power window motor

What about the window switch contacts that send power to the motor? I've cleaned them on older model subies to good effect. Yes, would go down, then not back up very well. Was just poor contact in the switches. (-;

~Brian

What did you use to clean them up? Any special solvent?

Yousuf Khan

The electric motor is not the problem because it works going down. The problem is too much resistance in the switch. Replace/repair the switch.

Fingernail, tip of screwdriver, small piece of sandpaper, tiny file, wire wheel on a Dremel, etc., whatever I had handy at the time. Never tried solvent, so don't know how or which kind would do the trick, but you'll see if you take your switch apart, where the clean, brassy-colored metal contact areas have blackish, dirty-like coating. You want to get that back to clean metal again, and your switch is back in business.

On my '93 Impreza the passenger door switch for the window I looked at is a sealed unit, and knowing me, I would destroy it trying to get it open. So, might be better, depending on the switch, to price out a replacement. Maybe from a u-pull it yard if you can find a well-working switch. They plug into a harness and are held in by a couple of screws, so it's not super hard to take them out. Now if only my '93 had the auto window up feature as well, but alas I was told too many folks let their kids get squished in them. )-;

Careful with the plastic moulding around the switches, as it has a tendency to become brittle and may break when you start fiddling with the screws that hold it in place from the back. Nothing more frustrating than to fix your switches only to have them loose in the door panel or their plastic housing. (-;

~Brian