The power windows on my '87 vert won't work. What do I check first? 1. I have power to the switch connectors but don't know if it is getting through the switch. How durable are these switches?
2. How reliable are the window motors?
3. Is there some other components I should be checking, i.e. relays, solenoids, etc.?
4. My console also hase the remote mirror rocker switch located between the 2 power window switches. The mirrors don't work either. Does that provide an additional clue??

Help!!!

 

Check the circut breakers in the fuse box...

 

A lot of the window motors tend to go bad..Ive seen it a lot, and have had guys calling on a lot of the window motors....I work for a Corvette Salvage company, its just me and my buddy Jason, he owns it...and we get a lot calling for new window motors....If you need one we can get u one for cheap, but dont take my word for it im not looking for buisness..just trying to help, check the wiring, but it could be the motor. If you need the part you can fill out the parts request on vette2vette.com and we will hook yah up...Thanks and God bless

 

i got this and it was a weird azz problem because the front window stop actually pulled the plug out of the motor.
probably 1 in a couple billion chance though

 

How do you know that you have power to the switches? My 88 manual says that if both windows do not work the first thing to check is the 30Amp WDO Circuit breaker. This is a metal unit similar to a fuse that plugs in at the front of the fuse panel. You should have a couple of easily swappable 30A circuit breakers there.

My 88 electrical schematic shows that when the key is in the RUN position power is always on the pink wire coming from the window circuit breaker to the window switches. The left hand switch sends power through the Dark Blue wire to the window motor when the switch is set to the UP position and to the motor via the Brown wire when set to the DOWN position. The right hand switch is similar in that power goes to the motor via a Light Blue wire when set to UP and to the motor via the TAN wire when set to DOWN. ( UP = Blue and DOWN = Brown/Tan ) There are only 2 wires going to each motor as the voltage is reversed depending on the direction of window movement desired.

Current flows to the motors via the Blue wires when UP is selected and out the Brown or Tan wires back to the switches and then to ground via one of 2 black wires coming off the switch. Current flows to the motors via the Brown or Tan wires when DOWN is selected and out the Blue wires back to the switches again to ground using the other black wire off the switch.

Given that your windows and mirrors are all not working at the same time, I'd assume the problem is due to wiring and not motors at this point. If you have tested the terminals at the switches for both the windows and the mirrors and see power in, then based upon your tests and my 88 wiring schematic, I'd assume that there is an electrical problem in the wiring coming OUT of the console and going to the common ground used by both window switches (and probably the mirror switch). You need the wiring schematic for your 87 to see what is the common point in the wiring harness coming away from the console switches. I'd follow the black wires from the window switches to ground and see if that doesn't locate the cause of your problem. You could even try jumpering a wire from the window switch terminals with black wires on them directly to a known good ground and then testing the switch.

Having an 87 Factory Shop Manual with the schematic would be of significant help. You should consider buying one used or ordering a new one ($75) from the GM supplier Helm Inc. 87 Helm FSM