GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Power Windows Inoperative - All One or Both Front

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

Warning: When using an external power source to provide power to a component or circuit, always use a fused jumper wire with the proper amp rating for the component or circuit being tested. Failure to use a fused jumper wire may result in accidental overload and may cause personal injury or damage to the component or circuit.

1

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Attempt to operate each front power window.

Is either window working?

--

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 2

2

Visually inspect the connection at the power window main switch.

Is the electrical connector correctly attached to the main switch?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Correctly attach the electrical connector to the power window main switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

4

  1. Disconnect the electrical connector from the power window main switch.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 3 and 120 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the voltage measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 5

5

Inspect fuses EF14 and EF9.

Is either fuse open?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Inspect for a short circuit and repair, if necessary.
  2. Replace the open fuses.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

7

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Measure the voltages at fuses EF9 and EF14.

Are both voltages measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 8

8

Repair the power supply to the fuse which did not indicate battery voltage with the ignition ON.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

9

  1. Remove the power window relay.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 30 and terminal 86 of the power window relay socket. Terminals of the relay socket can be identified by the markings on the bottom of the relay.

Does the voltmeter indicate a value within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Repair the open circuit between the fuses and the power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

11

With the power window relay still removed, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between ground and terminal 85 of the power window relay socket.

Does the odometer indicate the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 12

12

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 85 of the power window relay socket.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

13

  1. Temporarily substitute a known good relay in place of the power window relay.
  2. Attempt to operate the power windows.

Do the power windows operate with the substituted relay?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 15

14

  1. Return the substituted relay to its original position.
  2. Replace the original power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

15

Repair the open circuit between the power window relay socket terminal 87 and the power window switch terminal 3 and 10.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

16

With the power window main switch disconnected, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between ground and terminal 11 of the power window switch connector.

Is the resistance equal to the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 17

17

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 11 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

18

  1. Remove the trim panel from the front door which has an inoperative power window.
  2. Move a vehicle battery close enough to the door so that the window motor can be powered directly from the battery with jumper wires.
  3. Disconnect the 2-pin window motor connector in the door.
  4. Note: To prevent the fuse in the jumper wire from blowing, do not touch the jumper wires together.

  5. Attach a jumper wire between the battery negative terminal and one of the terminals in the 2-pin window motor connector.
  6. Attach a fused jumper wire between the battery positive terminal and the remaining terminal in the 2-pin window motor connector. Unless the motor is at the end of its travel, the window should move with the jumpers attached.
  7. To move the window in the opposite direction, reverse the jumper wire connections at the window motor connector.

Does the power window operate in both directions when the motor is operated directly from a battery?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 19

19

Replace the window motor.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

20

  1. Before reconnecting the 2-pin window motor connector, connect an ohmmeter between the terminals to measure the resistance of the motor.
  2. Record the ohmmeter reading for motor resistance.
  3. Reconnect the motor connector and reinstall the door trim panel.
  4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the power window switch.
  5. At the power window main switch connector, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between the terminals which lead to the motor that was tested in Step 16.

Is the resistance at the main switch connector approximately equal to the resistance that was previously measured at the motor connector?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 21

21

Repair the open circuit between the window motor and the window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

22

Replace the power window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

Power Windows Inoperative - All One or Both Rear

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

Warning: When using an external power source to provide power to a component or circuit, always use a fused jumper wire with the proper amp rating for the component or circuit being tested. Failure to use a fused jumper wire may result in accidental overload and may cause personal injury or damage to the component or circuit.

1

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Verify that the window lock position has not been selected on the power window main switch.

Is either window working?

--

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 2

2

Visually inspect the connection at the power window main switch.

Is the electrical connector correctly attached to the main switch?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Correctly attach the electrical connector to the power window main switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

4

  1. Disconnect the electrical connector from the power window main switch.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 3 and 10 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the voltage measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 5

5

Inspect fuses EF9 and EF14.

Is either fuse open?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Inspect for a short circuit and repair, if necessary.
  2. Replace the open fuses.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

7

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Measure the voltages at fuses EF9 and EF14.

Are both voltages measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 8

8

Repair the power supply to the fuse which did not indicate battery voltage with the ignition ON.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

9

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Remove the power window relay.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 30 and terminal 86 of the power window relay socket. Terminals of the relay socket can be identified by the markings on the bottom of the relay.

Does the voltmeter indicate a value within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Repair the open circuit between the fuses and the power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

11

With the power window relay still removed, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between ground and terminal 85 of the power window relay socket.

Does the odometer indicate the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 12

12

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 85 of the power window relay socket.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

13

  1. Temporarily substitute a known good relay in place of the power window relay.
  2. Attempt to operate the power windows.

Do the power windows operate with the substituted relay?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 15

14

  1. Return the substituted relay to its original position.
  2. Replace the original power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

15

Repair the open circuit between the power window relay socket terminal 87 and the power window switch terminal 3 and 10.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

16

With the power window main switch disconnected, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance between ground and terminal 11 of the power window switch connector.

Is the resistance equal to the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 17

17

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 11 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

18

  1. Remove the trim panel from the rear door which has an inoperative power window.
  2. Move a vehicle battery close enough to the door so that the window motor can be powered directly from the battery with jumper wires.
  3. Disconnect the 2-pin window motor connector in the door.
  4. Note: To prevent the fuse in the jumper wire from blowing, do not touch the jumper wires together.

  5. Attach a jumper wire between the battery negative terminal and one of the terminals in the 2-pin window motor connector.
  6. Attach a fused jumper wire between the battery positive terminal and the remaining terminal in the 2-pin window motor connector. Unless the motor is at the end of its travel, the window should move with the jumpers attached.
  7. To move the window in the opposite direction, reverse the jumper wire connections at the window motor connector.

