Electric windows, needs a door open to work???

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:02 am

Got a bit of a funny one with my electric wondows at the moment, they only work when drivers of passenger door is open, when there closed they won't work and when one of them is opened they do?
First i thought it was that little switch thing but insn't that, then maybe a broken cable in the wiring going to the door, but obviously not the case as the window works with the opposite door open.
Is this a common fault?
Looking at the wiring briefly i can't see anything that should cause this to happen.
Thanks

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:29 am

Assuming you mean when the ignition is turned off. It's supposed to do that. Took me about 3years to work it out

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:30 am

with ignition on or off ??????

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:55 am

With the ignition on or off, so if i was driving along and wanted to open my windows i couldn't unless i opened my door.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:06 am

EOS wrote:With the ignition on or off, so if i was driving along and wanted to open my windows i couldn't unless i opened my door.

Well replace fuse 17 then.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:12 am

or check for earth faults on dooor connection pins please inform us after brian's suggestion

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:17 am

fowler wrote:or check for earth faults on dooor connection pins please inform us after brian's suggestion

You're not reading the OP right. They work with the door open, so nothing to do with door pins etc.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:22 am

sorry to early what about the earth for the fuse box from the starter for k7 and all that .
i had the same promlem windows would only work when door was open
and the fault was with the mentioned earth

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:30 am

cheers guys will check these when i get back home later. If it was the earth to the fuse box surely other things would ahve stopped working properly? What else wouldn't work that i could check?

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:35 am

fowler wrote:sorry to early what about the earth for the fuse box from the starter for k7 and all that .
i had the same promlem windows would only work when door was open
and the fault was with the mentioned earth

Yes, but one step at a time - otherwise you end up introducing new faults on top of the existing faults.
Roof/windows are on relay K5, mirrors and heater are on K7. A starter motor fault will put out all of these.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:39 am

Yeah i had this ages ago on my old e30. Was a bit embarrasing going down the road at 70 and having to get the passenger to open the door so we could put the window up!lol Replaced the fuse and it worked.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:14 pm

I had same problem after changing engine loom.
Think i solved it by adding a link wire in the glovebox?!?
Cant remember what pins it was but if you still havnt sorted it i can check.
Also im only round the corner to eastwood

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:45 pm

Right got home and had a better check this time, wasn't fuse 17 and my electric mirrors are out and the heater fan, so guessing its that starter motor fault someone mentioned earlier. So whats the fix and what should i be looking at? Cheers

@lentec thats cool, what E30 you got seen a few nice ones around eastwood way, makes me want to get mine on the road even quicker

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:53 pm

PM me you email address and i will send you some wiring diagrams

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:58 pm

When i said round the corner ment rochford.
Mine is the beaton up burgundy one with a supercharger!! Cant miss it

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:01 pm

Was it in rochford tyres the other day?

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:30 pm

EOS wrote:Right got home and had a better check this time, wasn't fuse 17 and my electric mirrors are out and the heater fan, so guessing its that starter motor fault someone mentioned earlier. So whats the fix and what should i be looking at?

Can't give an accurate diagnosis if I don't get accurate symptoms!!
There is a green black wire which goes to the smallest terminal on the starter motor. It earths the neg. end of the unloader relay coils, K5 and K7, except when the starter is used.
Check that it is firmly connected and not corroded. If this seems OK, remove it from the motor, earth it, and try the fan/mirrors/windows.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:43 pm

Cheers brian, wasn't really looking at the window problem till later was sorting out the central locking and noticed the window only opened when the door was open so just thought i'd ask if it was a common fault. Cheers for the advice and when i get back to it tomorrow will be checking this wire. Makes sense i might have knocked it off cause i was having a fiddle under there the other day

I have the M50 engine in mine at the moment would it still be a green and black wire that im looking for?

Cheers

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:44 pm

Ignore my last question about the green and black wire im been a bit simple today

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:57 pm

EOS wrote:Ignore my last question about the green and black wire im been a bit simple today

??? Seems a sensible question. Yes, same arrangement on the M50, assuming it was connected when the conversion was done.

Post Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:09 pm

EOS wrote:Was it in rochford tyres the other day?

Probably was.

Post Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:48 am

Well sorted it this weekend the black ang green wire going into the C101? Connector was broken, so resoldered it and check the others alls well now.
Thanks for the help and advise guys.