Windows going down but not up 100% of the time

LarsD

Founding Member
Jul 2, 2002
2,680
119
123
Texas
Hi all, my power windows on my 91 are acting up on me. They roll down fine, but don't roll up most of the time. I figure the contacts in the switches are dirty, anybody know how to disassemble them so I can clean them?

thanks
 
Motor removal & replacement
Remove the door mounted speaker & the upholstery panel to gain access to the motor. There are 3 screws (5/16" hex head, I think) that secure the motor in place. Remove them and the motor comes out without any problems. Once you remove all the screws from the motor, and it falls away from the gear teeth on the arm for the glass, the glass will move up and down. You may need a helper to hold the glass once the motor screws are out, since the gear on the motor holds the glass from sliding up or down

Motor interchange
The motor is the same for left side or right side, only the gearboxes are different. If you can't find the complete assembly for the side you want, you can get either side and use the old gearbox on the new motor.

The window motor gearbox has 3 plastic rollers that are a safety clutch to prevent possible injury if the window is rolled up while something or someone is hanging out the window. The plastic rollers will often disintegrate into chunks of plastic and the window will no longer roll up or down. The motor runs, but the window does not move or only move a lttle.

The Help! section of your local auto parts store will have the replacement plastic rollers.
See NAPA Window Regulator Gear Plug

View attachment 250252

Napa p/n BalKamp 6651524

Cost is 9.49$

AutoZone and other auto parts stores see Dorman 74410 / Window Lift Motor Gear Kit
Cost is $7.99

Power Window Wiring Diagrams
Diagrams courtesy of Tmoss & Stang&2birds
87-92 model cars power window wiring:

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustang87-92 PowerWindowWiring.gif

93 model cars power window wiring:
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustang93PowerWindows.gif

See the following website for some help from Tmoss (diagram designer) & Stang&2Birds (website host) for help on 88-95 wiring Mustang FAQ - Engine Information Everyone should bookmark
 
Checking wires is good, checking the batery is better.

Cleaning the contacts is easy.
Pull the Armrest,
Unscrew the switch Pod,
Gently pull out the switch it self from the pod, straight out,
With a small flat blade screw driver,
Again gently pry open the snaps, while prying the case off of the switch itself,
Inside youll see a bunch of brass contact parts,
Look Close, and youll see two tiny contacts at eather end, tiny round plates,
Get a tiny contact file, or real fine emery cloth/board,
Lightly "sand" the contacts till they are smooth, or at least clean,
Spray some Contact cleaner (found a big can at parts store that worked well, or radio shack has one thats pretty good as well) on it, and let dry,
Then snap it back together, and plug it in and try it.

Cleaning those helps in some cases, but it sounds like you may be low on power. If its the motor, or battery, or a bad wire, its hard to say for sure.
 
Checking wires is good, checking the batery is better.

Cleaning the contacts is easy.
Pull the Armrest,
Unscrew the switch Pod,
Gently pull out the switch it self from the pod, straight out,
With a small flat blade screw driver,
Again gently pry open the snaps, while prying the case off of the switch itself,
Inside youll see a bunch of brass contact parts,
Look Close, and youll see two tiny contacts at eather end, tiny round plates,
Get a tiny contact file, or real fine emery cloth/board,
Lightly "sand" the contacts till they are smooth, or at least clean,
Spray some Contact cleaner (found a big can at parts store that worked well, or radio shack has one thats pretty good as well) on it, and let dry,
Then snap it back together, and plug it in and try it.

Cleaning those helps in some cases, but it sounds like you may be low on power. If its the motor, or battery, or a bad wire, its hard to say for sure.

Thanks. I'm quite sure its the switch, cause it always goes down smooth every time, but about %75 of the time it doesn't go back up. I'll press it and nothing, then all of a sudden it'll work and go up on the four try or so.
 
Got it fixed. I took the switch panel apart and swapped the passenger window switch (on the driver's door) with the driver's side switch and the problem followed the switch. Course now if I roll down the passenger side, I have to reach over and press the switch on the passenger side door to raise it, but my driver's side window always goes up now. Thanks for the help guys.
 
I've been having this problem with my passenger side window about once per week. It usually takes me about four tries to roll it up, but yesterday I was trying to roll up my passenger side window for 20 mins.

When my passenger window quits the driver side or passenger side switch won't roll the window up... I wonder if I have a bad passenger side switch then?
 
I've been having this problem with my passenger side window about once per week. It usually takes me about four tries to roll it up, but yesterday I was trying to roll up my passenger side window for 20 mins.

When my passenger window quits the driver side or passenger side switch won't roll the window up... I wonder if I have a bad passenger side switch then?

That sounds more like a bad motor.
 
I might stick with my switch theory for now; I just unplugged the passenger side switch harness on the passenger door and the window is not functioning from the drivers or passenger side. The drivers side window still works though.

The motor still seems strong, I might hit the boneyard for a few switches and see if the window goes "out" again. ...I do have new window motor bushings in my parts stash for when I need them.