Power window problem...

[saturnine_sweet]

I have a 96 firebird, and the power windows do not work...were not working when I purchased it. I thought, at first, that it would be the window motors, as this is a common problem with these vehicles. However, I have not yet replaced the motors because I found something else that I am not sure of. When you push on the power window switch, there is a black cylindrical thing in the middle of the dash that either clicks (pushing to go up) or sort of groans (pushing to go down.) Could the problem have something to do with this? What is that cylindrical component? Or is this simply the motors?
Thanks in advance!

[Kardal]

Re: Power window problem...

my power windows wouldnt work either, my problems wasnt the motor it was the switch they are quite inexpensive. i hope this is the problem because it took the gm dealer 2 days to figure out the problem and 700 bucks in labor but i didnt pay they owed me a favor. so i hope this works out for you but b4 you do anything check or replace the switches.

[saturnine_sweet]

Re: Power window problem...

I was planning to replace the switches, but I dont think they are the problem, because there is a reaction to them....

[nda0602v6]

Re: Power window problem...

Those "clicking" noises you're hearing are more than likely relays. I would first check the fuse box (located on the side of the dash - drivers side). Check every fuse and make sure none of them are blown. If the fuses are good, remove the door panels and check to see if the window motors are getting power. Use either a Test Light or a multi-meter (both can be found cheaply at either Autozone or Walmart). If you are not getting power at the motor itself, check the switches (fairly cheap at wrecking yards or on Ebay). If you think the switches are good, also check the wires that pass through the rubber boot. Sometimes, after conststant opening and closing of the doors, the wires in that boot can break...I've seen this happen before.

Another thing you can try to see if the motors work would be to temporarily rig up some jumper wires and feed power right at the motor. Locate the motor and ground one wire going to the motor, then with a positive wire, tap the other remaining wire on the motor and see if anything happens. (if the motor is good, the window should start to go up or down). If the window goes down, reverse your jumper wires to make the window go up.

[saturnine_sweet]

Re: Power window problem...

thanks for the info. I had thought the clicking was from the relays, but when I opened up the dash, it was, as I said, from that cylindrical component. Good call on hotwiring it to the motor...I did it with the switch, to no avail, but hadnt to the motor yet, because I havent had the time to pull the door apart...but I'll be trying that today.