Drivers Window Stuck Down

[Floyd]

A few weeks ago the drivers window on my C5 stopped going up on the door switch although it would go down ok and would close on the key fob. Now it's gone all the way open and refuses to budge using switch or fob. I've taken the switch unit apart and that appears to be fine and there's a click type noise when I press the switch (relay I'm assuming). Any ideas on possible things to check before I start taking the door to bits would be appreciated.

[Floyd]

Right, I've stripped off the door card and unbolted the motor assembly which is working off the switch, but only winding in one direction no matter which way I press the switch. Any ideas which part is more likely to be at fault here ie motor or switch?

 

 On the plus side I've now managed to close the window manually so I won't have to turn up at work again in the morning looking like Sir Ranulph Fiennes!!

[paul.h]

If the door card is still removed, try a 12 volt supply to the motor and then reverse the supply to see if the motor goes in both directions (you may be able to take the supply from the switch by unplugging it). Then if it does, the problem is likely to be the switch which might just be worn internally or have dirty contacts and be able to be cleaned.

[Floyd]

Cheers Paul. Wouldn't know how to connect it to a direct live unfortunately though. Might just get a new switch since one of the buttons on mine is loose and try that before getting a new motor. On the plus side, I've finally got around to fixing my windscreen wash whilst I was motivated to tinker about on the car today :)

[paul.h]

Since the motor works in one direction it is likely the switch is the problem.

 

For a direct supply, just need wires from the battery or a cigarette lighter socket plug to the motor electrical connections. However, looking at the wiring diagram in the Haynes manual there seem to be more wires than needed to simply send the motor both ways, so it may not be straight forward to test. I managed to do this on a Picasso once when there was an electrical failure with a window down and also a temporary arrangement on a Saab when the switch failed (only needed the contacts cleaning).

 

How did you fix the windscreen washer and has your serious suspension fault gone ?

[Floyd]

It's pretty impossible to figure out which wire is which, don't fancy connecting up the wrong one given the notoriously  temperamental nature of these cars! I'm going to replace the switch and possibly the motor aswell since there's one on ebay near me for a tenner at the moment. I might as well replace the snapped door handle at the same time whilst the door card is off......yep, I've got every classic fault in the book!!

 

 Suspension fault warning disappeared after a bsi reset, along with the airbag fault warnings (although I put that down to my clearing all my daughters toys and accumulated crap from under the front seats!) The washer problem.....disconnected the hose where it joins the bonnet, blew back down it which cleared it to a dribble of water coming through. I then pinched the end of the hose whilst operating the washer stalk and the pressure it built up suddenly cleared the blockage.

[paul.h]

Your washer fix is a good one and saved removing the wheel arch liner to get to the pump. I will add it to the Technical subforum Common problems post. Probably best though to save it for the front washers since if the rear was done a hose joint may split and need to be found - I think there may be one in the rear roof.

[Floyd]

I certainly wouldn't recommend this fix for rear wash...far too much risk of further problems. However in my case I thought it was a pump fault, so I went with the theory that if it is broke, a little more broke can't hurt.

 

 Window...tried new motor and that will only spin one way aswell, so it's the switch I need to replace. Might as well do the snapped door handle at the same time so anyone with spares please give me a shout. I'm driving down to France this weekend but I'm guessing their breakers parts may be incompatible due to the left/right hand drive thing?