Intermittent power window

[steve]

When I bought my 2001 Mitsubishi eclipse gt, the drivers window didn’t work. But the drivers control does operate the passenger window. There was no noise when attempting to operate the window. I replaced the motor over the holiday, turned the key and tried it and it worked. The window did function slowly, almost getting stuck in one spot. Then today when I actually drove the car, I put the window down about an inch. About 5 minutes later it wouldn’t work. Stopped at the gas station and when I started the car it started working again, then stopped a few minutes later. I don’t hear the motor when the window isn’t working. Any ideas?

Topic

[Brad]

Sounds like a bad connection…mainly a bad ground! These motors usually ground where the motor bolts to the door frame now days so you will likely need to pull the window regulator/motor off and clean corrosion off of the front and especially the backside of the door frame where the regulator and door frame connect as well as the bolt connecting the two.

Otherwise it is likely a short in the connector or wiring in the connector or the wiring inbetween the connector and the switch itself…also the connection between the wiring and door switch could also be the problem.

I would suggest taking it apart and inspecting closely for corrosion in any/all of the connectors as well as wiggling the connectors and wires just by the connectors and trying to activate the switch while it is acting up to see if you can identify exactly where the short is prior to complete teardown…often you can narrow down location by doing this without full teardown.

Can also sometimes get the ground to re-connect temperarily by tapping the ground connection bolts where the bolts attach the window regulator to the door frame while it is acting up…if u do this and it starts working again temporarily that means you have to take out the regulator system and clean any corrosion away from connecting bolts and and from where the door frame and regulator frame make connection.

Also…it is possible that your window motor is shot again but honestly I would be more suspicious of a ground connection in my opinion.

Good Luck

Brad
Auto Body Tech

[none]

I’d start at the switch itself. The contacts wear out or get burnt all the time in power window switches. Otherwise, I’ve occasionally been able to diagnose a broken wire by trying to run the window motor with the door open. Opening the door relaxes the wiring some allowing a broken wire to reconnect to itself momentarily.

[Tri9SS]

You said it seems to get stuck, I would also check for binding. I had one that would get stuck about half way down, pulled the door panel off and when I lifted up on the bottom of glass just a second I would break it loose. I cleaned it up and greased it up and now works normal. been good for the last eight months.

[Author]

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