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Electrical Passenger window does not work

  • Thread starter Thread starter red5.0fox
  • Start date Start date Jun 7, 2024
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red5.0fox

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Dec 1, 2019
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 7, 2024
#1
  • Jun 7, 2024
  • #1
Hey guys. I’ve got a 1992 LX. A while ago, I got into an accident and replaced my interior driver door with an OEM 1989 door. Since then, my passenger window hasn’t worked. Replaced the motors today, and it still doesn’t work. When I hit the up button on the passenger door, I can hear it engage, and I see the battery gauge dip down. However, that does not happen with the driver master switch. Neither buttons make a difference when you hit “down”. The harness on the driver door is different than the oem 1992 harness I had. Could this be the reason why it doesn’t work?
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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#2
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #2
Are you familiar with how to use a multimeter?

If so, disconnect the offending window motor and have a friend help you test for power [Up/Down] through both switches to that motor. You may discover a "miswire" and have to change some pins around.

Once you are certain that this is correct, test the window motors [Up/Down] by running yourself a set of test leads, directly to the motor.


This should narrow it down in a hurry.

Do not be afraid to rip old wiring out of that replaced door and install your own. It's a simple matter really. Solder your connections, coat them in dielectric grease, and cover them in shrink tube.

There are also crimp connectors that exist that you solder after crimping.
(Requires Heat Tool - I use a Torch Lighter)


Wirefy Solder Seal Wire Connectors | IP67 Waterproof Butt Connectors

High quality Solder Seal Wire Connector kits for a wide range electrical applications. Use in marine, automotive and home electrical wiring. Wirefy offers a large assortment of solder seal wire connectors at a very affordable price. Get your solder seal electrical connectors today!
wirefyshop.com
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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38
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 8, 2024
#3
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #3
Noobz347 said:
Are you familiar with how to use a multimeter?

If so, disconnect the offending window motor and have a friend help you test for power [Up/Down] through both switches to that motor. You may discover a "miswire" and have to change some pins around.

Once you are certain that this is correct, test the window motors [Up/Down] by running yourself a set of test leads, directly to the motor.


This should narrow it down in a hurry.

Do not be afraid to rip old wiring out of that replaced door and install your own. It's a simple matter really. Solder your connections, coat them in dielectric grease, and cover them in shrink tube.

There are also crimp connectors that exist that you solder after crimping.
(Requires Heat Tool)


Wirefy Solder Seal Wire Connectors | IP67 Waterproof Butt Connectors

High quality Solder Seal Wire Connector kits for a wide range electrical applications. Use in marine, automotive and home electrical wiring. Wirefy offers a large assortment of solder seal wire connectors at a very affordable price. Get your solder seal electrical connectors today!
wirefyshop.com
Click to expand...
Yes I’ve got experience using one as long as I know where to put it to get the readings.

Would you mean cutting the wires at the window switches and splicing in the switches from the original door? I would think that if it being the wrong switch and wiring is the problem I would have to essentially remove all of the wires for the switch and replace the whole thing to where it connects in the car, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ll test the wires and such nice chance I get.
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 8, 2024
#4
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #4
red5.0fox said:
Yes I’ve got experience using one as long as I know where to put it to get the readings.

Would you mean cutting the wires at the window switches and splicing in the switches from the original door? I would think that if it being the wrong switch and wiring is the problem I would have to essentially remove all of the wires for the switch and replace the whole thing to where it connects in the car, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ll test the wires and such nice chance I get.
Click to expand...
For reference, the harness in the door right now has 2 plugs that go to the window switch that you can easily disconnect. The harness for the original door has no plugs, but is wired straight into the switch like the passenger door.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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Jan 4, 1985
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#5
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #5
red5.0fox said:
Yes I’ve got experience using one as long as I know where to put it to get the readings.

Would you mean cutting the wires at the window switches and splicing in the switches from the original door? I would think that if it being the wrong switch and wiring is the problem I would have to essentially remove all of the wires for the switch and replace the whole thing to where it connects in the car, but maybe I’m wrong. I’ll test the wires and such nice chance I get.
Click to expand...

Wires are just wires. Even the connectors from one year to the next might be the same but the colors or arrangement has changed.

That's what you need to check for with the multi-meter:

Check for power at the door actuator with the Driver Side switch in the [up] position and to the same for the passenger side, etc..
[Down] position next... If you don't get power at the actuator then you have a wiring problem. Follow the wire in the door, back through the connector and test for power there. If you get power there then you need to ensure that wire is going to the correct connector pin at the window motor. If not, find out what wire [is] getting that power and swap that pin the the correct position.

Follow that same procedure for the [down] power wire and ensure that the ground pin is in the correct location.


I hope I'm explaining this well.

Use the driver side as your example and don't discount the possibility that the switch or switches are bad (you will discover this when you test for power in all positions of the window switch with the meter).
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 8, 2024
#6
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #6
Noobz347 said:
Wires are just wires. Even the connectors from one year to the next might be the same but the colors or arrangement has changed.

