power window operation

[sjf]

New owner of a 2001 C4 coupe. Searched forum to address this issue and found there are a lot of issues with the power windows and regulators but did not find anything that was exactly the same.Issue is on the passenger window. When I bought the car had it tested and found there was a weak battery, but car started and ran fine. When passenger gets in car, the window automatically drops about 1-2".It does not go back up on its own when the door is closed. If you open and close the door a couple times, the window will continue the process of dropping a few inches at a time, but does not go back up. If you use the switch to move the window back up, it will only go back up the same few inches at a time requiring the button be hit each time.

Changed the battery and window operated fine. Just to be sure, I followed the instructions in the owners manual to runthe window all the way up in one motion, then hit the up button one more time to set the end point. All worked fine for a few days, now it has started to go back to the same few inches of operation. One time I also fiund the window overdrove the up movement and the door would not close. Had to turn car back on and drop the window, close door and then raise window.

Seems really odd that it changes, and can be corrected by disconnecting battery then starts again. Is it possible that something with the key programming could be messing things up? Any pointers on this would be appreciated.

[1schoir]

New owner of a 2001 C4 coupe. Searched forum to address this issue and found there are a lot of issues with the power windows and regulators but did not find anything that was exactly the same.Issue is on the passenger window. When I bought the car had it tested and found there was a weak battery, but car started and ran fine. When passenger gets in car, the window automatically drops about 1-2".It does not go back up on its own when the door is closed. If you open and close the door a couple times, the window will continue the process of dropping a few inches at a time, but does not go back up. If you use the switch to move the window back up, it will only go back up the same few inches at a time requiring the button be hit each time.

Changed the battery and window operated fine. Just to be sure, I followed the instructions in the owners manual to runthe window all the way up in one motion, then hit the up button one more time to set the end point. All worked fine for a few days, now it has started to go back to the same few inches of operation. One time I also fiund the window overdrove the up movement and the door would not close. Had to turn car back on and drop the window, close door and then raise window.

Seems really odd that it changes, and can be corrected by disconnecting battery then starts again. Is it possible that something with the key programming could be messing things up? Any pointers on this would be appreciated.

The kind of problems you are describing with the window is usually related to the central alarm control unit (under the driver's seat) getting wet, but that usually is common only in convertibles with clogged drain holes, etc... Unlikely in your case because you have a coupe, but it wouldn't hurt to check for moisture in and around the central alarm control unit.

There have also been a few instances where corrosion INSIDE the rubber sleeve that protects the wires that run from the body of the car to the door (below the A-pillar) has caused unusual window behavior, so you might want to check to make sure that the rubber sleeve is intact and that it is COMPLETELY waterproof, with no moisture inside there.

When the window will not drop that 1/2 inch to allow the door to open freely, a good way to narrow down the problem is to see if you get the same result when you pull on the inner handle as when you pull on the outer handle. If the window won't drop with only one of the pulls, then the microswitch behind that handle is suspect. If it won't drop with either pull then a likely cause is the stretching or fraying of the window regulator cable or one of its plastic components, especially if you can then press the window down and you get that 1/2 inch slack to be taken up manually and/or you hear the electric motor operating for a split second but no corresponding movement at the window.

Also try retraining the windows once again, this time by holding the switch down for another five or ten seconds after the window has reached maximum up or maximum down.

Regards, Maurice.

[sjf]

Thanks for the reply.

Interior is dry. Will try the retrain for 5-10 seconds. Manual just said to hit for short time. Will also try the handle trick. The odd part is how this changed when battery was changed. I'll continue diagnosis. Any other ideas are welcomed.

New owner of a 2001 C4 coupe. Searched forum to address this issue and found there are a lot of issues with the power windows and regulators but did not find anything that was exactly the same.Issue is on the passenger window. When I bought the car had it tested and found there was a weak battery, but car started and ran fine. When passenger gets in car, the window automatically drops about 1-2".It does not go back up on its own when the door is closed. If you open and close the door a couple times, the window will continue the process of dropping a few inches at a time, but does not go back up. If you use the switch to move the window back up, it will only go back up the same few inches at a time requiring the button be hit each time.

Changed the battery and window operated fine. Just to be sure, I followed the instructions in the owners manual to runthe window all the way up in one motion, then hit the up button one more time to set the end point. All worked fine for a few days, now it has started to go back to the same few inches of operation. One time I also fiund the window overdrove the up movement and the door would not close. Had to turn car back on and drop the window, close door and then raise window.

