Power Window issue - Switch or relay?

uncle_scott · uncle_scott's Garage

Hello, I have an early 1985 NA Porsche 944. The passenger side power window is not consistent, and it is driving me crazy. The drivers side window works consistently all of the time. So far I have taken all of the window switches apart and cleaned the contacts as per Clark's Garage DIY. Clarks Garage says that if the fuse or relay is bad, then neither side will work.

Here is the strange part...If I push both passenger side buttons up or down at the same time, then the window will work. Neither side's button will operate the passenger side window independently.

Any ideas here? I would love to get a solution to this so the windows operate as designed. Otherwise I plan on converting them to manual and just giving up on the 25 year old wiring altogether.

Vicious · 09-11-2011, 07:19 PM

if cleaning switches doesnt resolve your issue, but it works when both buttons pressed then its time for some new switches

Cocacolakidd · Cocacolakidd's Garage

+1^ Yes it is time for new passengers window switches - The passengers side switches are wired together so at times even when bad one can push both switches and operate the window - Switches are the same for drivers and two passengers - but the passengers switches are up-side down from drivers...Take a drivers side switch and turn it 180* and it is a passengers switch - yeee haw...

88Silver924S · 88Silver924S's Garage

One sometimes critical "adjustment" missing in Clark's garage's excellent article is that the "V" shaped pieces (top of photo below step 3) need to be rebent to more of a "V" shape/ re-arched. I found this hint somewhere (can't recall where). It worked for me when I had a switch that didn't respond from just using an old "contact file" to clean the burnt parts from switch arcing. Good luck. I still wish someone who knows more than I do would design a 'snubber circuit' to reduce the contact arcing that burns these switches.

wild man · 01:58 AM

My money would be on the switch.

There are numerous contacts on each switch that work in conjunction with the other window switches in order to be able to change the polarity (need to be able to reverse 2 poles simultaneously) of the DC power applied to the window's motor windings, which is how you get up AND down from the same motor.

uncle_scott · uncle_scott's Garage

Thanks guys! I wll try bending the V-shaped pieces tonight and see if that does anything helpful for me. If not, I will start the hunt for some switches. I am still most likely going to start rounding up the conversion parts for manual windows...just to rid myself of as many electrical headache as possible with this thing.

wild man · 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle_scott

I am still most likely going to start rounding up the conversion parts for manual windows...just to rid myself of as many electrical headache as possible with this thing.

What? In my opinion, changing to manual windows would be, pardon the expression, nuts!

OK, that was a bit strong. But the changeover would be a hassle in itself, wouldn't it?

CatsEyes · 09-12-2011, 06:52 PM

Yes, I'd check the switches again before replacing them.

I had a very similar issue, and the answer proved to be very simple. A PO (recurring theme!) had badly reassembled one of the passanger window switches (on the driver's side), so that it wasn't making good contact.

Those little v-shaped things are indeed very fussy. And with the little ball-bearings in there too, the whole business is a delicate exercise. Or so I found.

uncle_scott · uncle_scott's Garage

I didn't have time to check the switches last night, but I will pull them out again tonight and play with the J-hook pieces.

My intentions of going to manual windows stems from my desire to build this car into a "Club Sport" 944. Simplified, removed electronics, lightened, etc. Getting away from brittle failing electronics would be nothing more than a bonus, haha.