GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Each power window is connected to a permanent magnet motor. The motor raises or lowers the glass when the door module applies voltage to the motor. The direction the motor turns depends on the polarity of the supply voltage provided by the associated door module. The two front doors have their own separate modules. The rear seat contains a single module, which controls both rear power windows.

A serial digital communications link, called the simple bus interface (SBI), is used for communications between door modules and the driver's door power window switches. The use of serial digital communications allows the use of a single wire to convey switching information between the power door lock switch and the driver's door module (DDM). The serial communication is also used to transmit switching information from the DDM to the other two door modules.

The door modules apply battery voltage of the correct polarity to the respective window motor when any local, or power door lock switch, UP switch is operated, driving the window up. Battery voltage is applied to the respective window motor in the opposite polarity when any local, or power window switch, DOWN switch is operated, driving the window down.

Driver Door Module (DDM)

The drivers door module (DDM) directly controls the driver's door window motor and the express down window feature. The DDM sends window UP/DOWN messages received from the power door lock switch to the passenger door module (PDM) and the rear door module (RDM) over the simple bus interface (SBI) line. The DDM also contains a class 2 data link which communicates with other vehicle system modules. The left front power door locks and outside power mirrors are also controlled through the DDM.

Passenger Door Module (PDM)

The passenger door module (PDM) controls the passenger's door window motor. The PDM controls the passenger's door window directly from the RH front power window switch or from instructions over the SBI. The right front power door locks and outside power mirrors are also controlled through this module.

Rear Door Module (RDM)

The rear door module (RDM) controls both rear door window motors. The RDM controls the rear windows directly form the rear door window switches or from instructions over the SBI.

LH Front Power Window Switch

The LH front power window switch provides switches for controlling all of the power windows. This switch also has a lockout button, which the driver can use to prevent the other window switches from functioning. The switch passes switching information to the driver's door module (DDM) by way of the simple bus interface (SBI). Battery voltage and ground are applied to the LH front power window switch from the DDM through circuits 1729 and 226 respectively.

Simple Bus Interface (SBI) Serial Data Link

The simple bus interface (SBI) is a serial data link. This serial data link replaces vehicle cables between various door modules with a single wire. The same amount of information is sent by multiplexing (time-sharing) data to and from each device over that wire. The serial data signals are referenced to ground. If the SBI is lost, both the rear door module (RDM) and the passenger door module (PDM) will enter the sleep mode. With the RDM and PDM in sleep mode, no power window operations are possible.

Express Window Down Operation

The express down window function is a driver's window only standard feature that allows the left front window to be fully opened by momentarily pressing the left front window DOWN switch to the second detente. Express down travel may be stopped at any position by momentarily pressing either the UP or DOWN switch.

Window Switch Operation

When any driver's door power window switch is pressed, a simple bus interface (SBI) serial digital message is transmitted from the LH front power window switch to the driver's door module (DDM).

If the either the passenger or the rear window switch is pressed, an SBI message, relating the switch operation, is transmitted from the DDM to either the passenger's door module (PDM) or the rear door module (RDM) as appropriate. All of the window motors are directly controlled by their respective door modules.

If the driver's window switch is pressed, the DDM will apply battery voltage of the correct polarity directly to the LH front power window motor, driving the window up or down.

Each window motor is protected by an electronic circuit breaker. If a window switch is held too long with the window obstructed or after the window is fully up or down, the circuit breaker opens the circuit. The circuit breakers have positive temperature coefficients (PTC) and reset automatically when voltage is removed from the motors.