electric window issue - randomly works

X5_Rob · #1 08-20-2012, 12:15 PM

I searched and searched on here but could not find anything so finally posting a question regarding... my driver side passenger window seems to randomly function. It willl work fine (by work meaning it will go up and down via the switch) for weeks and weeks and then all of a sudden it wont go up or down with either the door switch or driver switch.. it could be a minute, and hour or a whole week before it starts working again...

any thoughts? do i have a ghost?

Rob

ECS Tuning · #2 08-20-2012, 12:21 PM

When it fails are you able to control it using the switch in the passenger door or drivers door? or is she completely dead in the water when the issue occurs?

X5_Rob · #3 08-20-2012, 12:48 PM

when it works you can control with either door switch (passenger door switch or drivers door control switch). when it doesn't work it is dead in the water to both...

TerminatorX5 · #4 08-20-2012, 01:45 PM

So, when it is dead, there is no motor spinning - just click on the button and nothing happens?... this is for the front right window? how about the other windows? locks? any other things that you may have noticed?

the issue could be as benign as kinked/shorted wire, all the way to the iBus conflict on line where the GM module does not decipher the commands coming from the switches - those window switches do NOT directly operate the window motors, they send a coded message via iBus to the system, the message is picked up by the GM, deciphered and then another command is send to run the motor. and anything in-between, like bad switch or something... which is less likely, as both, left and right work fine, and then both don't work at all...

Do you have iBus reader?

X5_Rob · #5 08-20-2012, 02:25 PM

this is the driver side passenger door window. I've owned the car for 4-5 years now and this one window has always been intermittent. This issue has happened with other windows before but only like once or twice total. The issue on the drivers side passenger door window has occured at least 50 times. I don't have kids so the window is almost never used except when I crack the windows when I park it on a hot day. when I go to roll them back up that one window always seems to have a mind of its own. neither the drivers door window switch or the actual switch on that door itself will work the window... it will then simply randomly just start working again... there is no noise whatsoever coming from the window when its not working... its not like its trying to go up or down.. its just dead... I took my boat out yesterday and when backing the boat in had all the windows down in the car... launched the boat and then parked... all the windows went up fine except the one... messed with the switch, turned the car on and off, etc. for 20 mins... nothing... i hated to have to park and leave the car with the window completely down so took everything out of the car, put it in my boat and finally left the X parked at the dock with the one window fully opened... I really hate this car sometimes... No I don't have an ibus reader..

TerminatorX5 · #6 08-20-2012, 02:34 PM

I would have said, check the fuses, but it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't...

loose wire to the motor itself?

sgrice · #7 08-22-2012, 11:28 AM

Check this link - I bet its the same problem you have:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...m-stumped.html

As I noted in my post on page 3, the fault was in the relay switches of the general module. Scott Johnson (details in the link) was able to replace the relays for me and I've been good ever since.

Of course, before going into the general module, first make sure it's not the switch, regulator, or motor. But intermittent failure makes me suspicious of the relays.

Good luck.