Power Window: Works, then doesn't.

[m0ng00se]

Okay, the power window on the drivers side of my 98 grand prix GT coupe has been quite the hassle lately.

Occasionally, when i get in the car, it will work. I can raise and lower the window fine. But sometimes it will not raise nor lower which can be a problem, because sometimes the window will already be lowered. Im not sure if there is a problem with the switch or maybe the window motor is dying?

Tried jiggling the wires on the back of the switch and making sure they are pushed in, but it does nothing.

Has anyone else had similar problems? Any ideas? :S

Thanks in advance,
-Ryan

[Hungrycat7]

Hey Ryan, had the same problem on my Grand Am. . . Turned out to be a window switch. I am not saying this is what is wrong with yours but I think it will be the cheapest place to start. I found a new switch at a salvage yard for $20 and everything worked great.

[shenning]

I had recently been having a similar problem with the passenger window on my '99 GP GT. I thought maybe the window regulator or motor was bad, since I couldn't move the window using either the driver's or passenger side switches.

Last Saturday, I pulled out the switch on the passenger side and checked it with an ohmmeter. The swith checked out ok. Then I removed the door panel and took a look. I found that the window wasn't seated in the track properly. It would go up and down occasionally, but then would just not move.

I pulled the window up and lubricated the inside of the track. Once I got the window back in the track properly, it worked much better. Mine was complicated by the fact that the car had been hit on the passenger's side and apparently bent the window tracks slightly.

While I was at it, I pulled out the window regulator and motor and checked them over. Both seemed to be okay. I lubricated the cables on the regulator and then reinstalled it and the motor. The window operates a lot more smoothly now.

Good luck!

[Red Tipps]

+1 on lubing your tracks and cables. My window didnt work on my passanger rear window a bit ago(4 door). Troubleshot it down to a bad motor/regulator(so I thought). took it out of the car and just for fun tried it with a spare battery and up and down it went. Even tho i checked the plug going into the motor it must not have been fully seated...even though I thought for sure it was. I lubed my cables and re installed the old motor and regulator and have a brand new spare sitting here ...oops

check and double check your switches, and connections going to the motor. Dont do what I did haha

[m0ng00se]

Thanks for the replies. Im going to buy a new switch to start off with because the window does some random things now...lol. I think there is a short somewhere.

How would i go about lubricating the cables? What would i lubricate them with?

Thanks,
-Ryan

[shenning]

I lubricated my cables with white lithium grease. I also sprayed silicone lubricant in the window tracks. Both actions definitely had a positive impact on the operation of the window.

[randy78]

a few different things will cause this

bad worn switch
thermal switch in the motor faulty and tripping out
motor contact brushes worn

[m0ng00se]

Here's another symptom.

The other day i was driving and i tried to roll my window down. Nothing worked getting it down even though i tried for a couple of minutes, so i just stopped bothering. About 15 minutes later, the window randomly lowered completely, but i couldnt get back up.

What would this point to?

[Hungrycat7]

That is exactly what happened to me! I think there is no doubt it is the switch! Find one at a salvage yard and test it out! Worse comes to worse and it is not the switch you will have one for when it does go out!