Power windows

Tiny
RHONDA1230
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 6.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Power windows do not work.
Monday, February 26th, 2018 AT 6:03 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,950 POSTS
If all of them are not working from any switch the common failure point would be either the circuit breaker in the fuse panel (No. 6 - 30 amp), The wiring that feeds the power through a tan wire that runs from the fuse panel into the drivers door and to the switch, or the switch itself.

The easiest way to start testing would be with a test light.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester
First connect the light to a good ground. Remove the circuit breaker and use the light to verify that one side of the terminals in the fuse box has power with the key on, (engine does not need to be running) . If it does then we will test the breaker. Go to the battery, put one of the prongs on the breaker to the positive battery post. Touch the other side with the test light. If it lights the breaker should be okay. Put it back into the fuse box.

Next we will test if power is getting to the switch. To do this wee need to remove the inner door panel. Remove the screws from the door handle inside, next remove the screws that hold the armrest on. Now you need to pry out the door panel to disengage the "christmas tree" retainers. Once they are free the panel can be pulled out away from the door enough to get to the rear of the wiring for the windows.

Locate the tan wire in the connector. With the key on and the test light connected to ground, gently probe the connector for that wire. If the test light does not light up you have a problem in the wire between the switch and the breaker. Normally it would be in the area between the door and the front pillar, the wires flex there and tend to break inside the insulation. They will look okay but they are actually broken.

If the light does light then the switch is the most likely failure point as each door has its own ground wire and the switch just sends power to a relay inside those door switches.
To test this you can connect a wire prom the battery positive post and pick one of the wires to the window motors. For the drivers window that would be the light blue wire to put the window down. Pus the switch for the window down and apply power to the light blue wire and is should go down. Remove power and move the switch to up and apply power to the white wire and the window should go up.

If that works you remove the switch and replace it.
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Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 AT 12:55 AM

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