Odd Drivers Side Window Issue
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 6
Odd Drivers Side Window Issue
Hi all,
Hoping someone might be more knowledgeable on this than I am. I went to drive the S2 today after it had sat for about a week, and when I pressed the drivers side window (down) button the auto-down function did not work. The window did go down, but only slightly and then would stop, as if there was no auto-down feature. After playing with the switch a few times the auto-down feature started working again. Drove the car around and tried to recreate the issue, however the auto-down worked proeprly each and every time. I should note the same thing happened last weekend, when the car was not driven for a week prior as well. The common denominator here seems to be a "cold" start after sitting, which seems odd given we're talking about switches and a window motor/regulator.
Anyone know what this may be? I'm thinking a switch or motor on it's way out, but not sure.
Hoping someone might be more knowledgeable on this than I am. I went to drive the S2 today after it had sat for about a week, and when I pressed the drivers side window (down) button the auto-down function did not work. The window did go down, but only slightly and then would stop, as if there was no auto-down feature. After playing with the switch a few times the auto-down feature started working again. Drove the car around and tried to recreate the issue, however the auto-down worked proeprly each and every time. I should note the same thing happened last weekend, when the car was not driven for a week prior as well. The common denominator here seems to be a "cold" start after sitting, which seems odd given we're talking about switches and a window motor/regulator.
Anyone know what this may be? I'm thinking a switch or motor on it's way out, but not sure.
Joined: Aug 2012
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Likes: 1,850
I would guess switch.
The motor doesn't have anything to do with auto down. Motor gets a signal to move, it moves. It gets a longer signal, it moves farther. Power on, power off.
Your issue is the thing that tells motor to keep moving isn't doing so. But I don't think its a computer issue. The computer tries to read you intentions by reading how long you hold the switch down. If it sees less than a certain time, it just moves motor that far. If it sees longer than another set time, it again moves just that far (motor moves however long you hold down button). If you are between these two amounts, computer reads that as an auto down command, and keeps sending power to motor to move down all the way.
What happens if your window switch contacts are getting worn out? Although you hold the button down, the contact comes and goes, it like you were tapping on the switch, not holding it down. So computer doesn't see what you intended. But once you use the switch a couple times, contacts clean up and it starts working again. Kinda like working a rusted hinge back and forth.
Try this. Next time its been a week, before you even start the car, hit the switch a bunch of times, to try and clean up the contacts. Then start the car and try auto down. If that then works first shot, it says its the switch.
What I suspect is happening is the coating on the switch contacts has worn off (new they are coated with a less corrosive metal), so now they are oxidizing when car sits for a while. Once you use the switch a few times this corrosion wears off, and switch works fine.
The motor doesn't have anything to do with auto down. Motor gets a signal to move, it moves. It gets a longer signal, it moves farther. Power on, power off.
Your issue is the thing that tells motor to keep moving isn't doing so. But I don't think its a computer issue. The computer tries to read you intentions by reading how long you hold the switch down. If it sees less than a certain time, it just moves motor that far. If it sees longer than another set time, it again moves just that far (motor moves however long you hold down button). If you are between these two amounts, computer reads that as an auto down command, and keeps sending power to motor to move down all the way.
What happens if your window switch contacts are getting worn out? Although you hold the button down, the contact comes and goes, it like you were tapping on the switch, not holding it down. So computer doesn't see what you intended. But once you use the switch a couple times, contacts clean up and it starts working again. Kinda like working a rusted hinge back and forth.
Try this. Next time its been a week, before you even start the car, hit the switch a bunch of times, to try and clean up the contacts. Then start the car and try auto down. If that then works first shot, it says its the switch.
What I suspect is happening is the coating on the switch contacts has worn off (new they are coated with a less corrosive metal), so now they are oxidizing when car sits for a while. Once you use the switch a few times this corrosion wears off, and switch works fine.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 5,424
Likes: 162
From: Great White North
Reprogram the auto-down function.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 6
I would guess switch.
The motor doesn't have anything to do with auto down. Motor gets a signal to move, it moves. It gets a longer signal, it moves farther. Power on, power off.
Your issue is the thing that tells motor to keep moving isn't doing so. But I don't think its a computer issue. The computer tries to read you intentions by reading how long you hold the switch down. If it sees less than a certain time, it just moves motor that far. If it sees longer than another set time, it again moves just that far (motor moves however long you hold down button). If you are between these two amounts, computer reads that as an auto down command, and keeps sending power to motor to move down all the way.
What happens if your window switch contacts are getting worn out? Although you hold the button down, the contact comes and goes, it like you were tapping on the switch, not holding it down. So computer doesn't see what you intended. But once you use the switch a couple times, contacts clean up and it starts working again. Kinda like working a rusted hinge back and forth.
Try this. Next time its been a week, before you even start the car, hit the switch a bunch of times, to try and clean up the contacts. Then start the car and try auto down. If that then works first shot, it says its the switch.
What I suspect is happening is the coating on the switch contacts has worn off (new they are coated with a less corrosive metal), so now they are oxidizing when car sits for a while. Once you use the switch a few times this corrosion wears off, and switch works fine.
The motor doesn't have anything to do with auto down. Motor gets a signal to move, it moves. It gets a longer signal, it moves farther. Power on, power off.
Your issue is the thing that tells motor to keep moving isn't doing so. But I don't think its a computer issue. The computer tries to read you intentions by reading how long you hold the switch down. If it sees less than a certain time, it just moves motor that far. If it sees longer than another set time, it again moves just that far (motor moves however long you hold down button). If you are between these two amounts, computer reads that as an auto down command, and keeps sending power to motor to move down all the way.
What happens if your window switch contacts are getting worn out? Although you hold the button down, the contact comes and goes, it like you were tapping on the switch, not holding it down. So computer doesn't see what you intended. But once you use the switch a couple times, contacts clean up and it starts working again. Kinda like working a rusted hinge back and forth.
Try this. Next time its been a week, before you even start the car, hit the switch a bunch of times, to try and clean up the contacts. Then start the car and try auto down. If that then works first shot, it says its the switch.
What I suspect is happening is the coating on the switch contacts has worn off (new they are coated with a less corrosive metal), so now they are oxidizing when car sits for a while. Once you use the switch a few times this corrosion wears off, and switch works fine.
Reprogram the auto-down function.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Thank you for your suggestions everyone, much appreciated!
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island, New York
Reprogram the auto-down function.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Have the window all the way up, turn ignition on, push and hold the switch down until the window gets to the bottom and continue to hold it down for 5 seconds, then pull the switch up and hold it until the window gets to the top and again, continue to hold the switch up for 5 seconds.
Let go and your auto-down should work again.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 328
Likes: 6
Took the car for a drive this afternoon. Before starting it up I tried pressing the button a few times as suggested by Car Analogy. Fired the car up and when I hit the button the window went almost all the way down and stopped about an inch short. So that's new..
Tried doing the reset a couple of times (first try didn't seem to work with the car on?). Didn't happen again while driving around, but still puzzled.
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Tried doing the reset a couple of times (first try didn't seem to work with the car on?). Didn't happen again while driving around, but still puzzled.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
