hey all.. i've got a 1981 buick electra limited, and everything power works...power seats, locks, everything but the windows. there are two large circuit breakers in the fuse box that i belive control these, and they both tested good and i've bought new ones to replace....still, everything works but the windows. i'm sure it's probably the motors in the door, however there is no whine, no trying to lower...just nothing. its like they're not even hooked up and i have two fancy switches on my armrest. any insight into this would be great, i'm going to tear the door panel off and see if there's anything inside that could be preventing these from working....thanks in advance cmdr
ok i can hear some of you laughing because you think i can't get the stupid door panels off....and you're right!!! any ideas on this neat stuff, without tearing it to pieces? lol cmdr :blast:
i think that your power windows might have a relay to assist their operation. i wouldnt pull the door panel off quite yet. you should be able to unscrew and/or pop the switch out of its mountin for testing without pulling the whole panel. where in the mighty mo are you located?
yuk... ok thanks i'll try that...i can't believe both motors could be bad, because neither even try to roll it down or anything...no whines, no clicks....anyways...tonight i'll pull the switches out and see what's up... i see you're in rural missouri also...i'm in west plains, about an hour and 30 minutes from Springfield...what about you? cmdr
we drag my cousins dirt latemodel to west plains for the show-me and a couple others during th season ..... 22 Alan Vaghn. Alan custom built a harley for his dad. it won Best of Show at sturgis last week .... the "Davidson" from harley davidson presented him with th trophy ... pretty cool. i live near KCMO. a 19** buick service manual is nice to have when you own a 19** buick. they have great drawings and trouble shooting help for many problems. :TU:
very cool...i'm gonna have to find a GM service model. i'll have to check ebay i guess. ever down in WP let me know and i'll show ya the buick. cmdr
check the wiring conduit between the door and the jam - sometimes these get pinched with an ensuing loss of connectivity. Happened on my Riviera.:grin:
yeah i'll check that as well....i did take the panel off and check the switches, i didnt have them professionally tested but i did have current flowing to them, as i found when i touched my flathead screwdriver to a couple of the posts real quick, got a nice spark....so i'll check the conduits and all...hopefully it will be this simple...any other ideas would be helpful! cmdr
The chassis manual actually has a nice troubleshooting procedure that takes you from the fuse panel outward to the motor, the switch, etc. Sincerely I doubt that the motors have gone bad. Mine still work, all original both the 67 and 69. Believe they share technology with the Riviera headlight motors from 66-67. Indestructible. One other thing: make sure they haven't seized due to lack of white lithium lube grease in the tracks. I once thought my motors were going (glacial pace, wouldn't go up all the way) and then found out all they really needed was some grease. A messy goopy job, but worth the effort and it only takes a few minutes per window, maybe once a year or so depending on rain and such.
erik... i will try all this once the rain stops i need to find that diagram and try that, i'm like you i don't think the motors are bad....i really hope to get this done soon. i just don't have alot of spare time until the weekend to do this stuff. any ideas on where to find that diagram/info online would be GREAT...as always thanks for the info again! cmdr
forgot to add this....my problem right now is getting the door panels off without breaking something, so i can get a look inside and check the motor,etc. is there an easy way to do this without breaking off those plastic screw like thingamajigs? cmdr
continuing the epic saga... o No: tried getting the door panels off; in the 81 electra you have the woodgrain top piece and then the armrest/controls and carpeted bottom half....well the plastic thingamajigs will come out of their places easily, but the top half won't budge. i'm not sure what's holding it in. i could hold back a portion of the bottom half to look inside and i could see the power lock mechanism, and also what i believe is the power window motor, but of course couldn't get a great look at it. i need to get that top half off...ANYONE have ANY ideas? cmdr :blast: :shock:
If there is a door pull or strap on the top portion, there will be a screw (Torx head) or bolt (10mm head) on each side of it. A picture would really help refresh a lot of memories on this......
ok...so under those silver tabs should be the screws...i'll pry those off tonight and then take a look...i'll try and post a pic later....if my camera will let me. cmdr:blast:
pulled the switch out and it's fried pretty good....everything else looks great....its out to the salvage yard tommorow cmdr
the saga continues well...got a good used switch from a yard....installed it.....drivers side door window is off track, passenger side works great, little slow, so it probably could use a-lubin. all for now i guess cmdr
