Power door locks and windows

[kevinsteg]

I have an interesting problem. The power door locks and windows on my '99 Cherokee Sport only work when the door is closed. If I open the door, they do not work. Every other door besides the drivers' door work fine. Any ideas?

[badron]

Sounds like bad ground of driver door to frame AND/OR pinched, short or in general damage wires in door. Luck

R Robinson

[duskpearl]

In case any of you folks haven't yet licked this problem, check the wire loom which runs from the driver kick panel area through the driver door jam into the door. I took off the door panel, disconnected wiring in the door and in the kick panel so that I could pull a section of loom out between jam and door so I could inspect it. Sure enough, as had happened to another forum user, there were 4 wires completely severed and 3 others with completely broken insulation, about to break. So, I soldered them, put shrink tubing over them, and made sure the loom was not stretched so tight where it runs between jam and door grommets. Of course, who knows how long this fix will last! By the looks of the number of forum members evidencing this problem, this is a serious Jeep design flaw (mine's a 1998).

[master T]

Originally Posted by duskpearl

In case any of you folks haven't yet licked this problem, check the wire loom which runs from the driver kick panel area through the driver door jam into the door. I took off the door panel, disconnected wiring in the door and in the kick panel so that I could pull a section of loom out between jam and door so I could inspect it. Sure enough, as had happened to another forum user, there were 4 wires completely severed and 3 others with completely broken insulation, about to break. So, I soldered them, put shrink tubing over them, and made sure the loom was not stretched so tight where it runs between jam and door grommets. Of course, who knows how long this fix will last! By the looks of the number of forum members evidencing this problem, this is a serious Jeep design flaw (mine's a 1998).

I want to thank duskpearl for this information...I was getting pretty frustrated at taking the door panels off several times on my 1999 Cherokee testing motors and switches with no luck. I did as he said and found in the same area on the harness of the drivers side door two completely broken wires and three that the insulation was cracked on. Sounds like a common problem from what I am reading on this board. My passenger side window would go down but not up, I replaced the broken wires and all is fine. Thanks again!

[shortnsneaky]

I own a 95 JGC. My windows don't work anymore. My mechanic (nice guy) told me that the wires were cracked in the driver door. He said that it was a "design flaw" and Jeep has taken care of it for our model. We can buy a new wiring harness that will remedy the problem for the Jeep. My problem - it costs $425 (w/ labor) to do it.... OUCH!! If anyone knows where to get a cheaper harness - please write! :-)

[JDPascal]

Originally Posted by shortnsneaky

I own a 95 JGC. My windows don't work anymore. My mechanic (nice guy) told me that the wires were cracked in the driver door. He said that it was a "design flaw" and Jeep has taken care of it for our model. We can buy a new wiring harness that will remedy the problem for the Jeep. My problem - it costs $425 (w/ labor) to do it.... OUCH!! If anyone knows where to get a cheaper harness - please write! :-)

You should be able to solder and shrink sleeve splices into the existing harness for a lot less than $425. Thats like a whole days shop labor to fix maybe 10 wires at the most. I don't think it would take an hour maybe two at the most (three on a slow day with a coffee break thrown in) for a competent mechanic to fix it that way.

If you do go for soldering new wire into the harness, look for test lead wire at an electronics shop. It uses a silicone rubber insulation that is more flexible and make sure they use shrink sleeve to insulate the soldered splices. That is the correct and professional way to make the repair.

JD