Does the power window operate in both directions when the motor is operated directly from a battery?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 19

19

Replace the window motor.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

20

  1. Verify the window lock on the main switch is OFF.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. At the rear power window switch connector, measure the voltage at terminal 1.

Is the voltage measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 21

Go to Step 29

21

  1. At the power window motor 2-pin connector, use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance of the power window motor. Record the resistance.
  2. Re-connect the 2-pin power window motor connector.
  3. Disconnect the rear power window switch connector.
  4. Use an ohmmeter to measure between terminals 2 and 6 of the rear power window switch connector.

Is the resistance measured at the rear power window switch connector equal to the resistance previously measured at the rear power window motor connector?

--

Go to Step 23

Go to Step 22

22

Repair the open circuit between the rear power window switch and the rear power window motor connector.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

23

  1. Remove the rear power window switch for testing.
  2. Connect an ohmmeter between terminals 4 and 2 of the rear power window switch, and observe the ohmmeter.
  3. Connect the ohmmeter between terminals 11 and 6 of the rear power window switch, and observe the ohmmeter.

For both tests, did the ohmmeter indicate the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 25

Go to Step 24

24

Replace the rear power window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

25

  1. With the rear power window switch removed for testing, connect an ohmmeter between terminals 1 and 2, and put the switch in the DOWN position. Observe the ohmmeter.
  2. Connect the ohmmeter between terminals 1 and 6, and put the switch in the UP position and observe the ohmmeter.

For both tests, did the ohmmeter indicate the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 26

Go to Step 24

26

  1. Reconnect the rear power window switch connector.
  2. Disconnect the electrical connector from the power window main switch.
  3. Use an ohmmeter to measure the resistance at the power window main switch between terminals 8 and 12 if you are testing the left rear window, or terminals 13 and 14 if you are testing the right rear window.

Is the resistance equal to the resistance previously measured at the motor connector?

 

Go to Step 28

Go to Step 27

27

Repair the open circuit between the power window main switch and the rear power window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

28

Replace the power window main switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

29

  1. Remove the power window main switch, but do not disconnect the electrical connector.
  2. Verify the window lock is OFF.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Measure the voltage at terminal 7 of the power window main switch.

Is the voltage measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 27

Go to Step 28

Power Windows Inoperative - All Only Front Power Windows

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

Warning: When using an external power source to provide power to a component or circuit, always use a fused jumper wire with the proper amp rating for the component or circuit being tested. Failure to use a fused jumper wire may result in accidental overload and may cause personal injury or damage to the component or circuit.

1

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Attempt to operate both power windows.

Is either window working?

--

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 2

2

Visually inspect the connection at the dual power window switch.

Is the electrical connector correctly attached to the switch?

--

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 3

3

Correctly attach the electrical connector to the dual power window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

4

  1. Disconnect the electrical connector from the dual power window switch.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 4 and 5 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the voltage measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 5

5

Inspect fuses EF14 and EF9.

Is either fuse open?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6

  1. Inspect for a short circuit and repair, if necessary.
  2. Replace the open fuses.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

7

  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  2. Inspect the voltages at fuses EF9 and EF14.

Are both voltages measured within the specified range?

11-14 V

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 8

8

Repair the power supply to the fuse which did not indicate battery voltage with the ignition ON.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

9

  1. Remove the power window relay.
  2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  3. Measure the voltage at terminal 30 and terminal 85 of the power window relay socket. Terminals of the relay socket can be identified by the markings on the bottom of the relay.

Does the voltmeter indicate a value within the specified range at terminals 30 and 85?

11-14 V

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 10

10

Repair the open circuit between the fuses and the power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

11

With the power window relay still removed, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between ground and terminal 86 of the power window relay socket.

Does the ohmmeter indicate the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 13

Go to Step 12

12

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 86 of the power window relay socket.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

13

  1. Temporarily substitute a known good relay in place of the power window relay.
  2. Attempt to operate the power windows.

Do the power windows operate with the substituted relay?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 15

14

  1. Return the substituted relay to its original position.
  2. Replace the original power window relay.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

15

Repair the open circuit between the power window relay socket terminal 87 and the dual power window switch terminal 4 and 5.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

16

With the dual power window switch disconnected, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between ground and terminal 7 of the dual power window switch connector.

Is the resistance equal to the specified value?

0 Ω

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 17

17

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 7 of the dual power window switch connector.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

18

  1. Remove the trim panel from a door which has an inoperative power window.
  2. Move a vehicle battery close enough to the door so that the window motor can be powered directly from the battery with jumper wires.
  3. Disconnect the 2-pin window motor connector in the door.
  4. Note: To prevent the fuse in the jumper wire from blowing, do not touch the jumper wires together.

  5. Attach a jumper wire between the battery negative terminal and one of the terminals in the 2-pin window motor connector.
  6. Attach a fused jumper wire between the battery positive terminal and the remaining terminal in the 2-pin window motor connector. Unless the motor is at the end of its travel, the window should move with the jumpers attached.
  7. To move the window in the opposite direction, reverse the jumper wire connections at the window motor connector.

Does the power window operate in both directions when the motor is operated directly from a battery?

--

Go to Step 20

Go to Step 19

19

Replace the window motor.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

20

  1. Before reconnecting the 2-pin window motor connector, connect an ohmmeter between the terminals to check the resistance of the motor.
  2. Record the ohmmeter reading for motor resistance.
  3. Reconnect the motor connector and reinstall the door trim panel.
  4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the dual power window switch
  5. At the dual power window switch connector, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between the terminals which lead to the motor that was tested in Step 16.

Is the resistance at the switch connector approximately equal to the resistance that was previously measured at the motor connector?

--

Go to Step 22

Go to Step 21

21

Repair the open circuit between the window motor and the window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

22

Replace the power window switch.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--