Have you ever been hungry and sitting in a drive through only to find that the power windows in your vehicle are not working? It can be a little embarrassing and this problem is certainly inconvenient. Fortunately, our authorized Chevy service center at Carr Chevrolet has a lot of experience with power window repair, and we offer five things we think you should know about why your power windows aren't working in the details below.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us online, over the phone, or in person at 15005 SW Tualatin Valley Highway, Beaverton, OR 97006. Our factory-trained technicians know every inch of power window systems, and we'd be happy to take care of any problems your vehicle may be having.
5. Power Window Motor May Be Bad
Power windows are operated with a motor inside the door. Time and normal use can take a toll on the power window motor. While replacing this part isn't that difficult for factory-trained technicians, it does require removal of the door panel and working in a tight area. If you do replace a bad power window motor yourself, be sure you get an OEM motor from your local authorized dealer's parts department.
4. Something is Wrong with the Wiring
The power windows in your vehicle operate on a sophisticated electrical system. If any of the wiring in this system has a problem, it can cause the windows not to work. This could be a connection that's come loose after many miles of bumps and vibrations or something else like corrosion, bad ground, short, or damage from rodents. Unless you're very familiar with the intricacies of automotive wiring, we strongly suggest you leave this fix to the pros.
3. Door Contacts May Be Dirty
On older vehicles, you can see something that looks like an accordion tube between the hinges that stretches from the door to the car. This is where wires are routed to operate things like the power locks, windows, and mirrors. Sometimes, these wires can get pinched or even severed by the door and cause the power windows and locks not to work.
New cars, however, have contacts that connect the power accessories in the door to the rest of the car. These can get dirty, which compromises the connection. If the power windows in your vehicle aren't working, start by cleaning off these contacts and see if that helps.2. There's a Bad Fuse
Anytime we encounter a problem with an electrical system in a vehicle, the fuse box is one of our first stops. This is where you'll find fuses and relays that help protect the various electrical components from electrical surges. Sometimes, fuses simply get old and go out. In these cases, a quick and simple replacement of the appropriate fuse is all that's needed. However, if something else is wrong and causing fuses to blow, an automotive electrical technician will need to dive deeper to solve the problem. Either way, a bad fuse can cause your power windows to stop working.
1. Power Window Switch Has Gone Bad
You may be surprised at how common this issue is. Most vehicles with power windows have a central switch console, usually on the driver's door, that operates all the power windows and locks. With age and frequent use, this switch can go bad and need to be replaced. This is another time when you should always trust an OEM replacement, and we recommend leaving the replacement of your power window switch to the experts in a dealership service center like ours. This way, there's no concern that things won't get put back together just right and no further issues will arise down the road.
Contact
15005 SW Tualatin Valley Highway
Beaverton, OR 97006
- Contact: (503) 567-1218