Windows and Sunroof mysteriously stop working

polizei · 08-17-2007, 12:42 PM

I haven't driven my car in several days as I just finished removing the center console and replacing some shift bushings. I drove to work today with the windows and sunroof open, and I closed them when I parked my car. When I went out to lunch this afternoon, I went to open them up and nothing works. Neither the window switches on the driver's door nor the passenger door work, and the sunroof does not work. Is it possible I loosened a wire? Any thoughts?

Thanks for your help!

Cdnone1 · 08-17-2007, 12:56 PM

Have you checked your fuses?
steve

polizei · 08-17-2007, 12:59 PM

No, I have not. Where exactly would I check them?

85eurocarrera · 85eurocarrera's Garage

fuse box?

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Do you have power seats? I had a similar problem and it turned out the wire from the power seat was grounding out on the floor pan. I had a heck of a time finding it.

Cdnone1 · 08-17-2007, 01:58 PM

Open the front hood and on the inside of the drivers side half way down you will find a covered box mounted to the side. It is approx 9 inches long. It just pops off and your fuses and relays are there.
You may have caused a short when working with the tunnel. Some people remove AC switches etc and leave open wires that could cause a short. If a fuse has shorted make sure you find out the cause why first and fix that or you will just keep burning them up. Also if you have open wires you should fix them anyways as they are dangerous and can cause fires.
I'm not say this is the solution to your problem or that you have an electrical problem but it's a good place to start
Steve

polizei · 08-17-2007, 01:59 PM

I, the ignoramus, found the fuse box, and, yes, the fuse needs to be replaced. I'm sure this is over rudimentary to you guys, but this also led to the root cause of my air conditioning problem

Thanks guys.

jester911 · jester911's Garage

Andy, did you find what was causing the fuse to blow? Usually replacing the fuse just means buying more fuses.

Cdnone1 · 08-17-2007, 02:07 PM

Our pleasure.
We all started learning these car at sometime, some of us have just been doing it longer. You really should buy Wayne's book 101 things. Even if you don't do any of the projects it's a good read and will really help you familiarize yourself with your car.
Make sure you find the cause of the short.
Good luck but once you start working on these it can be a slippery slope
Steve

john walker's workshop · 08-17-2007, 05:18 PM

those ceramic fuses in 89 and earlier cars suffer from surface corrosion and need to be replaced. if it ain't shiny/clean looking, it's a potential electrical problem. i often have to replace all of them on services. amazing what starts working again. the contact tabs on the fuse boards need to be clean/cleaned also.

polizei · 08-18-2007, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jester911

Do you have power seats? I had a similar problem and it turned out the wire from the power seat was grounding out on the floor pan. I had a heck of a time finding it.

I believe this was the cause for the short which rendered my windows and sunroof inoperable. I'm still clueless as to what the cause would be for the air conditioning fuse to short though.

911 in SC · 08-18-2007, 05:00 AM

Glad you found the root of the problem. In my case, my relay was not making good contact (what John Walker was referring to). I took it out, cleaned it up, and worked great. Still does, a year or so later.