Dream Theater

Ok so here's the deal. my passenger window does not go down. The window motor works though because I can 12v jump it and we are good. Well when I press the switch it doesnt seem to work up or down... Funny thing is when i took off the door panel and broke out the multi meter I was getting power to the Power Window Subswitch as I should. Its just that the window refuses to go down. I know its not the power window switch because i have 3 of them and they all do the same thing. Drivers window works but no passenger. Oh and its not the on/off switch either, that's elementary guys. Help please...

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Did you take apart the switch(es) and clean the contacts? Dirty contacts are a common problem with these window switches.

wardaj

Remember that the passenger switch wires go to the drivers side so that the driver can control that window and also disable the up/down switches using the on/off switch. I had a similar problem some time ago and it turned out to be a dirty contacts on the drivers side passenger switch. Just FYI, that was my experience.

Dream Theater

All good thoughts gents, but as I said I have 3 brand new switches that are doing the same thing. Drivers works fine, but no passenger.

wardaj

I guess I dont fully understand.

Of your three brand new switches, are they all passenger switches that install in the passenger door?
The window goes up ok, but not down?
Does the passenger window go down when using the drivers side switch or are they both dead?

Dream Theater

no they are all drivers side switches that have both drivers and passenger in them. The passenger alone does not work also so it has to be a wiring issue. I know the window motor works because i can 12v jump them.

wardaj

After checking the wire diagram i see that a gunked up passenger subswitch could interrupt the control from the drivers side switch as well. Also note the drivers side switch assembly provides the ground circuit for the passenger motor. When you check voltage at the subswitch make sure you use the ground point from the wire harness and not the cars body.

I think the easy way to check it would be to use a voltmeter. Attach one lead to the Black/White wire coming into the subswitch, and the other lead to the Black/Yellow. Now go operate the drivers side switch and you should see the following:


TEST #1
(Subswitch Connected)

Switch Off: No voltage
Switch Up: Either +12 or -12
Switch Dn: Opposite of Switch Up, either -12 or +12

If this passes then I would lean on the passenger subswitch being bad.


TEST #2
(Subswitch DISCONNECTED)
To further test the passenger subwitch i would check the following scenarios:

Resistance across the Red wire and Black/White wire: <10 ohms when off or down and >1000 ohms when up.
Resistance across the Green wire and Black/Yellow: <10 ohms when off or up and >1000 ohms when down.
Resistance across the Red and White/Blue should be <10 ohms when up
Resistance across the Green and White/Blue should be <10 ohms when down

If test 2 fails i would further suspect the subswitch being bad, or corroded wiring going into it.

Remember the corrosion will affect the voltage/resistance reading so clean the contacts first. For test 1 I would tap into the wires using a straight pin, that way you take the dirty contacts out of the picture.

Good luck.

Dream Theater

ok so even IF the subswitch is bad on the passenger side should not the drivers side switch be able to operate the window?

wardaj

The subswitch COULD fail in a way that renders the drivers side useless. The signals from the drivers side switch go through the contacts on the subswitch.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I've had that - the contacts get corroded on the passenger side and the window only worked from the driver side.

Dave

twinturborx7pete

iTrader: (3)

I'd also check the passenger window lock switch! That's on the driver's side.

Dream Theater

... This is beginning to urk me because I do not do electrical at all. I'm a thinker yes, but when it comes to understanding current...that's when I go to the guys who get payed to do it... Not saying I'm giving up, simply saying I don't understand... kinda sux.

MyRedFD

iTrader: (1)

Mine has a similar problem, but it's the harness the passenger side switch plugs into on the door. If it's not working I'll just push them together and it'll work just fine. It must have been pulled on hard at one time so there's some play in it now.