Power windows are synonymous with modern cars. Winding up or down a window at the touch of a button is mainstream. Some vehicles even have automatic windows that do it all with a single touch of a button.
While your power windows will keep on going up and down for ages, there are times when they just quit on you. This guide will look at what could cause power windows to stop working and how to get around stuck windows.
The Car is Off or Has No Power
The first and easy to fix the problem is checking if the car is on and has power. In most cars, windows will only wind up or down if the car is ON. Some will even lock you out unless the engine is running.
Turn your car on and try the windows with the engine running. If the power windows are working, then there is nothing wrong with your vehicle.
Window Operation is Locked
Another thing that could make all passenger windows fail to work is if they are locked from the driver’s side.
Cars have a lockout button designed to disable window controls for passengers. This was intended to help parents tame restless kids who keep winding windows up and down.
In most cases, the button will be next to the window controls on the driver’s door. Press it once and check if any of the control buttons on passenger doors are working.
This could be the problem if you have all the three passenger door window buttons not working.
A Blown Fuse
Anything electrical could have a problem if it blows its fuse. That’s the way another important stop when troubleshooting any electrical system in the car is checking the fuse box.
Consult your manual and find out your fusebox’s location and what each fuse controls. Use nose tip pliers to pull out the correct fuse and check if it’s blown.
As always, fuses don’t blow for no reason. I always recommend people install the correct fuse and run the affected system for a while.
If the fuse blows again, chances are you have a problem with your wiring and or components. Have the entire system checked since you will keep blowing fuses and even cause more damage (and/or fire.)
A Malfunctioning Window Regulator
Window regulators are metal arms that hook up your window glass to the window motor. They reside in the car door. While they are designed to last, they could fail or get dislodged from either the motor or the window glass.
You could hear the motor whine and some other noises if this happens, but the window glass won’t wind up or down.
Don’t keep trying. The unexpected motion could damage your glass or the motor. Instead, get an expert to open up the respective door and inspect the regulator.
Sometimes, a fix might be as simple as re-sitting the window regulator, while in other cases, you might have to buy a couple of replacement components.
A Faulty Window Switch
The entire opening or closing procedure begins when you press or pull the window switch. If the switch stops working, the whole system won’t get the signal to close (or open.)
It doesn’t matter if other components are working. The windows won’t work. An excellent way to troubleshoot a switch is to use the master control switches on the driver side to override any other faulty window in the car.
If the switches on the driver side can control the culprit window, then the respective switch or its wiring is faulty.
The only problem is you can’t use this approach to troubleshoot the driver-side window.
A Damaged Motor
The motor is the guts of your power windows. It provides the heft you need to move the windows up or down. Luckily each window has its own motor. This means that if a motor is damaged, the problem will be localized to one window.
A good motor should whirr and sometimes click when you press the switch. Listen for this sound as you try the switches.
If you don’t hear it and have already inspected the switches and fuses, chances are your motor is blown.
ProTip: Scroll down to the wiring section to see more troubleshooting tips. Sometimes, damaged wiring or a loose connector could stop your power windows from working.
The Window Glass is Stuck
While your window motor is strong enough to push up and down the windows, it might not have the torque needed to move stuck windows.
Your windows could be stuck if there is some debris in the channels. Sometimes, snow and ice could also make the windows harder to move.
If this is the case, you will hear your motor turn on, whir, and produce the sound it has when your windows are fully wound up. Sometimes, the extra strain will even make your engine’s idle speed go up.
When you notice this, have your windows inspected for blockage. Don’t use your motor to try to force the windows through. This could strain the motor and burn it out. Sometimes (sporadic cases), the extra strain could either dislocate the window regulator or shatter your window glass.
Pro Tip: Other cars have an automatic stop system that stops the motor when they detect some resistance. This is handy in preventing a kid (or even adult) from pinching a limb when winding up a window with something on the way. The extra resistance from stuck window glass could be interpreted as a body part.
Damaged Wiring
Finally, your power windows could fail if any part of the wiring is faulty. Since the wires to your power window motor are well protected, this could only happen if:
- There was a short circuit that shorted the wires
- Someone worked on the car recently and accidentally touched the wires
- Some moisture or water corroded terminals
You can start your inspection using a multimeter to confirm that you are getting 12V to the terminals with the switch activated.
