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Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:34 pm
by dwinter
Hi,

Ever since my return from the Kalahari a few months back my electric front windows have been acting up.

They either won't wind up or wind up in a stop-start type manner - I have to push the button 3 or 4 times for the window to reach the top because it stops every 15cm or so.

It happened briefly in the Kalahari and thought it must be all the dust, but it's started again.

Anyone have any ideas what the problem may be or experienced something similar?

Cheers,
D

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:11 pm
by CATS
dwinter wrote:Hi,

Ever since my return from the Kalahari a few months back my electric front windows have been acting up.

They either won't wind up or wind up in a stop-start type manner - I have to push the button 3 or 4 times for the window to reach the top because it stops every 15cm or so.

It happened briefly in the Kalahari and thought it must be all the dust, but it's started again.

Anyone have any ideas what the problem may be or experienced something similar?

Cheers,
D
Does it just stop or does it go back down again as if it encountered an obstacle? If the latter I am sure it is related to sand that got in somewhere. If I recall correctly the window should rewind if encountering an obstacle.

Maybe start by cleaning the rubber runners and even spray some of the rubber/tyre cleaner on there to lubricate them and see if it makes a difference. It could also be that one of the bolts adjusting the window on the inside of the door has rattled loose and now the window is not aligned properly leading to it getting stuck on the way up due to the resistance.

If it just stops I would suspect that the switch that should stop it at the top got damaged in some way.

CATS

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:00 pm
by tonton
Both of them?

I am not sure of the Gen 3, but both my "platkarre" has a limp mode if there was a power break (disconnected battery), And each has it's unique resetting protocol.

Chech your manual - maybe there is some limp mode on the Gen3? :?:

Anton

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 8:14 am
by RoelfleRoux
I think Cats has it spot-on.
Clean the runners and lubricate with a silicon lubricant. You will not believe the difference!

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:09 am
by DianD
I have the same problem on my Gen3 SWB. Both windows, no problem when driving on tar, but no way of winding up/down without hiccups on uneven roads. Will try a clean up.

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:50 pm
by RoelfleRoux
DianD,
I think you are decribing the safety system kicking in. There is a sensor that measures "resistance" to the window motion and thinks it is somebody's head getting stuck in the window and then reverses the direction :)

This happens on corrugation or bumpy roads. It is the mass of the actual window that is affected by the quick motion of the window over the corrugations. The safety belt tensioner should react in the same way as well

Re: Temperamental electric windows on Gen 3

Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:59 pm
by dwinter
Thanks guys,

CATS - it just stops. I'll push the button and it will move 10cm and stop. I'll push the button again and it'll move another 10cm etc etc...

I'll try the clean-up and see what that does.

ps - sorry for the slow response, I've been away.