ummm...the window won't go up...oh, wait, there it goes

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:29 pm

so, i've got a problem with the bmw passenger side window. twice now, it's done this and then corrected itself. when i press the down button it goes down, press the up button and it also goes down. weird huh...and like i said, it's corrected itself twice. on the way into work this morning it messed up, and then by the time i got to work it was working normally..

any ideas? could it be the switch? or maybe something in the regulator?

1996 bmw 328i

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Swap switches right to left. Will take you about 60 seconds to do.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 3:27 pm

Chris, I think it may have something to do with your 666th post. :twisted:

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 4:58 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Swap switches right to left. Will take you about 60 seconds to do.

hmmm...i guess i could do that. you're talking about the console switch right...

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:20 pm

I have seen this in other cars. It turned out to be the switch in every case.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:23 pm

don't remember if i saved the switches but you are more than welcome to look thru the boxes - o - parts i have.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:29 pm

Chris Brown wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Swap switches right to left. Will take you about 60 seconds to do.

hmmm...i guess i could do that. you're talking about the console switch right...

This confuses me as well. Mike are you saying use the driver side switch (presumably good as the driver side is not having any issues) as a way to determine if the problem is in the passenger side switch or elsewhere?

I know nothing about BMW window controls, but I would guess it might be...

* Some type of odd short in the switch.
* Is there any built in safety system that if it thinks there is something caught in the window that it rolls down automatically (a stretch)
* BMW has over engineered this, that maybe they have something in the window system that it "knows" its position and if it is confused as to if it is up or down and it is going into sometype of safe mode and rolling down vs. up (even more of a stretch).

ChuckNelson · **Posted:** Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:16 pm

Whip out the jim dandy multimeter and see if you are having a switch issue, and you probably are as it is pretty odd for the motor to work intermittently. Or for the gear drive to cause a no work problem(It would more likely let the window run part way down and then stop.

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

I seem to remember a Car Talk episode where a BMW owner called in with a window that would do the same thing, and they suspected a sticking window causing the safety system to engage and send the window back down.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Richard Casto wrote:

Chris Brown wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Swap switches right to left. Will take you about 60 seconds to do.

hmmm...i guess i could do that. you're talking about the console switch right...

This confuses me as well. Mike are you saying use the driver side switch (presumably good as the driver side is not having any issues) as a way to determine if the problem is in the passenger side switch or elsewhere?

I know nothing about BMW window controls, but I would guess it might be...

* Some type of odd short in the switch.
* Is there any built in safety system that if it thinks there is something caught in the window that it rolls down automatically (a stretch)
* BMW has over engineered this, that maybe they have something in the window system that it "knows" its position and if it is confused as to if it is up or down and it is going into sometype of safe mode and rolling down vs. up (even more of a stretch).

1. Pull up shift boot.
2. Pop window switches out of holes.
3. Disconnect plugs
4. Swap switches
5. Re-attach plugs
6. Snap switches back into console
7. Turn key on
8. Test windows

If the problem moves sides, it's the switch. If the problem remains in the door, it's in the door. As I said, 1-6 should take about 60 seconds. It's the first thing to do.

Chris Halweg · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:42 am

Our 323 does the same thing now and then. Another BMW owner I talked to mentioned a problem with the 'pinch sensor'. I have not explored the issue.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:23 am

KendtEklund wrote:

I seem to remember a Car Talk episode where a BMW owner called in with a window that would do the same thing, and they suspected a sticking window causing the safety system to engage and send the window back down.

if it just went straight down, i would think it would be some sort of sensor as well....the difference is that it only goes down when you hit the UP button...otherwise it just sits there.

i'll switch the buttons tonight and see how it goes.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:19 pm

i finally got around to testing the switches and that's not it...what's next to check...i would normally just say window regulator, but i also have an issue with the passenger side door locks not unlocking with the keyfob or with the central locking button...could they be related?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:38 pm

short in one of the passenger doors somewhere? is the trunk lid locking mechanism working?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:35 pm

Chris Brown wrote:

i finally got around to testing the switches and that's not it...what's next to check...i would normally just say window regulator, but i also have an issue with the passenger side door locks not unlocking with the keyfob or with the central locking button...could they be related?

Maybe one of these might help...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/power-window3.htm (look at auto up/down feature)

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl501e.htm

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.auto ... a8662450c1

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.auto ... 41cd41ca32

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.auto ... 99bbfb9ec5

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ummm...the window won't go up...oh, wait, there it goes

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