At the window motor plug there is 2 wires. With at test light the one wire should be hot when the switch is in the down position and the other wire should be hot when in the up position. I believe ground is completed through the door itself. If you have power at the plug and the motor does not run chances are you have a bad motor. There are 3 wires going to the switch because the one is always hot and when the switch is activated the power flows to one or the other of the other two. Good Luck, Craig
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (CF6873)
Thanks. Since I have power to the switch, shouldn't I see power to one of the other wires on the switch when I activate the switch, if the switch is good?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (CF6873)
At the window motor plug there is 2 wires. With at test light the one wire should be hot when the switch is in the down position and the other wire should be hot when in the up position. I believe ground is completed through the door itself. If you have power at the plug and the motor does not run chances are you have a bad motor. There are 3 wires going to the switch because the one is always hot and when the switch is activated the power flows to one or the other of the other two. Good Luck, Craig
:iagree:
Brown is up
Blue is down
Red or pink is 12v
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Larry82)
Thanks. Since I have power to the switch, shouldn't I see power to one of the other wires on the switch when I activate the switch, if the switch is good?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Older Than Dirt)
Thanks, will try. Getting to the switch is harder than the window motor. I find I have to remove the driver cushion to get at the switch easily, once I get the side panel off. Taking door panel off is easier!
Where is the ground connection? I had to also replace the door lock harness and, could I have dislodged the ground connection? I see the plug on the rear of the motor. Where is the ground? Sorry to be so persistent, just all is new to me.
...assuming the ground connection is intact on the motor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Larry82)
[QUOTE
Where is the ground connection? I had to also replace the door lock harness and, could I have dislodged the ground connection? I see the plug on the rear of the motor. Where is the ground? Sorry to be so persistent, just all is new to me.[/QUOTE]
Larry it has been a while since I've been that deep behind the door panel. I'm Looking at my 81 shop manual now. How many wires are on the plug that plugs in the motor ? the shop manual shows just two- brown and blue. That tells me the motor is grounded through the casing to frame. I think your ground is ok. Make sure all your harness connections are good . What have you found so far?
Where is the ground connection? I had to also replace the door lock harness and, could I have dislodged the ground connection? I see the plug on the rear of the motor. Where is the ground? Sorry to be so persistent, just all is new to me.[/QUOTE]
Larry it has been a while since I've been that deep behind the door panel. I'm Looking at my 81 shop manual now. How many wires are on the plug that plugs in the motor ? the shop manual shows just two- brown and blue. That tells me the motor is grounded through the casing to frame. I think your ground is ok. Make sure all your harness connections are good . What have you found so far?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Older Than Dirt)
Yes, the plug to the motor is just two wires, so it must be grounded to the door frame. Can I unplug the harness and test the power to the motor? Test light grounded, so my intuition says yes.
Not working on the car now. Its getting dark here in Houston. Probably tomorrow.
Keep the info coming!
Not working on the car now. Its getting dark here in Houston. Probably tomorrow.
Keep the info coming!
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,426
Likes: 1
From: VetteMOD
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Larry82)
The ground is through the frame of the motor, which is through the regulator which is through the door which is through the car. Unless your motor is toast, it almost certainly a bad ground (somewhere). Test the motor by attaching 12V ground to the motor/gear case and 12V positive to the wires (one wire at a time) that connect to the motor.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 10
From: Scottsboro Alabama
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Larry82)
Think I understand.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Re: Help diagnosing power window problem (Older Than Dirt)
Thanks, think I understand how to trouble shoot now. I do have power going to the switch. I suspect don't have power coming out. Going to test the harness to the motor to confirm. But, if I do, then its the motor. Hope replacing that is not monumental for an experienced beginner.
Whoa - says I posted this response at 3:12am on 3/22. Actually posted it 1:12 pn on 3/21. Wassup with that?
[Modified by Larry82, 3:14 AM 3/22/2004]
Whoa - says I posted this response at 3:12am on 3/22. Actually posted it 1:12 pn on 3/21. Wassup with that?
[Modified by Larry82, 3:14 AM 3/22/2004]
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Bedford IN
Thanks very much for helping Larry, I was having trouble with my window and found this thread and saw your post about the ground. I removed the door to fix the broken wire by the hinge and wonderd why I couldn't get it to work when testing it before I reattached the door.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,257
Likes: 557
From: Macedonia Ohio
I installed PW in my car this winter. Everything was working perfectly until today. The window will not go up. I got it to work briefly up and down about 5 times. Then it stopped working completely. I do not suspect the switch because I can hear a click coming from the motor and the battery gauge moves. It is like it is stuck down.
Any ideas or comments are greatly appreciated .
Any ideas or comments are greatly appreciated .
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 96
Likes: 27
Rise this thread back from the dead lol. So my 81 driverside window has stopped working. One thing I noticed about the driver Window was that it always rolled down super fast compared to the passenger side.
When I click the window button up or down I can hear a slight "tic" from the door. To whomever posted in here have you found your problem?
When I click the window button up or down I can hear a slight "tic" from the door. To whomever posted in here have you found your problem?