The heading pretty much says it all. I have power window problems on my 67 GS400. Motors and switches work fine with direct power. My next attempt to repair is the window relay. It is mounted up on the inside dash above the radio. What do these things do? Thanks Harvey
I'm not sure without looking at a wiring diagram, but usually they put relays in so that the switches didn't have to deal with the higher volt/amp load that the motor would draw. Why they didn't do that with the headlights, I'll never know.... ou:
By design, the current draw by the motor is too great for the switch. The relay takes a small current through the switch to energize the relay which allows a larger current to go to the motor. If the larger current went through the switch it would cook it. If the switch was designed to handle the current the switch would be much larger. Your switch may work OK for a while, but if the motor has to work harder (ie: frost or ice jams the glass or something else puts a load on the motor) the switch will go bye bye. You should be able to find a replacement relay without too much effort as all power windows use them. Check Chevy or other GM parts. - Bill
Are you SURE that relay is for the windows? I got to thinking about this, and on newer cars the window motors are designed to either stall and trip a self-breaker, or have a slip clutch to protect the motor. I looked at YnZ, M&H, GMDirect, and a couple of other part websites, and nobody has any indication of a relay for the power windows. Also, if there are relays in those circuits, wouldn't there be an up and a down relay for each window, for 8 total relays? Seems that if there were 8 relays for the windows, they'd be located out at the motors. On later model big buicks, the horn relay / buzzer is located in that same place, above the radio. Anybody got a chassis manual?
Do you have other power electric accessories, like power seats? If so, are they working? I think your problem may be the circuit breaker on the fuseblock, that protects the electric options. Of course, I'm not sure that a '67 has a c/b on the fuseblock, but later models do. They're readily available at Perp Boys, etc....
The only other electric options are radio and rear defroster. They both work fine. Regarding the location of the relay, I confirmed this is the location for the power window relay with a wiring diagram. Thanks for your assistance. :TU: Harvey
