GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2008 🢒 Wave 🢒 Body Systems 🢒 Fixed and Moveable Windows 🢒 Power Windows Inoperative - One or Both Front Windows

Caution: 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.

Important: This table is for vehicles equipped with front and rear power windows.

Step

Action

Values

Yes

No

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 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. Check the voltage at terminal 13 of the power window main switch connector.

Is the voltage equal to the specified value?

11-14 V

Go to Step 16

Go to Step 5

5

Check fuses F18 and EF1.

Is either fuse open?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 7

6
  1. Check 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. Check the voltages at fuses F18 and EF1.

Are both voltages equal to the specified value?

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. Check 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 the specified value?

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 85 of the power window relay socket.

Does the ohmmeter indicate the specified value?

0 ohms

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 13.

Is the repair complete?

--

System OK

--

16

With the power window main switch disconnected, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between ground and terminal 8 of the dual power window switch connector.

Is the resistance equal to the specified value?

0 ohms

Go to Step 18

Go to Step 17

17

Repair the open circuit between ground and terminal 8 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. Important: To prevent the fuse in the jumper wire from blowing, do not touch the jumper wires together.

  4. Attach a jumper wire between the battery negative terminal and one of the terminals in the 2-pin window motor connector.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 power window switch.
  5. At the power window main switch connector, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between the terminals which lead to the motor that was tested in step 18.

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

--