2002 CHEVY SILVERADO - Power Window DEAD. Ideas?

[rhino]

So, last week when I was getting the U-joints on my 2002 Silverado replaced (the orginals lasted 250K miles!), the guys at the shop put my driver's side window down so they wouldn't lock the keys inside. When I was leaving, the window would not raise.

They've been through it twice looking for the problems. If they supply power directly, the motor and switch are fine. They just can't find the interruption between the power sources and the door that is causing the problems.

Any ideas, or am I destined for the dreaded trip to a dealership?

 

[jagee]

Sounds like it's time for a new truck. Kinda like, "oh my knife needs sharpened...better just go buy a new one."

 

[printcraft]

Check the relays, does the passenger window work?
maybe swap a similar relay for another one in the underhood box... I HATE searching electric problems.

 

[cbhausen]

Try opening and closing the door slowly while trying to move the window. Sometimes a broken wire in the harness going through the door hinge area will be detected this way.

 

[Informed Decision]

I suspect a broken wire somewhere around the door hinge area. Another possibility is that a big footed worker knocked something loose under the dash. My bet is the wire is broke in the hinge area though, since you say all works if you hot wire it.

 

[Leo]

Try opening and closing the door slowly while trying to move the window. Sometimes a broken wire in the harness going through the door hinge area will be detected this way.

+1, pretty common as cars age and wires get brittle

 

[HoughMade]

Try opening and closing the door slowly while trying to move the window. Sometimes a broken wire in the harness going through the door hinge area will be detected this way.

^ yep.

 

[rhino]

Check the relays, does the passenger window work?
maybe swap a similar relay for another one in the underhood box... I HATE searching electric problems.

The passenger side doesn't work for a different reason. Before this happened, you could hear the switch actuating, but no window movement on the passenger side (so that one is probably motor related, but less of a concern right now). The driver side is just dead.

Try opening and closing the door slowly while trying to move the window. Sometimes a broken wire in the harness going through the door hinge area will be detected this way.

I shall try!

I suspect a broken wire somewhere around the door hinge area. Another possibility is that a big footed worker knocked something loose under the dash. My bet is the wire is broke in the hinge area though, since you say all works if you hot wire it.

Thank you, sir! I will try cbhausen's recommendation.

 

[jagee]

The passenger side doesn't work for a different reason.

Sounds like it's time for a new truck!

 

[churchmouse]

Sounds like it's time for a new truck!

250K.........and they say (Ford guy's) that GM's suck......Ha

 

[rhino]

The engine still runs well!

 

[CBR1000rr]

I know this sounds too simple, but have you tried to disconnect the battery and then reconnect it after a few minutes?

It could be a hiccup in the cpu and if this is the case, it will resolve your issue.

 

[rhino]

I know this sounds too simple, but have you tried to disconnect the battery and then reconnect it after a few minutes?

Yep. Had to reset the clock, which at my advanced age is confusing!

 

[nascarfantoo]

I suspect a broken wire somewhere around the door hinge area. Another possibility is that a big footed worker knocked something loose under the dash. My bet is the wire is broke in the hinge area though, since you say all works if you hot wire it.

Broken wires in the door harness(es) has done me in twice. Sometimes it is the windows, sometimes the door locks. Short in the passenger side harness now. I can at times lock/unlock the doors simply be closing the passenger door. Don't want to get debate started on Chevy versus Ford, but this never happened on my 18 year old Ford, but started on my current ride (a Chevy truck) when it was only 6 years old. Still cheaper than a new one though.

 

[jagee]

250K.........and they say (Ford guy's) that GM's suck......Ha

I think I know a guy with a GM truck and Ford van both in his driveway...

 

[jagee]

The engine still runs well!

My knife will still stab...but won't split a frogs hair 3 ways.


Time for a new one!

 

[Hookeye]

My Jeep GC ('94)........broken wire in my door harness (section from under dash to door, maybe 2.5 ft long).
Ridiculously expensive for a new old stock part (IIRC $300).
Could snag one from Pic a Part for cheap. But how brittle?
I have a soldering iron and wire.........btw factory wire doesn't solder worth a crap, but I fixed it. Broke again at a different wire, a couple of yrs later.
Patched that and still going fine (9 yrs total).

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Have you tried switching the wires from one door window switch to the other? You said the other side wasn't working anyway--maybe the switch gave up the ghost.

 

[lovemachine]

Maybe if you unloaded some of the crap you have in the back of your truck, it will start working properly again.

 

[17 squirrel]

Try opening and closing the door slowly while trying to move the window. Sometimes a broken wire in the harness going through the door hinge area will be detected this way.

Yep... Put a temp ground from under the dash to the door switch and or window motor and see if it works.