Intermittent trouble with driver's power window

Every once in a while my window won't go down for (usually) about a day. I get a clicking sound when I press the switch from somewhere in the door, but no movement.

I can't seem to pinpoint any condition that makes it not work, ie wet, hot, cold, ect.

Is this likely just the motor wearing out and drawing too much current for the circuit breaker, or is my switch itself the culprit? I suppose it could be a loose/corroded wire, but I do always get the noise almost like the motor is trying to activate.

It's not really worth a LOT of money to me to fix- which is precisely what the Olds dealer wanted. I just wish I'd figure it out BEFORE I get boxed in to a drive though lane at an ATM or a fast food joint.

I've never had a problem in that area, but others have found and repaired frayed or broken wires that caused the same problem. Behind door panel, usually near the switch.

This may sound kind of weird but I have the same problem and I have narrowed it down to this: My drivers side window stops working or only goes down or up halfway if I roll it down in front of the unit that controls the security gate at my apartment complex. It took me a while to figure it out because the gate is only closed at night & it's normally daytime when I go through it and even if it IS closed, I usually have the top & the windows down so I wouldn't notice anyway. I have seen questions like this posted often, along with those about other strange electrical quirks with the security system, stereo, horn, etc. and I'm wondering how far it goes. I recently had a no crank no start situation that the dealer diagnosed as a bad battery but the battery was perfect and I could tell it was something with the electronic system. Also, all these other little things keep popping up - like a few weeks ago, I was in a parking lot and when I disarmed my alarm, the alarm on the car parked next to mine went off. When I pushed the button that armed mine, the other car's stopped and vice versa. I'm sure that happens a lot but coupled with the other stuff, it just seems odd. So are there a bunch of stray ohms flying around or is some renegade infrared ray bouncing off my car, or what? I do keep the magnetized card that opens my gate tucked between the bottom edges of my front console, maybe it's too close to the VATS module thing and is getting re-programmed or something? If you notice some specific situation or if anyone else has has noticed anything like this, please post!

Every once in a while my window won't go down for (usually) about a day. I get a clicking sound when I press the switch from somewhere in the door, but no movement.

I can't seem to pinpoint any condition that makes it not work, ie wet, hot, cold, ect.

Is this likely just the motor wearing out and drawing too much current for the circuit breaker, or is my switch itself the culprit? I suppose it could be a loose/corroded wire, but I do always get the noise almost like the motor is trying to activate.

It's not really worth a LOT of money to me to fix- which is precisely what the Olds dealer wanted. I just wish I'd figure it out BEFORE I get boxed in to a drive though lane at an ATM or a fast food joint.

i had that problem too...all i did to fix it was screw around with the sleave that holds the wires to the window. You can see it when you open your door, you'll see a black sleave...shake it up..might just work


Brian

I think a loose or frayed wire would likely make the most sense... I was thinking more mechanically for some reason.

It will certainly be easy enough to check the battery bit though since I am heading out in about 5 minutes to replace my battery. I found it at the local Delco distributor for $89 if anyone was following that battery replacement thread. The place is Fatory Motor Parts and they have locations in at least Eagan MN, Des Moines IA, and somewhere in IL (LaSalle maybe? I don't have my invoice handy).

Thanks everybody.