Driver's side window won't lower by switch

zech · 09:27 AM

Help, please...

I checked the switch, and think that's o.k.

The window lowers (slightly) with door operation and lowering the top, so I know the motor and power are good. Also, it raises fine. But won't lower (all the way) with the switch in the console.

Any thoughts??

Problem is only on Driver's side. While looking at the wiring in the center console, I found worn out insulation on the parking brake switch (not related, but interesting). Is there a wear point that's common on the window switch wiring?

I have a DE coming up, and have to be able to lower the window!!

Thanks a lot for any help with this...

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

A super quick check is to swap the passenger side switch with the driver's side switch and see if that fixes the problem. If yes, it's the switch. If no, it's almost definitely something with the wiring, and I would recommend that you remove the center console and take a look. You can find instructions on removing the center console here: Pelican Technical Article: Installing a Boxster Short Shift Kit (SSK) and Replacing Boxster Shift Bushings - 986 / 987

-Wayne

zech · 04-07-2011, 08:32 PM

I made some great headway on this this evening. Thanks Wayne!!

I had actually tried the passenger side switch with no improvement, which is why I was pretty sure the switch itself was o.k.

I got the even smarter idea to try the passenger window with the driver's switch and found that to work fine, so the switch is proven for sure. Don't know why I didn't think of that originally...

I found that the flexible tube running from the door to the car (at the hinge) is actually a giant connector, so that was a great place to test conductivity to find that the problem is in the car half, and not in the door (no conductivity from the connector to the switch, and have conductivity from this connector to the motor in the door.

What a pain! I've had to take all kinds of stuff apart to follow this. Including the parking brake and the shift assembly (just unbolted the whole thing and gently moved it to the side. Taking the center console apart, and taking the door panel off was a bit tricky too, but thankfully no damage to any of the snap-on anchors, etc...

In the process, I found damaged wiring on the parking brake switch, and on the inside door handle position switch (pinched by on of the bolts that secures the inside door handle to the door framing.

I'll probably have to run a new wire from the console switch to the door connector to solve this, which I will want to correctly, not sloppily...

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by zech

In the process, I found damaged wiring on the parking brake switch, and on the inside door handle position switch (pinched by on of the bolts that secures the inside door handle to the door framing.

The same thing happened on our 996 - we had a pinched wire that was causing the door sensor switch to not work properly, and caused the alarm to malfunction.

Glad you found it!

-Wayne

zech · 04-10-2011, 04:09 PM

Thanks Wayne!

I now realize that there had long been a slight delay in the window drop when getting out quickly. It hadn't really registered to me before, but when the micro switch on the handle isn't working, the window operation relies on the door latch position, which is a split second later than the handle itself. So when I moved quickly the window would just barely catch on the underside of the plastic lip in the roof. Doesn't now.

Well, my sons and I enjoyed the process of finding the problem and fixing it. It was pretty time consuming, but we usually appreciate the time together and the feeling of accomplishment that comes for solving a problem. It was a good end.

We replaced a run of the problem wire, and pulled some spares through the small trough under the carpet along the center ridge (from the center console to the parking brake). Now we're looking for a cool use for the two extra rocker switch spaces near the coin tray. I'm sure your book will supply a good idea...

Sincere thanks to you for spending the time to read and reply to my problem. I know you hear it daily, but thanks once more for all you (and many others here) do. It makes a huge difference to guys like me!!

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by zech

Well, my sons and I enjoyed the process of finding the problem and fixing it. It was pretty time consuming, but we usually appreciate the time together and the feeling of accomplishment that comes for solving a problem. It was a good end.

I'm no different than you guys - my two sons (ages 4 & 6) help me out on the cars all the time. We work on everything, whether it's the Boxster, the Honda minivan, the 959 or even the 962! Loads of fun...

-Wayne