Power windows stopped working, electrical issues?

[bbjornson]

The day I checked out my 1995 4runner, the windows wouldn't open or close. The PO told me to slam the door, and then they would work. And that trick did alright for a few months but recently the window has been stuck in its down position for the past couple of weeks (I just got my 10 posts in...)

Since the problem is intermittent, it's not the master switch itself, but something in the wiring or relay.

Also, if this helps you understand my issue, the switch that is located in the door that turns on/off the dome light acts as an unlock switch now. So when I close my door, it unlocks all the locks. The passenger power door lock works, but only when the doors are closed. If a door is open, the lock goes down and then right back up (because of that door switch).

Any ideas about how to fix? Is a rubbing wire from the switch to the relay causing a shorted wire? Or is the problem in the relay itself?

I already opened the door panel and everthing looks fine in there.

 

[chester4Run]

I have intermittently had some very similar behavior and attributed it to a ground issue. As way to test it, use a jumper cable to ground your door to the negative terminal on your battery (don't screw this part up). Then see if your power window works.

When I had that going on, the dome switch in the door was doing the exact same thing. I still get it intermittently, so need to do more work on my grounds.

 

[bbjornson]

Are you suggesting it's a ground issue near the fuse by your feet or what? I just don't know where to look.

 

[chester4Run]

I'm not sure where the ground is that might be affecting this, but the process I described will prove out whether it's a ground issue. If you ground the door to the negative battery terminal and the window doesn't move, then ground isn't the issue. At that point move on to other things....maybe a bad regulator, damaged connection, or wiring. Your issue with the dome light switch triggering the door locks is similar to the ground issue I'm chasing, which is why I mention it.

 

[Arild]

This looks very similar to my problem i had recently. I think the wires in the door hinge are bad. I had to unplug the connector left under the steering wheel, remove the doorpanel and take out the whole cable to see where te problem was.

check the wiring through the hinge area. If it’s the same as others there will be a connector on the main body side of the wiring that will pull through the hole for the rubber if you remove it carefully.

This is what i found.

But before taking everything apart you should check the switches and connectors in the left doorpanel (easy to remove) with a multimeter and open/close the door the same time. Seriously, use a multimeter, it can tell u A LOT about electrical issues!

 

[Arild]

Any update on this?

 

[bbjornson]

Yes, I took the door panel off and was tugging at the wiring harness and the windows and locks started working again. I believe it is the wiring, and that it looks like your picture.

 

[bbjornson]

Confirmed, there are three wires cut. Two of them are the red/orange, which I believe are ground hence the intermittent problem?

 

[Arild]

I don't know the colour code. I just twisted the two ends together and used some quality heat-shrinks (good ones keep there flexibility after shrinking). If you soldered them they may become to stiff and brake/snap again. (this is just my idea, you can solder them if you feel more comfortable with it )

 

[MuteJosh]

Having a similar issue with my 2001 (also trying to get my 10 posts in). I'm going to try the jumper cable idea.

 

[HachiRolla]

Confirmed, there are three wires cut. Two of them are the red/orange, which I believe are ground hence the intermittent problem?

Did you get this issue resolved?

I'm also in Asheville.