Raising a dead power window

[homefryingpan]

I have a '96 XLT and after finding out that my AC compressor is shot this weekend on vacation, I drove home with all the windows down.

Upon arriving at home, I also found out that my front passenger window will not roll up. I tried both the driver AND passenger door controls. There is not clicking or attempt by the motor to roll it up.

I need to raise this window, and I dont care about getting it fixed right away...I just need some help figuring out how to do this.

I already have the entire panel off and am staring at the metal frame.

Whats the easiest way to do this?

 

[lugnuts55]

Check the window lockout switch on the driver's door. You may have already, but I find that mine sometimes needs to be cycled a few times before it allows the other windows to work with their switches.

If that doesn't do it. Get a long jumper wire to go from the battery to the window motor. If you can get at the terminals on the motor, touch the wire to one of the terminals. You might have to strip some insulation from the wires to the motor and leave the connector in the motor.You can repair this late rwith electrical tape. You just have to be careful not to touch the wire from the battery positive terminal to any frame or anything grounded. If the window doesn't move, touch it to the other terminal. The motor is grounded to the frame so it should raise the window unless it is burned out.

Most likely you have a broken wire in the harness from the body to the door. It was a common occurence on most cars with power windows. I don't know if these are any different.

Give it a try and see what happens. Good luck.
Mike

 

[homefryingpan]

oh man, if flipping the lockout switch back and forth works im gonna be pissed i took the door panel off, haha...but thankful thats all it was

 

[lugnuts55]

That's what we're here for. Glad to help.

 

[homefryingpan]

ok flipping the window lock back and forth didnt work

Im trying to get at the terminals to the window motor, and well lets be honest...im having trouble finding it

do i need to remove the motor in order to test it? or would stripping the wires be easier, and if so, where are they?

 

[homefryingpan]

ok i tried putting power directly to the motor, and had a meter on it...there was definitely power going to the motor, but nothing was working

now i just need to know how to manually get the window raised

 

[safn1949]

Some times you can tap on the motor with a hammer while you hold the switch and it will work...sometimes.Also make sure one of the wires isn't broken inside,it might have power to it but no ground.

 

[homefryingpan]

Im having a lot of trouble getting inside to check and see ANYTHING in there...from what i can see though, im not seeing any broken wires.

 

[safn1949]

Ok,so power in,try running a ground wire to a known good ground and if you can stick a small screw driver or something in the other terminal hooked to that ground so you know it's grounded.

I hope I'm being clear,if it has power and a good ground tap the motor while it's powered up and see if it will go up.If it does leave it up until you replace the motor.If not,well we know you will be replacing the motor.

How hard is it to remove the motor? I have never had my panel off so I don't know on this one.

 

[ginabina]

so i have a similar problem with my 1991 ford explorer only my whole window is shattered and needs to be replaced, any segestions on how to do that?

 

[homefryingpan]

IT WORKED!!!!!!

I placed a screwdriver up against the motor and tapped on it while trying to roll the window up and it worked perfectly

Now the window goes up AND down just like new

Thanks for the awesome help!

 

[safn1949]

I would replace that motor,it will happen again usually at the worse times.It might work for months but you're already there.

 

[homefryingpan]

haha, im not replacing jack!! i just needed a quick fix to get the window up...i just wont roll that one down anymore.

im just gonna get a new car when i get a job anyways, so this is just to tide me over.

 

[gmanpaint]

The window motors rarely fail. They come out very easy. I fixed 3 of 4 in my 2nd gen, and all 4 on my 1st gen at one time or another. More of a PITA then anything else. Out of all those windows that wouldn't work, not one of them had a bad motor.

The wiring is usually the culprit or the plastic bushings inside have dry rotted and crumbled. Bushings are an easy fix, and cost a couple bucks for them in the "Help" section.

The motors are switched when a ground is made. They always have power ran to them.

The loom in the door jamb would be a hot spot for a broken wire. Opening & closing the door thousands of times tends to break a wire or two from all the back & forth motion.

There are threads on everything I just mentioned. There really is no money spent here, just your time.