Car Power Window Repair

All of us are aware of the car power windows, which are automated to go up and down on a click of a button. But there are times when you press the button and you find that the windows are not working. There are many reasons for the malfunctioning of these power windows.

How to Repair Car Power Windows?
A switch with debris accumulated around it can possibly disrupt the power window from opening and closing. Fuse boxes, that are located below the dashboard (on the left of steering) could have gone faulty. One can easily identify this by checking for a broken metal strip in the fuse box. If both the switch and the fuse box are working fine, and still the car windows are not responding to the switch, there might be a problem with the wiring connected to the fuse box. Loose connections in circuit are tangible reasons for many electrical circuit failures. Other major reasons could be faulty car window regulators or malfunctioning electrical motor of the window located right behind the door panel.

• First, remove the door panel for the window in repair, to locate the window regulator and the motor.
• Locate and remove the bolts that are holding the regulator of the window. Disconnect the wiring and replace it with the new window regulator (if the faulty condition was due to window regulator).
• If there is no fault with the window regulator, check for loose connections in the wiring. If they are fine, then there is a possibility of a faulty electrical motor. Testing functionality of window motor is easy as it can be done with the help of a multimeter. If your multimeter is showing infinite resistance and zero current, it indicates that the motor has gone bad and needs to be replaced.
• So once you are done with the diagnosis of the problems, replace the regulator/ motor/ fuse/ wiring (whatever was found faulty). Tighten the bolts and reinstall the moisture barrier.
• Fix back the door panel and now engage the power window switch. Your car's window should work just fine.

*Please note: All the above should be tried under the guidance of an experienced mechanic or with the help of a car repair manual.

Cost of Repairing the Power Window
Cost is always a bottleneck when it comes to any materialistic repair. But the cost depends on the gravity of the technical fault caused in the window. It could be a blown out fuse, or a faulty window regulator or a non functional window electrical motor. If your motor and regulator are both not working, go for immediate replacement. A mechanic will charge you about USD 100-150 for diagnosing the problem, USD 500-550 (approx.) for fixing the faulty parts and about USD 400-450 for labor. Keep an estimate of USD 1000 for a repair of both motor and the regulators.

I would suggest that if you encounter a problem with the car's power window, you can probably try diagnosing the problem yourself. At least you can save yourself about USD 200 from the total car maintenance costs. At times, there is just some dirt accumulated about the switch which hinders the normal functioning of the window opening and closing. So it is always better to check every possibility that indicates towards car window repair personally, before you approach a mechanic.