Seems really odd that it changes, and can be corrected by disconnecting battery then starts again. Is it possible that something with the key programming could be messing things up? Any pointers on this would be appreciated.

The kind of problems you are describing with the window is usually related to the central alarm control unit (under the driver's seat) getting wet, but that usually is common only in convertibles with clogged drain holes, etc... Unlikely in your case because you have a coupe, but it wouldn't hurt to check for moisture in and around the central alarm control unit.

There have also been a few instances where corrosion INSIDE the rubber sleeve that protects the wires that run from the body of the car to the door (below the A-pillar) has caused unusual window behavior, so you might want to check to make sure that the rubber sleeve is intact and that it is COMPLETELY waterproof, with no moisture inside there.

When the window will not drop that 1/2 inch to allow the door to open freely, a good way to narrow down the problem is to see if you get the same result when you pull on the inner handle as when you pull on the outer handle. If the window won't drop with only one of the pulls, then the microswitch behind that handle is suspect. If it won't drop with either pull then a likely cause is the stretching or fraying of the window regulator cable or one of its plastic components, especially if you can then press the window down and you get that 1/2 inch slack to be taken up manually and/or you hear the electric motor operating for a split second but no corresponding movement at the window.

Also try retraining the windows once again, this time by holding the switch down for another five or ten seconds after the window has reached maximum up or maximum down.

Regards, Maurice.

[Kim]

Control of the window "droop while door is open" function is shared by 3 micro switches during the door opening process:

When door is sitting closed, all is quiet in the sequence.

When the outside or inside door handle is pulled to open, a microswitch (they are identical) senses handle movement and droops the window;

When the door latching mechanism senses door no longer latched closed, the switch integral to the latch takes over and keeps window in droop;

When the door is closed and the door latching mechanism senses the door latch engaged, the signal is sent to raise window to full up.

From your description, it sounds as if the microswitch in the latch is at fault. I do believe the switch is integral to the latch so that the latch unit must be replaced.

Door switches (2): 996-613-125-00 (for 2000 model). 20.55 each at Sunset. (changed both while I was in there)

Door latch (1): 8N1-837-015-C (for 2000 model). 116.20 at Sunset.

The DIY section includes instructions for removing the door panel are fairly complete. It takes a slim arm to reach in there and disconnect / reconnect the mechanical linkages to the exterior door handle and the latch. Took me about half a day to complete the job and put it all back together.

Can't be sure the switches are your problem, but it sounds as though they may be.

[sjf]

Kim,

Thanks for the diagnistic info. I did a little more evaluation, and I think the issue must be in the door handle sensors or switches. If I operate the windows from the inside it orks great. Each time we open the door, it drops the window and does not go back up.When I raise the window, it goes up in the same steps it went down.

Where is the "logic: kept for the switches and raising the window. My guess is the microswitch selects a down distance, then sets another relay or microswitch ready for the window to go back up. I will review wiring diagram, but am guessing there is a sensor on the door open or closed that would cause release to raise the window again. If that exists ad were bad I could see that the up signal would never be sent. Am I overthinking this?

Steve

[Kim]

Where is the "logic: kept for the switches and raising the window. My guess is the microswitch selects a down distance, then sets another relay or microswitch ready for the window to go back up. I will review wiring diagram, but am guessing there is a sensor on the door open or closed that would cause release to raise the window again. If that exists ad were bad I could see that the up signal would never be sent.

Read through my description of the sequence one more time:

When the door latching mechanism senses door no longer latched closed, the switch integral to the latch takes over and keeps window in droop;

When the door is closed and the door latching mechanism senses the door latch engaged, the signal is sent to raise window to full up.

Try this experiment: without opening the door even a little bit, stand there and pull out on the exterior handle. Does the window droop each time you pull out the handle? Does the window fully raise each time you release the door handle? If the answer to both of these questions is "yes", then the microswitch on that exterior handle is good. Try the same thing with the interior door handle to eliminate it as being bad.

As I stated above, after the initial window droop to allow the door to be pulled open, control of window position passes to the microswitch located within the door latch mechanism (the part in the rear door edge that grabs the strike on your door jam to hold the door closed). When the door is not latched, it is that switch that recognizes the fact and keeps the window drooped until the latch once again senses the door closed and allows control of window droop to revert to the handle microswitches .... and the window goes up because neither handle is being pulled on at the moment.

[sjf]

Tested everything out. Looks like the microswitch on the latch is the culprit. Think I have a line on a new part, so thanks to all for the help.

Steve