Seek help with intermittent window/sunroof power

[RickM]

This just started happening...get into the car, start her up and windows/sunroof wont operate. Then I back out of the garage, put her in gear and they work. ?????

Fuse is fine but not sure what else to look for. Any ideas?

[ohecht]

I have had problems with both the sunroof and window switches on my 82 SC. If you carefully take the switches, apart, you will probably find corrosion and even pitting from arcing as the contacts get old and separate a little.

Once you get the switch apart, you can clean the contacts with an eraser or light scraping, and then also bend them a little to make sure they make good contact in all positions.

My sunroof switch especially was about a 50/50 chance of closing before I fixed it, and would sometimes blow the fuse as I tried to get the switch in the exact position where it would most likely work.

You can also just replace the switches if they look really bad. I have also had the little plastic bumps on which the switches rock back and forth shear off, which makes the switch operate very poorly. I usually heat a finishing nail (same diameter as the original plastic piece) to make a hole where the bump used to be, glue it where the "bump" was, and then cut it off at the right length to have a metal pivot that so far has worked fine and should be more durable than the plastic.

Olivier

[RickM]

Olivier,

Thanks for the quick reply.
Does all the power pass through one of the switches? in this scenario it's "all on" or "all off." Either the windows and sunroof work together or they don't. I'm figuring its's some type of junction point.

[ohecht]

That could be, if they are always working or not working together. It is probably not the switches if that is the case. I would use the wiring diagrams on Pelican to find the common source.

One point they must share is through the "run" position of the ignition switch, since they won't operate with the key off, but you would likely have other things not working like the radio, etc. if that were the case.

I don't have my diagrams with me, but you might find a common fuse or relay and that might be the problem.

Olivier

[RickM]

Thanks again.

Other ideas welcome.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by RickM
Thanks again.

Other ideas welcome.

so you reviewed the diagram to see if there is a common feed divider from the ignition sw ?

[RickM]

Not yet....still looking for ther appropriate diagram.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by RickM
Not yet....still looking for ther appropriate diagram.

the Bentley '85 window diagram doesn't show any connection between roof and window after the fuse gets ignition "on" power. Maybe confirm the the fuses are getting power from the ign sw in the luggage comp.

[RickM]

Good Idea. Perhaps the power is interrupted before the common fuse.

I'm still trying to piece together the online diagrams. No sunroof circuit.

Thanks for looking this up.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by RickM
Good Idea. Perhaps the power is interrupted before the common fuse.

no.. the window fuse is fed indivudally from the ign sw. The out goes to the circuit.

I have the Bentley 3 page '85 "Power Distribution" diag if you want it. E-mail me if needed.