Anyone a mechanic?

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USAFVET98

USAFVET98

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Joined
Aug 5, 2008
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1,282
Location
Hawley, Pennsylvania
I need some help.
I have a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee. My windows just stopped working out of nowhere. I hit the buttons and they dont even click. I checked the fuses and all seem to be ok. I checked the big square ones under the hood as well and they appear to be ok. Do those show a broken filliment through the window like the smaller flat ones?
What else could it be if its not a fuse?
 
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If those "fixya" guys know as much about Jeeps as they do about copiers, proceed SLOWLY. Some of their suggestions are hilarious, but will NEVER work.
 
If the problem is broken wires, rather then just strip them and reconnect them you should add an additional length to prevent strain on them from being too short. Rather then using wire nuts to reconnect you should connect them with solder and shrink wrap for a longer more reliable waterproof connection.
 
Best to check fuses with a continuity meter(volt/Ohm) because the fuse may have a bad connection on the end where you cannot visualize. It there is too much resistance on the connections in the fuse box that could also cause poor connections. Check the fuse box with a volt/ohm or a continuity tester seeing if their is voltage or continuity on both sides of the fuse.
 
First of all, I've never had a Jeep with power windows. All my window involved plastic and zippers (Hell, I've never even had a jeep with a dash).

I have troubleshot power window before, though.

The best thing you can buy to find your problem is a simple $2 circuit tester at the auto parts store, such as the following:

http://www.toolstation.com/images/library/stock/webbig/53383.jpg

If you're willing to invest a little time and and aren't afraid of tackling the door panels and trim, it shouldn't take you more than a few hours to track down.

First, check your switches. The rear one is easy to check, just swap the one in from the other door. If it's the master one on the Driver's door, it may be a little harder to check(they don't swap out).

You may have to take off your door panel and check to see if your motor is getting power. To do this, disconnect the connector at the motor. Place the gator clip of the tester onto an UNPAINTED metal surface (to complete the ground) and probe the various wires in the connector while activating the window switch.

I did this when my rear window of my car went out. It was the motor, and the part cost $145. But by doing the testing and changing it out myself, it didn't cost me the $800+ my dealer quoted me.

btw, guys. I'm a newbie, haven't turned any pens yet, but just today built a nice workbench in the poolhouse. Hope to have everything up and running by next week. Then we'll see how much wood I can destroy.
 
If it were just one window, I'd say maybe the motor, if all of them stopped at one time, it's in the wiring/switches somewhere. Chances of four motors failing simultaneously is pretty remote.

I'd say likely a loose connection on the wire leading from the fuse box to the first switch. A break there and you get no juice to any of them.
 
Russianwolf said:
If it were just one window, I'd say maybe the motor, if all of them stopped at one time, it's in the wiring/switches somewhere. Chances of four motors failing simultaneously is pretty remote.

I'd say likely a loose connection on the wire leading from the fuse box to the first switch. A break there and you get no juice to any of them.
Click to expand...

Ditto on the switch. 20 plus years in the business and 9 out of 10 times ALL windows quit, it's the main switch. Just takes a dump and you're left with the window down. As previously mentioned, get a test light, pull the switch for access and press the buttons and check for power. Odds are you will on one wire per switch only and that's the main power supply.
 
USAFVET98 said:
I need some help.
I have a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee. My windows just stopped working out of nowhere. I hit the buttons and they dont even click. I checked the fuses and all seem to be ok. I checked the big square ones under the hood as well and they appear to be ok. Do those show a broken filliment through the window like the smaller flat ones?
What else could it be if its not a fuse?
Click to expand...

Go over to Yahoogroups.com and subscribe to the 'xjlist' and post your question there. You'll surely get a lot of good suggestions. I've been on that list for years (not much this last year.....other things to occupy my time.....lol). At least your Cherokee is 10 years newer than mine.....I have over 230K on it right now.

Tell them that I sent you.....and say 'HI' to Neal Hoover.....nice guy with a lot of knowledge!

