2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Power Windows...

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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 05:28 PM
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Power Windows...

FIRST OF ALL, SEARCHED.

Problem: Power windows stuck, neither the drivers switches nor the passenger side switch will roll up either of the windows.

Facts: No blown fuses. Sunroof still opens, no problem. No other electrical problem.

Story: Driving to the local hardware store, and got a head start on rolling up the windows, and closing the sunroof. I started to close all 3 at the same time; the drivers side got all the way up, the sunroof closed, and when I parked I noticed that the passenger side is not budging. I figure its a fart in the system and I go into the parts store, buy what I was purchasing, and then head home. Two days later and I can NOT figure out what is wrong.

Searched: I searched and found a lot of slow moving windows, and cleaning tracks, and all kinds of stuff that didn't relate. I even found a couple empty threads where people had my same problem.

Please, any help would be great.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 05:52 PM
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mine had the same problem turned out the switch went bad, tried fixing it worked for a little while and broke again. Made my own set of switches lol
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 05:54 PM
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could be a combination of things here. my money would be on the regulator/track and a slow moving window. motor could have blown out also.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 06:09 PM
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No, because the windows have moved pristinely for the duration I have had it. The tracks would slowly go bad, not all at once. The motors BOTH blowing at the EXACT same time seems just as unlikely.

Any other ideas?
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 06:11 PM
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i thought that you said it was just the passenger's side. bad wiring would be my last offer of help. i don't know what else to say.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 06:37 PM
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No, I said it correctly.

Originally Posted by EnBom_Rx-7
Problem: Power windows stuck, neither the drivers switches nor the passenger side switch will roll up either of the windows.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 10:33 PM
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not to be a jerk, but have you turned the power window switch to on? that would explain the passenger side. have you replaced the switches yet? remember that you own a twenty year old car.... switches go out. take them apart and sand the contacts with some sandpaper, that fixed my problem. maybe re-bend the metal a little as well to aleviate any flattening that may have occured over the years. If sanding doesn't help, and it's not a fuse, not the tracks or the motor, then either the switches are bad or you have a wiring problem.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 10:56 PM
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windows

Check The Wires Where The door henges are they can break from flexing over 20 some years of opening and closeing of the door. Also the master power switch on the drivers window switch could have failed.
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Old Apr 3, 2008 | 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by texFCturboII
not to be a jerk, but have you turned the power window switch to on? that would explain the passenger side. have you replaced the switches yet? remember that you own a twenty year old car.... switches go out. take them apart and sand the contacts with some sandpaper, that fixed my problem. maybe re-bend the metal a little as well to aleviate any flattening that may have occured over the years. If sanding doesn't help, and it's not a fuse, not the tracks or the motor, then either the switches are bad or you have a wiring problem.
Yes, it was and is on, "on". I would have no idea how to sand anything down to make it work. In fact I am lost just at the fact of sanding something on the switch.

Originally Posted by skatelement
Check The Wires Where The door henges are they can break from flexing over 20 some years of opening and closeing of the door. Also the master power switch on the drivers window switch could have failed.
Checking those wires would not be an easy task, but I guess I will do that tomorrow.

I will try a different main drives side switch, but I doubt it is that given that the PASSENGERS side doesn't work either and when I was cleaning the windows and doing some maintenance and when only one was hooked up, it worked, giving me the impression they are not dependent on each other.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 12:14 AM
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[QUOTE=EnBom_Rx-7;8055255]Yes, it was and is on, "on". I would have no idea how to sand anything down to make it work. In fact I am lost just at the fact of sanding something on the switch.
QUOTE]

It's easy...

Just pull the switch box out of the armrest, trust me you can do it, there are two pieces of metal clipping it to the inside of the armrest, but they come "unclipped" easily. Get a tiny phillips screwdriver and remove the screws, careful to keep it upright. When you pull the cover off you see a series of metal "V's" that pivot back and forth, touching a series of contacts. Get some sandpaper and clean all the metal up. All the little metal pieces can only go in one way, so it's real hard to mess up.

There's a write up on this somewhere with good pics, perhaps in the archives It hink?

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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 12:25 AM
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Thanks. Yeah, getting the pieces apart is no problem, haha. It was the sanding I was a little shook by.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 12:36 AM
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my driverside rolled up but now it won't roll down do i need to salder the switch?
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 12:57 AM
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not unless the wires are disconnected.... once again try sanding it. if no go, replace switch; which eventually will have to happen anyways.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 01:18 AM
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A new switch is fairly cheap you can fix problems in the switch quite easily, however the switch (drivers side) is a little complicated so could be a daunting task to an electrical novice.

OP- I will go out on a limb here and say your problem is not in your switches. If both sides are simultaneously not working then you can narrow your problem down to a common connection that both window switches share, I would guess a fuse but as you have already ruled that out could be a wire or a relay.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 02:47 AM
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i had a similar problem with my s5 and it occured due to bad wiring on the harness above the fuse box. check the wires and you'll know if it is the wiring if you move the wires around will pressing the window switch and if it moves while messing with the wirings its the wiring fosho.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 02:47 AM
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My passenger side switch broke with my help;{...........I took switch apart to fix it and only broke it worse............
.....It would not work from the drivers side at all...put in new switch now works perfect from both switches......before passenger switch would only roll window down and had to use drivers side to put back up.....
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 02:54 AM
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drivers switch is the master so if its bad the passenger side will not work too.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 05:35 AM
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Originally Posted by TehMonkay
drivers switch is the master so if its bad the passenger side will not work too.
As far as I know this is incorrect. Without the drivers side switch connected, the passenger worked fine at an earlier period.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 11:15 AM
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driver switch is master like he said if it frys then passenger wont work- someone else b4 said passenger worked when drivers disconnected though not on my car when i repaired drivers (tried with it unhooked)
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 11:30 AM
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FYI, this will make a whole lot more sense after you take it apart (if you haven't already) and have seen her insides...

When I got mine, the windows weren't working... actually, the car ran and thats about it. I had to fix EVERYTHING electrical. The windows was one of the harder ones to figure out... After I checked to see if everything had current (testing with that stupid light thing, checked fuses, ran back and forth through wiring diagrams), I decided to take it out and pull it apart...

The two little connecters that are mounted on the little finger things (I dont know what else to call it) toutch different parts when its in a different position (i.e. when you pull the switch up or push it down). The plastic parts to my little finger connecters had 1/2 broken fingers for each window (there is 2 for each window if I remember right). Also, I live in the beautiful pacific northwest so its ALWAYS raining here... there was water inside as well as broken parts... I got new ones for free from a buddy, took them apart and checked to see if the plastic was in good shape and they were fine, so I sealed the new ones better before putting it back together, I also put that terminal housing grease stuff in there to help out.

I think I went over-kill on the text but I hope it helps.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 12:49 PM
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Not the best photos ever, but you will notice the carbon build up on the critical contacts. Just sand them lightly and it will probably solve your issue.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...+window+switch
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 06:07 PM
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My drivers side and passenger side stopped working a few months back. I took apart the drivers side window switch and cleaned it with and eraser and rubbing alchol. Windows worked perfect after that.

To take apart the window switch just remove the door panel and look underneath the switch. It pops right out. 3 screws and it comes apart. Just make sure you put it back together the same way. Clean the contacts and put it back in see if that helps.
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Old Apr 4, 2008 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by EnBom_Rx-7
As far as I know this is incorrect. Without the drivers side switch connected, the passenger worked fine at an earlier period.
Theres something really wrong with your car then.
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