When a window gets stuck open, it’s stressful for the driver, concerned with the risk of rain or the cold. Many people deal with this nuisance at some point in their lives. The mechanisms involved with the window’s up and down movement can fail in many ways, where only one may be moving.
Let me identify the typical reasons a window will not roll up, how to rectify each, and how to raise the window manually, even if just temporarily, until fixed!
Causes of Power Window Failure (and Fixes)
The following are some of the most common issues with a power window, and how to proceed when they occur.
#1. No Circuit Power.
To make a power window assembly work, it must be capable of being supplied with appropriate power from the vehicle’s battery. This power has, almost always, passed through a fuse or circuit breaker, with relay action also taken into consideration.
Due to the fact that power is interrupted to this circuit, no amount of manipulation to a switch, open or close a window. A window switch must first be supplied with power before it can distribute power downstream to the waiting window motor.
How to Fix
To fix a window circuit power loss issue, you will need a trusty test light. First, you will need to remove the corresponding door panel and confirm power is being supplied to the inlet side of your vehicle’s window switch.
If your test light does not illuminate, then you will locate the fuse for this power supply.
In some instances, all windows will be powered through a single circuit, but numerous makes and models of vehicles operate this power distribution using several circuits.
Often, a vehicle’s driver’s side window and passenger’s side window are powered through a fuse independent of the rear windows.
In many instances, a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker will be determined with an excited or tired look on your face. Most of the time, this experience will be from aged window motors, which are drawing too much amperage for seemingly no reason.
#2. Defective Window Switch.
Another repeated power window circuit failure association is with the window switch. Just like the internal contacts in a switch that have changed over time, either making for a very poor internal contact or no internal contact exists when the switch is manipulated.
Defective switches are the source of a good number of failures in these types of systems, but it is a good practice to verify a bad switch before taking the action of replacing it.
How to Fix
To verify a defective window switch, you will need to remove the switch unit from its door panel, if applicable, and have a test light or multimeter on hand, if so desired.
First, let us know if your window switch is working. Therefore, check to see that the switch is receiving incoming power. When your test light is good, it will illuminate if properly grounded. Alternatively, the use of a multimeter, which will indicate 12+ volts supplied to the circuit’s supply voltage wire.
If you have incoming power, then repeat that procedure when looking for the outlet, switch power while pressing the switch. If you no longer see any power coming out of your window switch, you will need a replacement.
However, if you see power coming out of the outlet side (and you will want to use the test light, as some voltage will dissipate), then you will have to keep testing at the connection point where it meets the window motor.
#3. Defective Window Motor.
A power window motor will sometimes fail, and more frequently than not, it’s due to degradation of the internal circuitry. If this happens, your window will not operate in either direction, leaving you in a bit of a pickle.
A poorly operating or noisy power window motor is typically a good indicator of the general overall health of the unit. A slow power window motor that is properly grounded and receiving proper voltage should be viewed with suspicion.
How To Fix
The good news is that diagnosing a failed power window motor is fairly straightforward. First of all, you will have to remove the door panel, and then locate the electrical pigtail that corresponds to the window motor.
Once you have located the plug, disconnect it, and examine the harness side to see if power and ground are present while pressing the window switch.
If power and ground are present, the power window motor is faulty and needs to be replaced. How difficult this task will be varies between models of vehicles.
#4. Damaged Window Regulator.
Similar to window motors, regulators fail as they age, and the mechanical parts wear out. As a regulator ages, the mechanical parts inside begin to wear out, resulting in failure or irreparable damage.
Regardless of whether damage has occurred or not, a defective window regulator is usually very easy to diagnose.
If you have a window that won’t stay up, appears to be canted to one side or has dropped into the door frame, a window regulator will most likely cause the failure.
How To Fix
Diagnosing a window regulator is simple; all it takes is a visual inspection. Just like when you inspected the power window motor, you will first have to remove the interior door panel to get a good look at this unit.
If the window regulator is not functional, have a good look at the pivot points, mounts, cables, and window clamps for possible signs of damage or wear and tear. If damage or wear and tear are observed, replacement is warranted.
The difficulty of replacing a regulator varies depending on the make and model of the vehicle being worked on.
Replacing a window regulator can be a straightforward job, while in other instances, it can be complicated and tedious. If you are unsure, always seek professional advice.
How Power Windows Operate
Power window systems incorporate mechanical and electric components in conjunction to operate your vehicle windows up and down.
A window switch allows power to the vehicle’s power window motor, which operates the assembly regulator. The power window regulator controls the driving of the window motor and the movement of the window.
There are two kinds of power window regulators. The first form is the parallelogram (gear-driven) regulator that scissor while on the move, much like a scissor jack.
A window motor will cycle the turning of several crank gears that scissor the regulator, creating upward thrust.
Most recently, more vehicles have had a cable-driven regulator system that involves wound cable through a series of pulleys driven by the vehicle’s power window motor.
When operated, this cable will pull the cable forward and aft to lift or lower the window it is affixed to.
How to Manually Get a Power Window Up
Mechanical issues always seem like they happen at bad times, and power window problems are no exception.
If you find yourself on such a trip, unable to get your window to the closed position, you should use the following method to solve the problem:
- Remove Door Panel: Start by removing your door panels from the vehicle.
- Disable Window Motor: Disconnect the power source to your power window motor, and tuck the wire safely out of the way.
- Disconnect Regulator From Window: You will now unbolt the window from the regulator fasteners to the window.
- Raise Window By Hand: Place a palm on each side of the window and raise the window up as much as you can.
- Lock Window In Place: You will now put 1-2 blocks of wood inside your door interior compartment to shim the window in place.
- Reinstall Door Panel: Finally, reinstall your door panel, ensuring all fasteners are tight, once completed.