Power windows always "powered"?

[chrisbruck]

So I've had my car for over a year now and while at a buddies house yesterday, noticed my windows still would go up and down with the key out of the ignition. He said, "Yup, my SC does that too."

Is this normal?

[BRLuecke]

Seems like I solved this problem in my 1988 Targa by replacing the door switch. But that was quite awhile ago. I may be remembering wrong. A quick check would be to remove the switch and make sure it is clean and working.

[Justin@Athens]

They should work until you open the door and then close it. I think this is because back in the day you had to get out and manually put the roof on cabs and targas, and putting the window glass up is the last step.

[sundevil64]

my 930 does that also.

[chrisbruck]

I just find it funny it took me over a year to notice my car does this.... feel kinda silly.

[darrin]

does your dome light illuminate when you open your door? If not, get your door switch fixed so it does. Opening the door is supposed to turn off the power window circuit, so if the door switch isn't illuminating the dome light, it's also not disengaging the power window switch. If the power window circuit doesn't turn off, it continues to drain the battery and will kill the battery after a week (?). Although I bought a replacement door switch from our host, after removing my broken one, I saw that it's super easy to clean and repair.

[chrisbruck]

Yup my dome lights normally come on (90% of the time)... I'll go fiddle and see what's up.

[canuck964]

1990 964 C4 here.

On my car when I turn off the ignition the power window stops working.

But (with ignition off and key out) when I open the door the power window works.

It is a nice feature.

[chrisbruck]

I wasn't sure if it was a designed "feature" or just another wiring short and fire hazard about to erupt.

[SCOTITUDE]

"Yup, my SC did that too."

[chrisbruck]

Well I'll be darned.... when the interior dome light doesn't come on the windows will still operate. When I wiggle the door switch to trigger the light, the windows stop working. Must just be a flakey door jamb switch.

[Arne2]

Really? I'm going to have to test this, I didn't think the windows in my '84 coupe work w/o the ignition on.

[darrin]

on my '86, the windows work between the time the key's removed and the door's open. Once the door's open (and the dome light comes on), the windows stop working. Same thing on our 2004 touareg (fwiw). As I indicated above, when the window circuit's energized, it draws a drain from the battery. So, a faulty door switch (that doesn't turn on the dome light) will result in the window circuit draining the battery over time (less than a week on my '86)

[Arne2]

My '84 only powers the windows when the key is switched on. No combination of door open/closed/etc powers them if the key has been switched off. And yes, my dome light does come on when the doors are opened.

[sundevil64]

My 84 is the same cometo think of it. Windows work with k/o only.

I would rather have manual windows in these cars. It's not like I am reaching across my sequoia to wind down the window.

[Arne2]

Took a look at the wiring diagrams in my Bentley. Admitting that the Bentley is not always 100% accurate—especially in wiring—it shows the '84 as powered by the key solely.

It also shows the '85 to have a pair of wires from terminal 85b on the window relay going to the door switches. So it looks like the windows on an '85 should also work with the door(s) open.

'86-89 have a more complex system with the seat belt switch and alarm connected to 85b as well as the door switches.

FWIW, it looks like it might be trivial to add the wires to the door switches on an '84, if someone so desired.