Volvo 850 Made from 1993 to 1997, this Volvo line was available in both a wagon and a sedan, both with were graced with several trim levels.

Window problem !! Pls help !!

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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 09:44 AM
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Default Window problem !! Pls help !!

I have a 97' 850GLT wagon. My driver's side electrical window just quit and wont go down. Pretty annoying. Could anyone give me an advise? Switch just makes a soft "click" noise.
Help !!
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 01:12 PM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

Just started having the same problem in my 97 850 R. Pretty sure the switch is bad. I took the switch out of the back (it just pops out) and messed with it enough to get the window up. In my case it goes down using the console switch, but will not go up. The window switch would not do either until I took it out and messed with it. I had to hold it and kind of rock the switch back and forth and it would occasionally catch and the window would move a little then do again and get it up a little more. I could not find switches for this year on fcpgroton either.
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 02:54 PM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

Thanks for the comentJim KW. Do you know how can I get the switch out of the center console? (Its the drivers window)
Lucky me you commented. I was almost in tears !
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 03:07 PM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

I think it just pops out, but I have not tried it yet. Found where you by the whole switch mechanism at a junk yard for $65 plus shipping. It's over $200 from the dealer and $170 and a place on the internet. Fairly common for it to go bad I guess.
 
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Old Aug 14, 2007 | 11:03 PM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

I just replaced mine.
In theory you could pop it UP. but the wiring are held by metal clips onto the center console. In practice, it is better to open the center console.
That way you could undo the metal clips and put them back the same way.
There is a post here with photos on how to open the center console.
Just make sure you have a magnetic pick up tool to retrieve the screws when they fall into the crack near the ash tray.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 08:07 AM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

Hi,

In this particular procedure, Haynes manual should be useful (removal of the centre console, window switch panel, etc). A Haynes manual is only about $15-$18.

If it turns out that the switches are OK, it may be the window motor for the driver-side window. Let me know if this is the case and I'll post a page from factory manual.

Good luck,


JPN
 
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Old Aug 15, 2007 | 08:15 AM
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Default RE: Window problem !! Pls help !!

I tried to just pop mine out last night and didn't get it out. I didn't want to mess anything up so I quit trying. Didn't have time to take out the console. Too busy building cornhole games.

In my case I took the rear switch out because it does just pop out. I took it apart and put it back together, but it still didn't work. So I started messing with the switch, kind of holding it and pushing real hard on it and rocking it back and forth with pressure. Eventually the window went up doing this. To me that means mine is the switch and not the motor. Agree?
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 04:56 AM
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Hi. I'm curious whatever happened in your case. Were you able to fix your window switch? My driver's side window just started having the same problem. I can only get the window to go up if I rock the switch back and forth about 8 times. It will finally 'catch'.

Thanks!
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:36 AM
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I too had the same problem, I used some electrical contact cleaner, pointed the nozzle at the switch and rocked it back and forth for 10 seconds whilst spraying the electrical contact cleaner. Seem to have done the trick.
 
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:43 AM
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Originally Posted by arzy
I too had the same problem, I used some electrical contact cleaner, pointed the nozzle at the switch and rocked it back and forth for 10 seconds whilst spraying the electrical contact cleaner. Seem to have done the trick.
Hey thanks! I'll try that today. I assume you can buy the spray at the auto store or maybe Radio Shack. Actually, I'm almost positive I saw some at Radio Shack a few days ago. I've just never bought any and I'm tired of driving all over town. Easier to just ask someone!
 

Last edited by Squiggy; Feb 10, 2009 at 07:37 AM.
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Old Feb 10, 2009 | 05:27 PM
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Smile 'QD Electronic Cleaner' fixed my window button!!

Originally Posted by arzy
I too had the same problem, I used some electrical contact cleaner, pointed the nozzle at the switch and rocked it back and forth for 10 seconds whilst spraying the electrical contact cleaner. Seem to have done the trick.
THE SPRAY WORKED!!! It actually worked after the very first squirt! I almost couldn't believe it. Thanks man. I used some stuff called 'QD Electronic Cleaner' that I bought at the local auto store for $4 bucks. It worked so well I started spraying everything. lol
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 03:42 AM
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The center console is not difficult to take out. Just follow the post on removing it. That way you can clean all your switches. If the drivers side switch still doesn't work, you can replace it with a used one or new. You can't really get the switches on the consult out by "popping" them out like you can others. The wires seem to hold them in.
 
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Old Feb 11, 2009 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Trillogy
The center console is not difficult to take out. Just follow the post on removing it. That way you can clean all your switches. If the drivers side switch still doesn't work, you can replace it with a used one or new. You can't really get the switches on the consult out by "popping" them out like you can others. The wires seem to hold them in.
Although my center console was unscrewed and ready to remove (because I had removed it a few days before for something else) I did not even need to remove it in order for the spray to make the window buttons work. I just sprayed the tops and sides of the buttons while I rocked them back and forth and... wallah! The windows worked again.



Update (months later): The little trick spraying the window switches with electrical cleaner stopped working for me, so I just removed the entire center console window switch unit (in black below) and replaced it with a used one I picked up on eBay for $50 bucks. In hindsight I think buying a brand new unit for around $145 would have been more fun because the white text on the buttons would have been fresh and new looking as opposed to the faded text on my used but working unit. Before I bought a replacement unit I tore apart my non-working unit and discovered that copper strips beneath the buttons get caked with carbon over time. If you could somehow pry the plastic buttons off (without breaking the plastic) you could probably just sand the copper strips clean, but removing the plastic buttons from the console without breaking the plastic proved impossible for me.

 

Last edited by Squiggy; Aug 29, 2009 at 02:25 AM.
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Old Feb 13, 2009 | 04:47 AM
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Smile

Am glad it worked for you, I like the simple fixes
 
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Old Feb 26, 2009 | 05:22 PM
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Definetly the switches. I was having the same problem on my 1990 240 and none of mine worked. I switched a couple out and now they work fine. I saw them at smothers but they were $45 and then looked online and found them for like $22. If you dont have the money you can just rebuild them its not to hard. You take them apart completely, clean everything with some electrical cleaner, especially the contact points and put back together. If you need help rebuilding let me know.
 
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Old May 29, 2009 | 12:58 PM
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the haynes repair manual says that the console switches can't be taken out : ( i bought a replacement console thinking to replace the switch in my car...ne ideas where there a walkthrough that will show us how? It looks possible but difficult
 
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Old May 29, 2009 | 02:27 PM
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tony is on the job again!

Remove:
-panel underneath handbrake lever.
-cover from storage compartment.
-screws under cover in storage compartment.
-screws on front of tunnel compartment.


-Undo connector at front of tunnel compartment.


-Pull tunnel compartment carefully upwards.
Note! In manual models, undo gearshift curtain at connection to tunnel compartment before removing tunnel compartment.
-Remove tunnel compartment from car and lay upside down.



-Undo connector to control panel.
-Undo connector to `Autodown relay'.
-Remove clip from control panel cable harness.
-Remove control panel, push in hooks on clip and push control panel out.


hope that helps, let me know if you want pictures.
 
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Old May 29, 2009 | 02:33 PM
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pictures would be great if u can =D thanks tony
 
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Old May 29, 2009 | 02:43 PM
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but i am talking bout the switches themself is it possible?
 
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Old May 29, 2009 | 02:56 PM
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like only the driver side window switch? no. its a whole part for the window switches (correct me if im wrong)
 
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