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Windows dont work!

Old Nov 18, 2010 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
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Windows dont work!

Hey guys! I was just given an 89 Bronco by my mother. I had been begging for it for years and she finally got a new truck and decided to just let me have it to shut me up I suppose. The only issue I have with this truck is that neither of the power windows work, and the tailgate window doesnt work either. I have checked to see that power is getting to the switch on the drivers side and all seems fine. I will be checking the passenger side tomorrow, but I have no clue where to start w the tailgate. There is no sound, or clicking or anything. Just dead silence as I press the window and tailgate buttons for dear life. There is however a slight dimming of the dash lights as I press some of the buttons??? I just want to know if there is something that these three have in common that will kill all of them at the same time? Thanks!
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 08:35 PM
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hey i have a 92 bronco and i had the same problem but only on the driver side and i took it to a family mechanic and he said it could be a few things but one he mentioned was bang on the door but not to hard im not sure if that would work on yours or if it was just a spoof but i thought it was worth a shot and it is working a day later so i guess that worked but it could have been something completely different no idea.
murph
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 12:45 AM
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The power feed for the tailgate is completely independent of the power feed for the front windows. The power for the front windows comes through the passenger side door first then on to the driver's door... screwy, I know.

As for the tailgate window, the harness tends to suffer fraying and kinking in the jamb between the gate and the body. However, before you assume the issue lies there, make certain the gate is fully closed. If not, the safety interlock will not engage on the driver's side latch. If you are not sure if the gate is closing far enough to engage the interlock, open the gate and using your thumbs, close the driver's side latch fully. (The two cams should form a circle as you look at the side of the latch when they are fully closed). Try working the window. If it moves, the latch is not closing fully when you close the tailgate. Adjustment of the striker bolt(s) might be necessary or even replacement of the nylon bushings around them. If none of this works, test the circuit breakers at positions 12 and 14 in the fuse block (dashboard).

For ALL of the windows, remove clean and test the switches themselves for continuity. Note that the key-switch in the tailgate uses a pair of small switches to reverse the polarity to the window motor but the dashboard switch is a single switch with additional contacts to accomplish the same function.

Check the ground (negative, BLACK wire) from the tailgate. The ground for the tailgate is actually landed a long way away from the gate itself and a weak connection will cause poor or no operation at all.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 02:24 AM
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Thanks guys. I should have mentioned that I check the circuit breakers at the 12 and 14 slots under the dash and replaced them w 30 amp fuses to no avail. I have not, however checked the ground at the tailgate and will do that in the morning. I also checked the drivers side switch and everything lights up properly. I also checked the switch on the dash for the tailgate and dont seem to be getting any fire at all. Thanks again!
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 09:57 PM
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Got the tailgate working. Been a while since it has moved so Im going to grease up everything in there and it should be good as new! Im not sure what the problem was, but the ground wire to the gate didnt work, so I straight wired the ground and power from the battery and she came to life! Next mission is to find out why neither of the sindows are operating. Not sure where and what to checkl with this.
 
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Old Nov 20, 2010 | 07:53 AM
  #6  
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Take out the door trim, hit firmly but carefully the mechanism inside while pushing the window switch, they are probably stuck, once you get them un-stuck, grease it up with graphite grease. That's the most usual cause for elec. windows failure, if that doesn't do it you'll have to check the gear in the mechanism, it's a plastic one and it gets brittle over time. If it's broken replace it with a steel one and you'll be done.
 
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