FAQ: Power Window Problems

So my drivers side power window is out. It tends to go in and out of working and has for the past few weeks. The passenger side window and moonroof have no trouble. When i hit the window switch i hear a click like it is trying to go down but nothing happens. Sometimes opening and closing the door fixes it. Anyone have any suggestions on what to check out?

You might try to dig out the motor and clean it. I've never done this though and have no idea what it involves. I posted instructions for removing the door panel in this thread. I screwed up and pulled more plugs than were necessary though. Try to do better than I did.

It could be the switch. I had to replace it because my drivers side window was being wierd but the passenger side was fine.

It would only go up and down if I pushed it a certain way and ONLY if I was sitting down to do it. There was nobody else that could do this for about 6 months and my wrist hurt all the time from pushing so hard to get it up. Finally I had it replaced and works fine now.

Oh bother. So how do I troubleshoot this biyatch?

stuck up/down ?
do you suspect the switch? the motor?
If it is switch related, I made a post about this on regalGS.org and some else developed on it, possibly mapping out the points on the switch (can't remember)

reguardless you are goin to have to pull the door pane off. take pics of that if you can

yup. if you find the referenced post on regalgs, copy-paste it here please. There are detailed instructions on removing the panel (super easy, takes maybe 4 minutes)

Here you go.
Bert


https://rivperformance.editboard.com/interior-f20/interior-door-lights-t317.htm#2618

All these replies about removing the door panel - I pulled the door panel months ago, when I did the dash kit (and took pictures too!)

I'm going to guess it's the switch, as it acted up on me a couple years ago, also at the beginning of spring. Must be all that not getting used over the winter.

Of course it could also be the motor, which no longer sounds as smooth and strong as the passenger side motor.

At least we don't have 4 of these to deal with!

Jason wrote:

stuck up/down ?

Up. Since my AC is working, it's not much of a problem. I just want the car to be in top shape.

Check that the driver side window switch is plugged in. If it becomes loose, it will disable both driver and passenger windows.

A good tip, but the passenger side is working.

Which reminds me, I need to go roll it up for the night.

same thing happened to mines jack...

I knew it was'nt the motor because I kept hearing it as I was pushing the button up and down....I just kept forcing it and it became unstuck...this was like 3 weeks ago...

Yeah mine started working again too. Must be in the switch, huh?

I ought to go out and hit it a few times since it's been sitting again.

My drivers side window won't go up now and i'm pretty sure its the switch. I smelled a burning for a while and noticed i can here a click when i press down but nothing happens when i press up. I guess it shorted out. But anyway has anyone tried to tackle this? How long does it take and what tools will i need?

you will need a phillip screw driver and a set of torx bits. if you go to interior there is a write up for removing the door panels for replacing the actual switch you will need that same screw driver because it is held in place with 2 screws.

Push the roll down - nothing happens. It goes CLICK once when I push it but won't do it again until I try to push down on it again. Passenger still works, what is broken on the driver's?

most likely the switch. There have been several threads about them recently...

So is the motor broken or just the switch in the door? I did a brief scan of the forums and didn't see any about the driver side window being broken. Difficult/costly to fix?

Shintsu wrote:

So is the motor broken or just the switch in the door? I did a brief scan of the forums and didn't see any about the driver side window being broken. Difficult/costly to fix?

Probably just the switch, I think deekster caddy or albertj one posted about removing the switch, cleaning the contacts and just reversing the switch and solving the problem.



There is a write up on removing the door panel.
Just take your time and dont rush it.

Bert

replacing the switch is very easy. you have one on each side of the door panel. take a small screw driver or a knife and pry back the inserts on the door handle to reveal the 2 torx screws, and the piece that sits right behind the handle to open the door to reveal another srew. there is a cover trim that sits around the door handle remove that. in one motion lift up on the door trim and it will come loose. we have the easiest door trim to remove. there is a right up with pictures in the interior section. once you have that off then you will need a small phillips screwdriver to remove the 2 screws that hold the switch in place.

good luck

So do I need a new one or do I just need to do that thing about cleaning the contacts and reversing the switch?

Only way to find out is try it. If disassembling it and cleaning doesn't work, then you need a new one. The switch is very simple inside, there is little to go wrong with it, hopefully you can just clean it and reassemble.

Good luck!

May have some difficulty in removing the door panel - part of it was sticking out before and we took it to an interior place that put some nice glue on there so it wouldn't look like crap anymore. That glue might make taking it apart diffcult. Sorry for being lazy, can anyone give me a direct link to the driver panel door removal write up?

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/interior-f20/write-up-interior-door-panel-removal-t317.htm#2570