E30 Zone

Help, my power windows only work with door open. I have been told that the little "breaker switch" next to the window switches could be the problem. Its a 325 cabro by the way. Any thoughts?

mine did that but a little wiggle on the rubber boot down near the door strap sorted it out.
there must be a bad connection and the wiggle established where the problem was.

worth a try.
although im sure the plug under the boot will need cleaning for a more permanent repair.

This happened to my car which is also a convertible and it turned out to be the fuse for the electric windows, which is in the fuse box under the bonnet.

try the fuse

fuse 17 in the fuse box i think

agreen wrote:fuse 17 in the fuse box i think

That's the one.

http://www.chriswarburton.co.uk/E30_FuseBox.jpg

im a bit confused, how would a fuse make a difference?
if it was a fuse then the window would work, or not work.

i know it will blow a fuse but the problem is not in the fusebox itself.
if the windows work while the door is open then the problem must be increased resistanc, by sliding against the rubbers when shut, or a seperate wire/circuit when the car senses the door is shut.

The window lifts have separate fuses for doors closed and open.

Chris-W wrote:The window lifts have separate fuses for doors closed and open.

ok.

there has to be more of a problem because the windows will just keep blowing the 'shut' fuse.

i was pointed to the rubber boot by my bruv in law who has worked for bmw for 30 yrs, he was a service advisor all through the e30's model run.
he said the connectors corode and cause window and central locking problems.
does that sound right to you?
i was a mechanic but i only play with this car; and its quite clear that some lads on here know lots more about these cars than me.

i didnt know about different circuits for instance.

why not replace 17 and be done

it has happened to me a few times

replace it then if it does not work

then come back and tell us !

Interestingly enough I have a similar problem with my 318iS (not Cab) - the issue being that the windows only work when the doors are open to certain point... if closed, not open enough or open too far they dont work - the door has to be at exactly the right opening... in fact you can tell when the windows will open as the illumination on the switch comes on at just the point they will work...
This sounds abit like a bas connection in the rubber boot bit mentioned above does it not ?

paulg390 wrote: This sounds abit like a bas connection in the rubber boot bit mentioned above does it not ?

no

paul g

try it m8
mine works fine now.
before i just used to change the fuses like suggested here.
.
if its wrong;what have you lost?

a fuse is built in weakness in a circuit, if it blows; there is a problem elsewhere.

agreen wrote:why not replace 17 and be done

it has happened to me a few times

replace it then if it does not work

then come back and tell us !

it does work! but you just said it has happened a few times!
why not try the plug or is it too hard..

anyway, up 2 you!

Hi. Anyone sorted this yet. Mines doing the same but fuse 17 is okay

mine is doing this but only on the passenger side. i found the loom was fubared.. so i ought one from chris w and the connections are sweet (cheers chris!) so i put the new loom in and bingo. the passenger window worked but only with the door open.

my drivers side window works with the door open and closed but the passenger window will only work with the door open...... is this still going to be fuse 17 related?