2002 Ford Windstar LX - Passenger power window stopped working, driver's side switch repair
CheeseHead1
06-07-2014, 07:18 PM
Hi all,
I was able to fix a problem with my passenger window pretty easily and cheaply, and wanted to share.
Passenger side window stopped working. I'm sure there is some sophisticated electrical troubleshooting I could have done to isolate it to the window motor, passenger side switch or driver's side switch, but I'm not a great electrical guy and I didn't.
The driver's side door has the master window switch panel, for both front windows and both rear windows (plus the power door lock switch, plus the power mirror switches). I checked the driver's side switch panel and found that the switch that controlled the passenger window appeared to have gone bad. It would push down but would not automatically bounce back up. So I guessed that it was stuck in the open position, and that was preventing the passenger side switch from working as well.
I was able to get a used drivers side switch panel very cheap at a local junkyard, score! Like maybe $9 or $12 or something. They were preparing to close that location, so I got it super cheap.
To remove the drivers side switch panel from the door, you can just gently work a screwdriver, panel tool or chisel under it both front and rear. Push up gently. There is a friction clip at the front and rear of the switch panel. There are three electric connections to remove. Each has a pressure retaining pin that you need to squeeze at the same time you wiggle it to disconnect.
To replace, just connect the three electical connections and push it back firmly into place, pushing down front and rear. It will snap back into place.
I put the new (used) switch panel in place and tested it. Voila! The window worked! Tested all the other functions, they looked good. All set, right? :)
... wrong. Later driving the vehicle, it turned out now the mirrors weren't adjusting right. They would move up but not down. Or out but not in. Darn it! Removed the new part, back to the original part (very glad I had not thrown the original part out yet!). :iceslolan
I thought about buying another used switch panel at a local junkyard, found them for $35, but wasn't sure. I would test it better this time, of course. But it does sit in the door, drivers side door, so gets used a lot, and the switches also get rained on. So maybe the other used switches will also have problems... so maybe I should buy a new part.... Checked pricing at PartsGeek (dot) com - darn it - $92 for the new window control and door locking panel. Kind of expensive.
Then the light bulb went on for me. While looking at parts, I noticed the mirror adjusting switch was also sold separately. And it was much cheaper than the panel with the four window switches and the door lock switch.
So I started looking more closely at the panel, trying to figure out how to remove the mirror adjusting switch. Wasn't having much luck, it seemed kind of hard to get out.
Another ahah moment! Wait! I have one working door window switch set and one working mirror switch! Just on two different parts. If I can find that used part I got at the junkyard that didn't work.... or did I throw it out... ? Success! Very happy I didn't throw that out either! :iceslolan
I took a good look at the panel again, and it seemed easier to remove the large switch set (with the four window switches and the power lock switch) than to remove the mirror adjusting switch. OK, worked on that. It wasn't too hard to remove the four window switch set. Use a small screwdriver, four tabs to release. Have to release one and pry (continue to maintain pressure) until you can release the next one and get that entire side pried up some. Repeat on the other side. Success!
Swap the working window switch panel into the main panel with the working mirror adjust switch. Success!
Installed it back into the vehicle - tested all functions - make sure I check all four directions are working for both mirrors - success! :)
So a couple of take-aways:
1. With a little effort you can replace the driver's side window control panel separately from the mirror switch.
2. If you have two partly-working full switch panels, you can swap parts to create one working panel.
3. If you need to buy replacement parts, it look like you can buy the mirror switch very cheap online. I like PartsGeek (dot) com, I think the mirror switch would have been $12 plus maybe shipping.
Hope this helps.
I was able to fix a problem with my passenger window pretty easily and cheaply, and wanted to share.
Passenger side window stopped working. I'm sure there is some sophisticated electrical troubleshooting I could have done to isolate it to the window motor, passenger side switch or driver's side switch, but I'm not a great electrical guy and I didn't.
The driver's side door has the master window switch panel, for both front windows and both rear windows (plus the power door lock switch, plus the power mirror switches). I checked the driver's side switch panel and found that the switch that controlled the passenger window appeared to have gone bad. It would push down but would not automatically bounce back up. So I guessed that it was stuck in the open position, and that was preventing the passenger side switch from working as well.
I was able to get a used drivers side switch panel very cheap at a local junkyard, score! Like maybe $9 or $12 or something. They were preparing to close that location, so I got it super cheap.
To remove the drivers side switch panel from the door, you can just gently work a screwdriver, panel tool or chisel under it both front and rear. Push up gently. There is a friction clip at the front and rear of the switch panel. There are three electric connections to remove. Each has a pressure retaining pin that you need to squeeze at the same time you wiggle it to disconnect.
To replace, just connect the three electical connections and push it back firmly into place, pushing down front and rear. It will snap back into place.
I put the new (used) switch panel in place and tested it. Voila! The window worked! Tested all the other functions, they looked good. All set, right? :)
... wrong. Later driving the vehicle, it turned out now the mirrors weren't adjusting right. They would move up but not down. Or out but not in. Darn it! Removed the new part, back to the original part (very glad I had not thrown the original part out yet!). :iceslolan
I thought about buying another used switch panel at a local junkyard, found them for $35, but wasn't sure. I would test it better this time, of course. But it does sit in the door, drivers side door, so gets used a lot, and the switches also get rained on. So maybe the other used switches will also have problems... so maybe I should buy a new part.... Checked pricing at PartsGeek (dot) com - darn it - $92 for the new window control and door locking panel. Kind of expensive.
Then the light bulb went on for me. While looking at parts, I noticed the mirror adjusting switch was also sold separately. And it was much cheaper than the panel with the four window switches and the door lock switch.
So I started looking more closely at the panel, trying to figure out how to remove the mirror adjusting switch. Wasn't having much luck, it seemed kind of hard to get out.
Another ahah moment! Wait! I have one working door window switch set and one working mirror switch! Just on two different parts. If I can find that used part I got at the junkyard that didn't work.... or did I throw it out... ? Success! Very happy I didn't throw that out either! :iceslolan
I took a good look at the panel again, and it seemed easier to remove the large switch set (with the four window switches and the power lock switch) than to remove the mirror adjusting switch. OK, worked on that. It wasn't too hard to remove the four window switch set. Use a small screwdriver, four tabs to release. Have to release one and pry (continue to maintain pressure) until you can release the next one and get that entire side pried up some. Repeat on the other side. Success!
Swap the working window switch panel into the main panel with the working mirror adjust switch. Success!
Installed it back into the vehicle - tested all functions - make sure I check all four directions are working for both mirrors - success! :)
So a couple of take-aways:
1. With a little effort you can replace the driver's side window control panel separately from the mirror switch.
2. If you have two partly-working full switch panels, you can swap parts to create one working panel.
3. If you need to buy replacement parts, it look like you can buy the mirror switch very cheap online. I like PartsGeek (dot) com, I think the mirror switch would have been $12 plus maybe shipping.
Hope this helps.
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