Barney
(RockOx)
 
I have a 1998 Dodge Durango and have had problems with the power windows on it. Check the plug going to the switches too. On my Durango the plug on the master (driver's) switches has worked loose just enough a couple of times to knock out the windows. And it doesn't do it evenly - first I'd lose one window, then a bit later another, and so on. I don 't know how it would work loose - it's a bear to get apart when I try. But squeeze it back together and everything would start working.

More recently I've had a problem with the motors getting stuck, but I could hear clicking sounds around the motors then. Again, one quit working, then another. I took off the door panels and smacked the motors with something and they started working. I recommend running the windows up and down a couple of times a week just to exercise them. I was rarely opening them and I think that let them get stuck.
 
USAFVET98 said:
I need some help.
I have a 1999 Jeep grand cherokee. My windows just stopped working out of nowhere. I hit the buttons and they dont even click. I checked the fuses and all seem to be ok. I checked the big square ones under the hood as well and they appear to be ok. Do those show a broken filliment through the window like the smaller flat ones?
What else could it be if its not a fuse?
Click to expand...
If they are not working from any of the switches, it's likely a fuse. As I understand it, these can go bad and still look OK, so replacing it is a cheap diagnostic, in my opinion. Per WJJeeps.com, the power windows are controlled by a 50a fuse (#12) in the power distribution center (under the hood).

power_dist_ctr_02.jpg


If they work from the other doors, but not the driver's door switch, then it is likely one of three things. 1) a bad switch, 2) a bad connection at the switch, 3) a broken wire where the wires leave the door and enter the body.

I'd loosen the boot and check to see if you have a broken wire where the wires from the driver's side door to the vehicle body first, since I hate to remove and replace door panels.

BTW, when I first saw your post, I thought that you were going to complain about a broken window regulator, since this is a definitely weak point, at least with my current and prior WJs. Never try to open the windows when it's icy. DAMHIKT.
 
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On all modern vehicles, don't just check the fuse, replace it. Get a repair manual and find out which fuse controls the item that quit working and replace it. Couple bucks can save hours of headache.
 
sbell111 said:
If they are not working from any of the switches, it's likely a fuse. As I understand it, these can go bad and still look OK, so replacing it is a cheap diagnostic, in my opinion. Per WJJeeps.com, the power windows are controlled by a 50a fuse (#12) in the power distribution center (under the hood).

power_dist_ctr_02.jpg


If they work from the other doors, but not the driver's door switch, then it is likely one of three things. 1) a bad switch, 2) a bad connection at the switch, 3) a broken wire where the wires leave the door and enter the body.

I'd loosen the boot and check to see if you have a broken wire where the wires from the driver's side door to the vehicle body first, since I hate to remove and replace door panels.

BTW, when I first saw your post, I thought that you were going to complain about a broken window regulator, since this is a definitely weak point, at least with my current and prior WJs. Never try to open the windows when it's icy. DAMHIKT.
Click to expand...

Thank You very much. Some instructions I can understand. I will check this out tomorrow and let you know. Thanks again.
 
sbell111 said:
If they are not working from any of the switches, it's likely a fuse. As I understand it, these can go bad and still look OK, so replacing it is a cheap diagnostic, in my opinion. Per WJJeeps.com, the power windows are controlled by a 50a fuse (#12) in the power distribution center (under the hood).

power_dist_ctr_02.jpg


If they work from the other doors, but not the driver's door switch, then it is likely one of three things. 1) a bad switch, 2) a bad connection at the switch, 3) a broken wire where the wires leave the door and enter the body.

I'd loosen the boot and check to see if you have a broken wire where the wires from the driver's side door to the vehicle body first, since I hate to remove and replace door panels.

BTW, when I first saw your post, I thought that you were going to complain about a broken window regulator, since this is a definitely weak point, at least with my current and prior WJs. Never try to open the windows when it's icy. DAMHIKT.
Click to expand...

Thanks it worked.
 
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