That's what you need to check for with the multi-meter:

Check for power at the door actuator with the Driver Side switch in the [up] position and to the same for the passenger side, etc..
[Down] position next... If you don't get power at the actuator then you have a wiring problem. Follow the wire in the door, back through the connector and test for power there. If you get power there then you need to ensure that wire is going to the correct connector pin at the window motor. If not, find out what wire [is] getting that power and swap that pin the the correct position.

Follow that same procedure for the [down] power wire and ensure that the ground pin is in the correct location.


I hope I'm explaining this well.

Use the driver side as your example and don't discount the possibility that the switch or switches are bad (you will discover this when you test for power in all positions of the window switch with the meter).
Click to expand...
Think I got it, wiring confuses me even though I took a whole class on it haha. You’re saying the door actuator, you’re not referring to the locking actuators are you? Those do work just fine, unless you’re just referring to the window motors.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
42,878
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Box behind Walmart
Jun 8, 2024
#7
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #7
red5.0fox said:
Think I got it, wiring confuses me even though I took a whole class on it haha. You’re saying the door actuator, you’re not referring to the locking actuators are you? Those do work just fine, unless you’re just referring to the window motors.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I might have flip-flopped actuator with motor as I typed but the same theory applies to either.
 

AeroCoupe

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#8
  • Jun 8, 2024
  • #8
By "interior driver door" what do you mean? Is the door the same and you used an door panel from an 89 or is the door itself an 89 with an 89 door panel? If the latter then just pull the harness out of the old door and swap the on in the 89 out with that.
 
Reactions: General karthief

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
25
38
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 18, 2024
#9
  • Jun 18, 2024
  • #9
AeroCoupe said:
By "interior driver door" what do you mean? Is the door the same and you used a door panel from an 89 or is the door itself an 89 with an 89 door panel? If the latter then just pull the harness out of the old door and swap the on in the 89 out with that.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the late response. The door is from an 1989. I replaced it because I got into an accident. I would replace the harness, but wouldn’t that involve taking the door back off? I tried figuring it out, but getting to all the connections in the kickpanel, and maneuvering those through the door while it’s on the car seemed like a real PITA. I know it will be either way, but if you guys have a way of doing it relatively simply, let me know.
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 18, 2024
#10
  • Jun 18, 2024
  • #10
I’ll take some pictures of the wiring harnesses when I get a chance for reference.

Is the drivers side the “master” switch for the windows? AKA, if the drivers side switch doesn’t work, the passenger window won’t work? I know on some vehicles the setup runs through one side and if it stops working, the other side won’t work.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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#11
  • Jun 18, 2024
  • #11
I've swapped a few door wire harnesses, PITA either way, wear long sleeves, those door edges are ruff on skin.
 
Reactions: limp

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 22, 2024
#12
  • Jun 22, 2024
  • #12
I did some tests using Tmoss’s wiring diagram. Here’s what I found. Seems the red/black wire is my issue, but I have good continuity. Where should I start?
 

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red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 23, 2024
#13
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #13
Anyone have any ideas? I’m kinda lost on this and I need my window to work lol
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,826
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polk county florida
Jun 23, 2024
#14
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #14
Hit the red/black wire with 12v and see if the window works
I'm thinking switch
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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38
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 23, 2024
#15
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #15
General karthief said:
Hit the red/black wire with 12v and see if the window works
I'm thinking switch
Click to expand...
That’s what I was thinking. Thankfully, I had my other harness ready with extra switches. I swapped the master passenger window switch and nothing happened.. which switch would be causing the problem? I’ll do the 12v though.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,826
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polk county florida
Jun 23, 2024
#16
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #16
Do the same on the drivers side
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
25
38
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 23, 2024
#17
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #17
General karthief said:
Do the same on the drivers side
Click to expand...
Tested a bunch of switches on both the drivers side and passenger side slots. Nothing.

Something I’ve noticed.. on the passenger side, when you hit the up switch, the motor clicks signifying that it’s getting power. If you hit the up switch on the drivers side for the passenger window, the motor does not click. Could that narrow it down?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,826
10,506
203
polk county florida
Jun 23, 2024
#18
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #18
Did you do the test in post #14?
 

red5.0fox

Active Member
Dec 1, 2019
190
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38
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Jun 23, 2024
#19
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #19
General karthief said:
Did you do the test in post #14?
Click to expand...
Not yet. I was thinking about getting a power probe, but I decided against it. What do I need, and where do I put 12 volts to? I don’t have the door panel off, I just have the arm rests off so I can mess with the switches
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,826
10,506
203
polk county florida
Jun 23, 2024
#20
  • Jun 23, 2024
  • #20
This is what I would do; (i'm not very good at wiring) find the down wire on the plug for the switch, apply 12v, window goes down, that works.
Find up wire, apply 12v window goes up, motor is good.
With test light make sure you have 12v coming into the switch pad.
 
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