Electric windows sticking

After sitting for a week, I drove my car the other day and passenger window would not respond to the switch. After about another 5 minutes I tried again and it worked. After getting in again, the same scenario, no work and then work. As long as it works OK, but is this a precursor to future failure. This happened about a year ago also, but the problem stopped. Does the rubber seal around the window sometime stick to the window until it warms up. Just a theory.

I get stuttering (and slow) movement on mine. On the driver's side, it helps if I push down on the left side (toward the rear of car) as the window goes down. I have new channels to put in the frame, but I suspect there might be problems where the glass meets the mechanical parts in the door.

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Jack Olsen
1973 911 T sunroof coupe
http://members.rennlist.com/jackolsen/Jalopy.html

I had the same problem on an '80 SC. Eventually I was able to put the window all the way down, but no response going up. The relay checked out ok. Since both switches for the passenger window would not respond, I decided to swap switches on the driver's side door. Once I had the switches out but still connected, I tried it one more time and it has worked from both switches ever since. I guess maybe there was some resistence or loose connection somewhere (I know zero in the electrical dept.)? Good luck!

you may try switching switches from the good side that will tell you if its the switch

Sometimes the grease in the windows gets hard and causes this you would remove the door panel and clean up the channels

Yeah switching the door switches... wow that's a mouthful, should determine if it is a switch or motor/window mech problem. Similar deal on mine but it was due to the switches not being set in too well. The plug backs, at least on mineare held close to the door itself by thick rubber seals that tend to apply lots of pressure away from the switch in the door panel. My cables are so short and snug in those seals that after a while they pull away from the switch in the panel and start to work on and off. Each wire is seperate in mine and they do not pull away at the same time causing some wierd problems. ie... goes up but not down. Good luck and hope it is as simple as mine was.
rj

I think I have observed taht, as a general rule, German cars are made to work just so, and things MUST be kept in proper adjustment and lubrication. Window mechanism, in myh experience, do need attention occasionally.

This is a taks I have not yet conducted, but my recent acquisition an '83 SC, needs for me to get into the door and clena and lube the mechanisms and make sure everything is tracking nicely. This probably needs to be done to all Porsches after a certain age. Then, they're probably good for another 20 years.

I do recommend, as a general rule to check very simple things such as electrical connections, periodically and especially if something is acting up. VERY often, electrical problems are caused by something very simple.

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'83 SC

Had the same problems with my Audi's windows after replacing switches found that a little tuner cleaner sprayed in to the switch cleaned the contacts and the windows worked fine. Paul 73 Targa

Mine does the same thing in an infrequent basis. I get no response from the drivers side switch.......so .....what do I do????....."well I do defuse bombs so surely I can figure this out right?"....

I just give it a "whap" with the back o' my hand and it works like a charm..

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

So that's how that head stud got broke, eh Leland? Just kiddin'. That's pure American ingenuity combined with German engineering, I agree!

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Both left and right windows on our 1987 did this in the 6 1/2 years we owned the car. In both cases it was the channel that the glass presses into at the bottom had rusted and the neopreme channel was loose allowing the glass to move when it should not. That's why "whacking" it usually will make it work, for a while anyways. The hardest part of doing anything to the windows is getting the door panel off without damaging or marking the leather. The next hardest thing is to install the glass and neopreme channel into the holder as it is a VERY tight fit and I used a pair of carpenter's large cabinet maker clamps to press the glass in after I lined things up and test ran the window up and down. You can also wax the two vertical channels with cabinet maker's wax to make the glass slide easier. Finally while you are in there, be sure to use some synthetic grease on the little rollers and channels to make sure all will move about easily. Good luck.

Mark,
you ever try explaining a broken head stud to a Muscle car freak??
I don't think they can handle the thought of a cylinder moving up and down when a stud is loose.
You can see it in their eyes....the gears are turning...but it still just doesn't register..

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa