Help!! - 2000 Grand Caravan Power Window

Chris,

Before going too far, have you checked the fuse? Is the driver side the only one that is not working? With the switch out, you can take a few voltage readings just to make sure power is going to the motor. Check the connections at the door hing to make sure there are no cut or damaged wires. The van is too new to have a bad PW motor, but it is possible I guess.

Thanks for the response.

Update - It was the two screws "hidden" in the carpet below the map pocket. Once they came out, I was able to pull the trim panel off from the plastic clips that hold it in.

Once I got it off, I pulled the moisture barrier plastic off enough to get to the motor. I unplugged the electrical connector at the window motor and using a 12 volt source, put positive to one terminal and negative to the other (directly on the motor) and the window went down. I reversed the leads and the window went up. I plugged the connector back in at the motor and the window is now working with the switch.

So now the question is why do you think it started working after I jumped it out at the motor. I have little confidence it is truly fixed. However, I did figure out a quicker way to jump the motor out if it happens again. Pins 6 and 8 at the switch connector at the top of the door are the two that go to the window motor so if it happens again, I can just pull the switch out (2 minutes) and use pins 6 and 8 to jump out the motor.

Hi Chris, Glad it was not the motor. The connector could be defective or it may have had contamination in it. In one case (1999 Ply Grd Voy) I saw a sticky piece of paper in there, looked like a factory sticker or something. If you are in there again, use a contact cleaner and if at all possible try to clean the male side of the connection using a small eraser. What could be happening is that you are getting some voltage to the motor but due to high resistance in the path (batt.-Switch-GRND-Motor) there is not enough to operate the motor. Something to keep an eye out for would be if the motor shows signs of slowing down or really straining under load. Also inspect and make sure the wire bundle that is coming from the body in to the door at the door jam is not scrapped or damaged.

Power windows on my Shadow convertible went down ok but stuck part way up and had to be assisted by pulling on them! I assumed the windows were not operatring smoothly in the tracks and fiddled with a lot of spray lube to no avail. Finally, I wondered if the problem was electrical - those motors draw a lot of current, especially when lifting the wieght of the window, and a little resistance in the circuit can really cut down the current and power. I unplugged the "stake-on" connectors (crimped on the wires) from the switch terminals, and then reconnected them to get rid of any oxidation. Windows have worked fine ever since.