If you can’t, then something is wrong with the wiring. Remember to confirm your fuses haven’t blow again.
Repeatedly blowing a fuse and not voltage at the motor all point towards a short circuit. Trace down the entire cable looking for any pinch points or stripped rubber. You will have to replace or repair any damage to the wire.
If you can get the correct voltage and the motor doesn’t engage, disconnect the terminals, clean them and try again. In case the motor still doesn’t run, chances are your motor is the problem.
Why are My Car Power Windows Not Working After a Battery Replacement
Sophisticated power windows use a sensor to identify your window’s position before reacting to your input (if you want them to operate automatically). This means that the system has to retain some memory to operate.
Removing your car’s battery without adding a device to send juice to controllers and computers reset the memory. If you are keen, you’ll notice that your car’s clock, fuel consumption, and more will even reset.
In this case, the automatic function won’t work. You have to keep the buttons pressed or pulled to move the window.
If this happens, you have to reset the power window’s memory settings. Here is how to reset.
- Turn your key to the run/on position. If you have a push-button car, push the start button without stepping on the brake pedal. Don’t crank the car though
- Press the window key down to lower a window down and hold it there. (you have to do one window at a go, so pick one to start with)
- Hold the button down for two to five seconds before releasing it. Some cars need two seconds. Others need five seconds
- Lift the same button again to raise the window all the way up and hold it there again for two to five seconds
- Repeat the same process on all other windows
After this, your windows know the full open and full closed positions. They will now run on automatic mode.
How to Temporarily Fix a Stuck Car Window
Sometimes, car windows can get stuck in the most inappropriate times. If you can hear the motor whirring and the window seems to start moving but can’t, it is perhaps stuck.
If you are not able to immediately open and inspect the system, you could opt for some fast fixes to keep you going. (of course, letting the windows be until you get to a garage is a safer bet. Sometimes, you can’t, for instance, if its raining or you have to park and leave)
In cases where your motor brushes are worn out or the cogs on the regulator are slightly damaged, slamming the door could jolt things back to action. This could also help dislodge snow-jammed windows.
Adding some silicone grease down the window channels could also lubricate the tracks making the windows move again.
Sometimes, the fix could be permanent. However, if your power windows still struggle to close or open, have an expert open the doors and inspect them before it’s too late.
How Do You Manually Raise a Power Window?
Car power windows aren’t designed with a failsafe feature. After all, they won’t necessarily lock you in if they fail.
Note that this trick is only necessary if you have a faulty motor or window regulator and haven’t received a replacement yet. Getting a fuse, checking the wiring and the switch is more straightforward than following this procedure.
- Remove your door panel to access the window assembly
- Disconnect the window from the motor
- Disengage any lock device that keeps your window from running free when you tug on it
- Use your hands to tug up the window till fully close.
- Re-engage the lock mechanism and reattach the window regulator
- Replace the door panels
Note that the windows will stay closed until your can service the system.
While at it, you could run other checks to confirm that the fault needs spares, and you can’t fix it by tweaking a couple of things.
How Do You Bypass a Power Window Switch
If you suspect that your power window switch is the problem, you could bypass it and jump-start your power windows. Note that this is only necessary on the driver’s window as you have redundant switches for all other windows in the car.
- Remove the window control panel from the driver’s door
- Identify the cables running from the driver window control switch
- Turn the car to on/run/Acc mode
- Use a tester to identify the 12V terminal
- Use a metal contact to short it to one of the two earth terminals. One terminal winds up the window, the other winds it down.
Some window systems use intelligent control. They might not have 12V, but they will have some optimistic voltage on their rails. Shorting this to the appropriate terminal could simulate using the switch.
However, you should be careful when using this approach, especially on a car with sophisticated controls. You could do more harm than good.
Buying a replacement switch is always more accessible, safer, and faster.
Some Windows Have Relays
As cars get more sophisticated, they rely on sensors and software to control more parts. For instance, some smart cars could wind up your windows when they sense rain, imminent collision, or get instructions from the infotainment system.
They need a relay to do this. Consequently, a failed relay could cause problems in the entire system. Always check if your car has a relay (especially if it has multiple sensors and infotainment controls)
Luckily, you won’t be prying into a sensor-laden car trying to fix it yourself. Taking it to the dealership is a safer, more sensible approach.