Help, Window won't go up

[DeanG]

OK the passenger side window won't go up (1991 Federal car). It had been an intermittent problem for a while, but now it is stuck down. I swapped the relays and the switch to no avail. I used to be able to wiggle the relays and it would work for a short time. That trick no longer works. Any ideas?

[Ekapol]

Is the motor still working? Do you hear the motor noise when you switch up/down?

If motor is good. There are 2 options you can pick from:
1) Butterfly Clip
2) Cable snapped

HINTS: Don't pick #2

[DeanG]

It is definately electrical. I had issues with the windows in prior years. I have had to replace the butterfly (both sides) and the motor-cable assembly on the one door.

[tigerdog]

OK the passenger side window won't go up (1991 Federal car). It had been an intermittent problem for a while, but now it is stuck down. I swapped the relays and the switch to no avail. I used to be able to wiggle the relays and it would work for a short time. That trick no longer works. Any ideas?

How did you resolve this problem, DeanG? If it was anything other than parking the car when raining, please let me know. I bought my BRG Fed Elan on Saturday. On Sunday, the window up became intermittent. Today, the window is down. HOORAY! I own a Lotus.

I've swapped the switches - relays are next.

[Doug]

time to learn how to open the dorr up and see what's up

check out Ekapol's threads on the window fixes . . . .

[Ekapol]

HOORAY! I own a Lotus.

Congratulations Tigerdog. You've just proofed the authenticity of your Elan. Excellent !!

-------------------WINDOW MOTOR CLICK ME!-------------------
-----------------------------Also HERE!-----------------------------
-----------------------------And HERE!-----------------------------

[tigerdog]

Where the frakk are the relays? Not behind the instrument panel, I see. I can hear the emergency flasher relay but can't figure out where Lotus have stuffed the relay block on my Fed Elan.

[tigerdog]

...then feel the love, er the relays. Swopped them about, problem moved. Change back, problem disappears! Chock this up to

-intermittant relay
-corroded contacts
-Colin Chapman's ghost playing games with a newbie

I'm assuming the latter. Onward and upward! I am incredibly thankful for this forum and its members. And hey, I'm just beginning!

[tigerdog]

Swopped them about, problem moved. Change back, problem disappears!

Ironically, my rank changed from "newbie" to "tinkerer" with this last post.

[GeoffSmith]

Swopped them about, problem moved. Change back, problem disappears!

Ironically, my rank changed from "newbie" to "tinkerer" with this last post.

Nice one StripeyDoug

[tigerdog]

Nice one StripeyDoug

But my Elan isn't stripey... you're just messing with an old dog, aren't you?

[GeoffSmith]

Nice one StripeyDoug

But my Elan isn't stripey... you're just messing with an old dog, aren't you?

Tiger changes his spots?

[tigerdog]

Tigerdog == StripeyDoug

I just understood the reference! The "stripey" part confused me; I didn't think of tiger stripes as in the animal, I thought of LEC Doug's "Stripey Garage Queen" BRG Elan. Tigerdog was our family dog, named (by my dear wife) for the pet in "The Brady Bunch", an popular yet (IMO) unfortunate TV sitcom. He grew more grizzled and cantankerous with each passing season. Since I'm doing the same, I adopted his visage and moniker for my web presence.

[DeanG]

The electrical problem that was intermittant was due to a bad connection. The wierd part was that the voltage readings betwen the up and down side of the wiring were not very different. I finally figgured it out by jumpering the window directly to the battery. It would go both directions. Swaping the wires on the switch didn't solve the problem, neither did swithcing the relay's. Playing with the fueses didn't help. I eventually cut off the connectors and replaced them.

[tigerdog]

Thanks, DeanG. Thankfully my problem was simpler than yours to diagnose/fix.