The era of having crank windows in automobiles is long gone. Almost all new vehicles manufactured today contain power windows. These are essentially electric windows that require electrical power to function properly.
Operating a power window is very convenient because you simply need to press a button on your door to open and close it. You don’t need to go through the hassle of rotating a crank with your hand. This is just one example of how technology has made life so much more convenient for drivers.
However, there is a downside to having power windows. If there is an electrical problem with your vehicle or if the electric motor inside the door fails, you won’t be able to open and close your window until the issue is resolved.
This would never happen with a crank window system because it uses manual human power to open and close it. But still, it’s not that bad because it won’t affect your driving abilities.
In the meantime, you will need to take your vehicle to a mechanic or local dealership and have them restore the functionality of your power windows.
Table of Contents
Common Causes of Power Windows Not Working
1) Bad Window Regulators
2) Faulty Window Motor
3) Snow and Ice
4) Bad Power Window Switch
5) Wiring Problems
Common Causes of Power Windows Not Working
There are several reasons why your car’s power windows may stop working. Here are five of the most common culprits you should be aware of in case it happens to you.
1) Bad Window Regulators
The mechanism that allows a power window to move up and down is called a window regulator. Each car door with a power window has a window regulator to move it.
If the regulator deteriorates, pressing the up or down button will not make the window move. You will need to replace the window regulator.
2) Faulty Window Motor
Each power window requires a window motor to provide the electrical power. There is a gear at the end of the power window motor that connects to the window regulator.
When you press the up or down button on your door, it activates the window motor which then allows the window regulator to move the window. If you have a faulty window motor, the power to move the window will not exist.
3) Snow and Ice
If you live in an area with a lot of snowy and icy conditions, this could compromise the functionality of your power windows. The reason is that the window glass will stick to its frames.
Regulators are not always strong enough to force a window away from its frame if they are frozen together. Even if it can do so, the regulator wears out much more quickly.
4) Bad Power Window Switch
The switch on the side of your door may not be working properly. Every time you press the top or bottom part of the switch, it wears out a little more. If you press it too aggressively or use it regularly, the switch may stop functioning correctly.
This would actually be the best-case scenario when your power windows don’t move. Replacing a power window switch is very cheap compared to fixing the other possible problems it could have been.
5) Wiring Problems
There is a series of wires that connect the window switch to the window motor. Although it is rare for wiring problems to exist in the door, it is still possible for it to happen.
For example, if another component of your power window system was recently repaired, the mechanic may have accidentally damaged or cut one of the wires. This will require you to make another trip to the mechanic to have them repaired.