Anyone know anything about cars and electric window faults?

[aspie*mum]

I have a Subaru impreza.  For some reason the drivers window is stuck down about 3 inches.  It wont go up or down.  All the other windows work.

I'm assuming (perhaps incorrectly) that I will need to call an auto electrician about this?  The car has an extended warranty (and although I haven't checked yet) I highly doubt it will cover electric window faults.  I want to avoid going to Subaru as I know they outsource stuff to the auto electrician across the road from them - so want to cut out the middle man if I can.

I know NOTHING about cars or electric windows, but was just wondering if anyone had an idea of how much it will cost to get fixed?  And if an auto electrician is the right person for me to call.

Also any recommendations in Melbourne would be good.

[joz*garage]

Dirty switch contacts are usually the main culprit

my old statesman collected rubbish in the EW switches due to their possy 

i found i had to un-plug them and clean them out on a regular basis to make the windows work  

[joz*garage]

but joz, i'd go and buy the parts later and fix it properly. nothing worse than a wet seat and the smell of cat urine in a car.. except for a kilo of prawns under the back seat of course :^O

reckon if i had concerns of any liquid getting in, i'd tape up a piece of cardboard or something around the opening as a tempory solution untill i get it fixed lol

[lakeland27]

reckon if i had concerns of any liquid getting in, i'd tape up a piece of cardboard or something around the opening as a tempory solution untill i get it fixed lol

yeah i've used gladwrap and masking tape overnight before, but it didn't solve security issues as i have to park one car on the street.

[viewmont1071]

LL your problem sounds more likely to be like a bcm (body control module) problem... see if you can retrieve any fault codes

 It could be a switch or the motor... more likely the switch

... Can you hear any noise when the switch is used ie whirring?

If you can hear whirring then your motor is working but your window regulator is cactus.

The master switch will be expensive I would research other avenues first before replacing the whole thing

 a squirt of "contact" spray into the master  switch may help

search

WD ELECTRONICS SPRAY CAN CONTACT CLEANER LUBRICANT RUST CORROSION PROTECTION 40

 The seller either has a st - st- st- stutter 😐 or  needs a spray of his own product into their keyboard to alleviate some sticky keys

Upon application, R70 migrates into cavities and hard to reach areas leaving a mono-nuclear layer that polar bonds to the surface and blocks the path of current.

R70 also contains VCIs (Vapour phase Corrosion Inhibitors) which are chemically engineered crystals deeesigned to vaporise and carry the corrosion inhibitor into the immediate surrounding atmosphere.

R70 can be lightly sprayed directly onto your PCBs and will not alter any of the important properties such as conductivity, magnetic ppermitivity or dimensional tolerances.

[polksaladallie]

Sorry to butt in, but does anyone know why the AM part of the car radio has stopped working while the FM continues?  Suzuki Swift, only 6 years old.

I have been told the only solution is a whole new radio - $$$ - unbelievable to me.  I am very grumpy.   X-(

[lakeland27]

LL your problem sounds more likely to be like a bcm (body control module) problem... see if you can retrieve any fault codes

 It could be a switch or the motor... more likely the switch

... Can you hear any noise when the switch is used ie whirring?

If you can hear whirring then your motor is working but your window regulator is cactus.

The master switch will be expensive I would research other avenues first before replacing the whole thing

 a squirt of "contact" spray into the master  switch may help

thanhs for the tips. the windows are all very quiet and smooth and generally work faultlessly. its a case of 'No Power' that strikes at random times. so i'd say the WD40 is probably the best bet as it seens to be a problem around dirty contacts. its quite dusty here and nighttime brings dew .. which combined means caked on dust when it dries.