Where is window relay on '87, 325is???

Buckeye325is · 06-07-2007, 08:46 PM

I think my problem below is the relay but I have no idea where it is??? Should I lube the window regulator or anything while I'm in there and if so with what???
I tested the drivers side motor by rigging it to my battery charger and the motors fine, goes up and down by reversing polarity this is why I thimk it's the relay.
The windows have never worked since I got the car last fall so I read some threads and fixed the safety switch. Now the windows go down but not up. Both of them. I cleaned the switches, tried 4 donor switches and still nothin'. The switches light up the windows go down but pushing the up button doesn't do anything, no motor sounds, I tried lifting on the window and pushing the button, crankin' the allen raises them, but nothing from the window motors. I can't figure out what it could be, is there something I'm missing??? It's like there is no power when pushing the up button for either window.
Please, someone help me solve this, it's probably something simple but I'm at wits end...
It's a 1987 325is, should have had this in at the beginning.

dannyboyrulesma · 06-08-2007, 04:25 AM

I reckon it is more to do with the safety breaker. This is designed to cut power to the motors when lifting the windows when something obstructs the window from moving, like a child's finger or neck :-). Either there is resistance to the glass to restrict its movement or the breaker switch is faulty.

You did try pushing the breaker button back in didn't you?

Buckeye325is · 06-08-2007, 07:55 AM

If you mean by safety breaker the button on the dash, yes; it disables power to the switches so that the windows are immobilized neither up or down. I'm not aware of the '87 325is having a sensor on it other than possibly the relay kicking out when a level of current is being drawn and kicking out. The safety switch does not function as a breaker on this car, I took it apart, cleaned it and found out it's only a switch.

Any Idea where the relay is???

vood · 06-12-2007, 11:48 PM

not sure; you can try relay K5 and fuse 17

Buckeye325is · 06-15-2007, 07:25 AM

Your definitely correct on fuse #17, in the process of trying to search out the problem I fried the fuse a couple of times.
But in my relay layout diagram [ by Paulo D'Amico] K5 is listed as a "unloader relay", the same with K7. What does this mean???

Oh well, I'm pulling the relay and testing it against a spare and will perform a post mortem on it to determine any causation relating to the problem.

Thanks for the reply, I was beginning to feel rather hopeless and forgotten.

vood · 06-18-2007, 01:46 AM

if fuse 17 is blowing you will need to solve this first.
since your motors seem to be working from external power & switches ok, problem is in the wiring, connectors & relays.
try to see the connectors-could be broken

i'm not sure about the relay; i got manual windows on my car but electric sunroof - relay K5 solved my sunroof problem. seem that the relay for the windows is behind the glovebox. try to look at this uk zone - www.e30zone.net they might help

trefster · 06-27-2007, 11:55 AM

I'm having a strange issue with my windows as well. All windows work except the passenget side door window. I tried changing out switches with a working window to see if it was the switch needing cleaning, but it still didn't work.

It is stuck in the up position and won't go up or down. There is no noise from the motor, it's just as if no current is reaching it.

Any ideas?

vood · 06-27-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trefster
I'm having a strange issue with my windows as well. All windows work except the passenget side door window. I tried changing out switches with a working window to see if it was the switch needing cleaning, but it still didn't work.

It is stuck in the up position and won't go up or down. There is no noise from the motor, it's just as if no current is reaching it.

Any ideas?

I've never done it, but you could use Buckeye method by rigging a battery charger to the motor (i would have inserted a fuse in the wiring). Maybe Buckeye could help.

If motor is ok, then problem is with wiring & connectors.
could be broken connectors (wires separated from the pins) or broken wires; also try to clean the connector pins

trefster · 06-28-2007, 03:30 AM

It was strange. After taking that door apart, I could hear a little click and hum when I was pressing the button, so I knew there was current getting to the motor.

After, starting to dissassemble the motor, assuming it was bad, I tried it once more before pulling it out, and it worked!

I tightened everything back up that I had loosened and tried again, and the window went up and down as normal.

I don't know what happened, maybe something in the gearing was seized and I loosened it by starting to dissasemble stuff.

But it's working now, so I'll leave it as is until something else goes wrong.