My window wont go up but it will go down. I know its the switch but I am broke?

Question

I live in alaska and its cold. My question is it possible to switch the switches even if my passenger side has four switches and the others only have one. All four on the passenger side are connected. I also have tried to just push my window closed for a temporary fix but it wont budge. What do I have to do. Does the car need to be on when attempt to move it by hand. Please help me. Its late and I don't want my car to freeze

Answer 1

Nothing bad will happen ....err...scratch that...nothing bad will NECESSARILY happen to your car just from leaving the window down. It'll just be very uncomfortable to drive.

That said...whether the switches can be swapped depends on several things:
1. How comfortable you are tearing your door panel apart in cold weather...the situation under which plastic clips and such are most likely to break. Yup, you're probably going to permanently break something if you try to do this outside in the cold.
2. Whether the switches actually are the same, or whether the switch cluster thingy can actually be taken apart without destroying it...no one here will know that without knowing what model it is
Er...that's actually it, I think.

Anyhow, chances are it is NOT the switch, but the window regulator (the motor, basically), or maybe the track. If it's the motor, it will PROBABLY make some sound but just not work...or it COULD be silent. If it's the track/guide thingy, it'll sound like it's trying to move, and might move a little, but won't really go up.

Only if it works with zero problem going down and doesn't do a thing, nothing whatsoever going up is the switch possibly the problem.

If you don't have a switch you can use in the car, I'd say go to radio shack and get one that has the same functions/number of contacts and such, and wire that to the wires for the original switch. If you don't want to take the old switch out, you might just run really long wires under the bottom of the door panel and like, tape or tie or glue your ghetto-switch to the door handle or something.

Oh, and yeah, the car probably does have to be on to get the windows up. But if it's the track, or possibly the regulator, and it's stuck in the down position...it probably won't go up by hand.

Also, one last thing: Nothing will be hurt by having the window down...unless...

It was winter of 1997, and it was about 50 below. I was backing into the driveway (because I foolishly listened to my mother who believed that it's harder on the transmission to go into reverse when it's cold than forward gears...now, I really doubt that, but anyhow), and I couldn't see to back up because my rear window was iced up. So I rolled down my (manual) window, so I could stick my head out the window and look.

Well, I parked the car, got out, forgot I left the window down, and went inside.

The next morning, I go to my car, get in, close the door, and hear this water-sloshing sound. "What the!?" I thought.

"Oh ****."

The window had SHATTERED inside the door.

That is the danger of leaving your window down in extreme cold.

Answer 2

Most likely it's not the switch, but the regulator. If it was the switch, it wouldn't have gone down. I had a similar problem with a Toyota, and ended up buying a new regulator on Ebay for $75 (including shipping). Whether you can switch the switches would depend on your make and model, but most likely you can't. They usually differ between left and right and front and rear.

I suggest you disassemble the door--you may need a special tool to take apart plastic moldings without damaging them, should be about $6-7 at any car parts store. Then check the cables and the metal assembly that hold the window in place. If the cables are broken or out of order, you will need to replace the whole assembly. This part is usually called "regulator" and may or may not come with a motor. If you're on a budget, I suggest buying one with a motor from Ebay. Just make sure the seller tested it and guarantees it.

Answer 3

It's more likely a bad window motor....they get weak over time and it's much harder to raise the window than to lower it. Best thing to do for a temporary fix is to try to manually raise the window while a friend holds the button down to raise it....grab the glass with both hands while someone else works the switch to make it easier for the motor to lift it. Most times this will work...if not, only other thing to do is to replace the motor. Or tape clear plastic over the window opening. Covering the window opening frame with clear plastic like dry-cleaning bags and then shutting the door on it sometimes works too.

Answer 4

Does your drivers section window roll down? if so you have a undesirable window motor, The window could desire to be off course yet you will possibly likely pay attention the motor attempting to push the window and the window will fall interior the door. get rid of door panel try twine to motor for ability in case you got ability you got a undesirable motor.

Answer 5

Take it to SafeliteAutoglass, and ask them to get your window up untill you can afford the fix.