You may roll down your car window to let cool air into your car, but did you know that windows are basically a safety system? In the event of an accident, your doors are meant to be an exit point if they get stuck. But when they get stuck, not only do you get weather in your car, wanted or not, but you can’t protect what’s inside your car if someone wants to take it.
Here’s how the car window system works, what can go wrong, how to identify the problem and what you can do to fix it.
WHAT IS CAR WINDOW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM?
When you press a button on the door panel of your car, the window goes up and down, but there are many electrical functions and many parts involved behind the scenes. It basically consists of the window motor, regulator, switch and wiring that connects them all.
When you press the window switch, it sends a 12-volt electrical signal through the wires to the window motor located inside the door panel. This motor rotates in the direction to move the window regulator, a mechanical device that moves the window glass up or down. Adjuster designs vary, from scissor-arm to cable-operated, depending on the make and model of your car.
If you push the window switch to move it in the opposite direction, the signal to the motor is reversed, turning it the other way. And in some cases, an auto-up function allows the switch to be pressed and released once while the window completes its travel to the up or down position.
But every single part involved has the potential to fail, and you could be left with a car window down or unable to climb out of a partially open space.
COMMON CAUSES OF CAR WINDOW FAILURE
When Windows doesn’t back up, it could be due to one or more of these problems:
Window Switch: The switch is the most used and most susceptible to cracking. If the switch does not send the necessary electrical signal, the window will not move.
Window Motor: A motor is responsible for converting electrical energy into mechanical motion. If it fails, the window will persist.
Window Regulator: This mechanism physically holds the glass and moves the window up and down. A damaged regulator can prevent the window from moving or jam partway through.
Fuse: If the fuse that connects the switch to the motor blows, the electrical circuit is interrupted, preventing the window from operating.
Wiring Problems: Over time, wiring can corrode or break, disrupting the flow of electricity.
Window Track Barriers: Sometimes, debris in the window track can prevent the window from moving, or the lack of lubrication can create too much resistance to move up.
Window Motor Memory Problem:If the car’s memory has lost the anti-pinch feature or window travel limit – usually after a dead battery – it partially lowers the window after it’s turned off.
Child lock: Whether you hit the button on purpose or accidentally, a child lock may be installed on the driver’s door to prevent the rear windows from rolling down with the rear switch.
STEPS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEMS
It can take a while to figure out what’s wrong with your power window system, but DIY enthusiasts can usually find it by following these troubleshooting steps:
Check the fuse: The first step is to check if the fuse that controls the power windows is blown. You can find the location of the fuse box in your vehicle’s manual. If you find a blown fuse, replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage.
Child Lock Switch: If the button is pressed, press it again to see if it allows the previous power windows to work again.
Check The Switch: Try pressing the window switch on both the driver’s side and the passenger’s side. If the window works with one switch but not the other, the problem may be a bad switch.
Reset Procedure:Some vehicles have a reset mechanism for power window limit or anti-pinch. Check your vehicle manual to see if this applies to your car.
Window Wiring: Common fault areas include the boot between the door and the car body, where wiring often gets bent.
HOW TO FIX THE CAR WINDOW
If your window does not operate, it is possible that you need to replace the power window motor, window regulator, power window switch, and this repair is straightforward. Occasionally, a DIY solution can get your window back in working order.
Lubricating dry window tracks with silicone spray can help dry dirty tracks by providing more resistance to the regulator.
Clean the contacts on the power window switches. If they are dirty or sticky, they may not make electrical contact. Pull the window to the closed position. Sandwich the glass between your palms, then pull upwards while pressing another switch. Help can help you close the window, at least temporarily.
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