Window and Door operating Realys
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
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From: CA
Window and Door operating Realys
As the little guy on Laugh In would say "Very interesting". I have been getting ready to replace the relays that operate the windows and doors on my '99 since they were not working correctly. I had purchased a "solder sucker", and some relays. Well, since I was leaving the driver's door open for a long period of time when I was trying to find the problem, I thought it might be a good idea to charge the battery. When I hooked up the charger it took over 24 hours (at 2 amps/hr) to bring it up. And guess what, ALL of the relays now work perfectly !! Blinding flash of light! What if many of us are not keeping our batteries fully charged, especially those of us who do not drive the car every day. Even though a partially charged battery will start the car then, of course, the alternator would carry the ignition system, the current available may not work the relays properly. I know many of us have trouble keeping batteries alive, as posts are always complaining about battery failure. I do know that there is a fair amount of battery draw when the key is off because of the computer systems. Is this creating a false problem with our relays? What do you think?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Ca
I did a how-to write up on how to replace the door lock relays and if your battery was that low to effect the door locks and windows, it should have also effected other computer functions. IMHO, I think it is just a coincidence that the relays started working after you charged up the battery. Once the car is running, the alternator should be putting out enough voltage and amperage to work the windows and door locks. Before you charged the battery, did you hear any clicking sounds when you tried the door locks? If you did, then the relays operated but the contacts were not passing the voltage on to the relays.
Did you find a window relay because they are not the same as the door lock relays? I have been looking for window relays and have not been successful finding a replacement so if you have a source, please tell me.
Did you find a window relay because they are not the same as the door lock relays? I have been looking for window relays and have not been successful finding a replacement so if you have a source, please tell me.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 669
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From: CA
Door and Window operating Relays
Hi Bakersfield, I thought about the alternator carrying the whole system too. But I hoped I'd found a solution. Oh well. It just seems weird that everything now works correctly even though I did nothing else but charge the battery.
On the drivers side the window and door lock relays made no sounds at all. But, the onlock relay never stopped working, and the passenger side relays worked off and on. That is where I thought about low voltage after the battery charge.
And no, I haven't found the window relay replacement either. Also I know the window relays are connected through the top down circuit when the lid is raised and the top is lowered.
I did use the two main repair postings to trouble shoot the system. Thank you for that work.
On the drivers side the window and door lock relays made no sounds at all. But, the onlock relay never stopped working, and the passenger side relays worked off and on. That is where I thought about low voltage after the battery charge.
And no, I haven't found the window relay replacement either. Also I know the window relays are connected through the top down circuit when the lid is raised and the top is lowered.
I did use the two main repair postings to trouble shoot the system. Thank you for that work.
Last edited by Mike McCoy; Sep 7, 2007 at 11:04 AM. Reason: spelling
