Greetings! I am back with an electrical problem with my power windows. The original symptoms consisted of the windows working sporadically. If not working, usually opening the driver's side door and closing it would restore the window function. It seemed obvious that there was a short in the wires.

So, I took the door panel off to see the problem... wiggled the wires about and now the power windows aren't working at all. I used a check light to check the power to and from the switch and all that seems to be fine. The fuses are fine. But none of the power window motors are working...

I did notice that the insulation on the red and yellow wires under the rubber boot is a bit cracked, but nevertheless, current apparently is getting to the switch.

Ideas?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Teresa

 

You said power to all window switches...
and fuse fine
1.) What worries me is the 2 cracked shielded wires in the rubber boot harness...are refering to the boot from door post to door,that black rubber molded boot connector? if so,possibly when you close or open the door you are causing some contact with those wires and therefore chaffing/rubbing of wires together possibly causing a short.

2.) Also,did you check the power window relay or relays? exact location of the top of this brain...Which Volvo are you refering to I havn't seen any eairler posts....and I don't believe you listed year/model in this post...Model and year will obviously make a difference of type/placement

As I will suggest to all volvo owners who are willing to learn and save money...
Go to Volvo's Publications online or get the tel.# and order the specific manual you need because they are quite a penny they can range from $8.00-$40.00. They are broken up into sections on the Veh. so know what section is going to have what you're looking for.
My opinion they are well worth it. just a bit steep. Read + Learn = fix...Save money!
Good luck & let me know how things are progressing or turn out...
Phil

 

Thank you for your comments, zildjian!

Yes, I realized I left out a few details... sorry! [:@] Its a 1989 240DL wagon. I have been checking the Chilton's wiring diagram for this model to go through everything. The wires are those contained in the "black rubber molded boot connector" as you put it. Any ideas on any easy way to get at those wires?

But with the door open and the wires not having contact with each other and electricity making it into and out of the switch, it seems like everything should be good. If the relay was bad it doesn't seem like it would have allowed the electrical current to get to the switch if the relay was not functioning would it?

I followed the brown and blue/yellow wire pair around as far as I could reach behind/below the instrument panel to look for the relay before I quit looking (and had the rest of that part of the car torn to pieces... )




For more entertainment and descriptions on my other recent wiring "adventure"... please see https://volvoforums.com/m_11803/mpag..._/tm.htm#11803.

Teresa

 

So none of the windows work at all?

If you can make sure you have power from both sides of the door jam.
That is on the power going to the other windows.

Do you have power to the switches from the Master switch?
I have seen some of the switches go bad and then nothing will happen from the Master switch.The bad door switch stops power going to the window motor.

 

Yes, none of the windows are working at all. I did test the switch on the passenger door and find that there is no electricity going there. If one switch to one door doesn't work, could it make all of them not work?

I don't see how the problem can occur like this when the original symptoms seemed to be related to opening and closing the driver's side door... but I have an idea others can help me unravel the mystery!

[sm=dontgetit.gif]

 

Maybe yes and no. Back track from the switch not working and check the wires.

 

Okay, the front passenger side door switch is not working. I tested the red, black, and yellow wires - not working. Then they go into a plug (I suppose there is a technical term...) and the red goes to green, the black goes to white. The wires immediately on the other side of the plug aren't working ... then, they "disappear" in back of the panel below the radio and I have no idea where to find them there. Decided that they would be the same wires on the master switch... but there... they ARE working... Unless I am not doing something right.

The switch in the back passenger side door is not working either. I haven't checked the other door but don't expect a different story.

Any ideas on how to repair the wires inside the boot in the driver's side door hinge? I will need to fix them either way and there isn't much clearance going on there...

Thanks again for all your assistance!

Teresa

 

I would say if you can run new wires.
Find them inside the car but the Fuse box and replace between the door and fuse box.
Then see if the other doors work then.

 

I've been told that the contacts in the window switches can become coated with carbon etc over time, often causing intermittent or slow operation. They are easily cleanable, and doing this will often fix the problem.

Obviously if all the windows don't work, then dirty contacts probably isn't the problem, but cleaning is a good thing to keep in mind.