Power Window only works in cold

[J_M]

Hello Everyone,

I am having a problem with my passenger side power window in a 2002 GP GT. The window will only go up or down if it is below freezing. If the temperature outside is above freezing it won't work. It originally stopped working in the fall. Then winter came and it worked. On any warm days we had this winter it wouldn't work. The last week has been mild temperatures and it won't work.

Any ideas on what may be the problem???

The car has 200K on it so it is not covered under warranty.

[richtazz]

I would bet the solder points in the motor contacts are bad, and when cold, everything shrinks and it makes contact. As soon as it gets warm, the soldered joints expand and lose contact. Since the motors are press fit together and not DIY serviceable, replacement of the window motor is the fix.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by J_M

Hello Everyone,

I am having a problem with my passenger side power window in a 2002 GP GT. The window will only go up or down if it is below freezing. If the temperature outside is above freezing it won't work. It originally stopped working in the fall. Then winter came and it worked. On any warm days we had this winter it wouldn't work. The last week has been mild temperatures and it won't work.

Any ideas on what may be the problem???

The car has 200K on it so it is not covered under warranty.

The drive motor has a temperature sensitive component called a PTC which is a thermistor (thermal resistor). It sounds defective. It is an integral part of the drive motor. I had a similar problem with my GTP and had to replace the motor.


All GM power window motors have an automatic resetting solid state device called a PTC. Positive Temperature Coefficient. It is basically a circuit breaker in the form of a thermistor (thermal resistor). The thermistor increases resistance as the temperature increases and vice versa as the temperature decreases. A PTC is used to protect the power window motor in the event of binding, high current draw, etc.

[J_M]

Thanks for the quick replies. Sounds like replacing the motor is the way to go. Will take it in this week to have it fixed. Atleast now I know how much I am looking at...